Probe on DOJ fixers to continue

The probe on the alleged case-fixing at the Department of Justice by Secretary Hernando Perez’s chief of staff will continue despite the recent clipping of her powers, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño said yesterday.

"I have already started looking at the documents. Of course the investigation will continue. I’m just a little bit busy because the trial of former President Estrada’s plunder case has already begun," he said.

Zuño was designated by Perez to head the panel that will investigate Senior State Prosecutor Pamela Lazatin-Escobar who was reported to have demanded P250 million from an optometrist who wants to have his child-abuse case dismissed.

He clarified, however, that he has not yet required Escobar to answer the charges because he still has to go through all the records of the case. The investigation, he said, is administrative in nature.

Highly-reliable sources revealed that a "draft resolution" has already been made "in favor" of the optometrist, a US citizen, who was accused of maltreating his 15-year-old son and his namesake. The alleged victim is now 18 years old.

It has been reported that Escobar demanded money from the lawyer of the optometrist – a resident of upscale Urdaneta Village in Makati City – in exchange for the reversal of the Makati fiscal’s indictment for child abuse.

Unimpeachable sources alleged that a 50 percent down payment was already made to Escobar.

After news reports came out that an Ateneo mafia was operating at the DOJ, and that this was led by Escobar of Batch ’84, Perez clipped her powers and designated her as mere chief of his entire staff, and not of the whole department.

Perez likewise revealed Escobar is no longer interested in the post to be vacated on Nov. 18 by Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Lualhati Buenafe. A public official cannot be promoted twice in six months under the Civil Service Commission rules. Escobar was just promoted senior state prosecutor last August.

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio Jr. told newsmen last Wednesday that they have stepped into the case and will include Perez himself in the probe if the evidence so warrants. Perez has defended the alleged Ateneo mafia.

"We’re looking into the matter. We are tracking it down. We will include Perez if the evidence points that he is involved," Gervacio said. He said the Fact-Finding and Intelligence Bureau will be conducting the probe, which he will supervise.

Gervacio said they will investigate why lawyer Chona Dimayuga is holding office at the DOJ, using the name of another lawyer, and handling cases despite her dismissal from the Toll Regulatory Board. Dimayuga, a close friend of Escobar and also a member of Batch ’84, has been holding office at Room 206. She has allegedly been using the name of Lyl Surtida, a staff member of Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago, to pass herself off as a DOJ consultant receiving P20,000 monthly.