Justiniano resigns as DOJ undersecretary

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano has resigned from his post.

In a text message, Justiniano confirmed that he has submitted his resignation letter to President Aquino.

“It’s a family decision for me to go back to private practice,” he said.

Justiniano made the decision after being reportedly considered to replace resigned justice secretary Leila de Lima. The President picked his chief legal counsel Benjamin Caguioa for the post.

He has supervised the DOJ’s probe on Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

Appointed in 2013, Justiniano was defense lawyer for American serviceman Daniel Smith in the 2005 Subic rape case.