Aguirre asks Robredo: What political vendetta?

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II hit back on Vice President Leni Robredo’s remark that personalities with opposing views against the government are suddenly being tagged as “drug protectors.”

Aguirre on Wednesday challenged Robredo: “What political vendetta is she talking about? Is it her position that we should not pursue any criminal prosecution for violation of the comprehensive drugs law because the culprit belongs to the opposition?”

The vice president was reacting to Aguirre’s statement that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña received P7 million from a certain “Jumbo” involved in the illegal drug trade.

READ: Leni notes ‘pattern’ of DOJ tagging critics, opposition as drug protectors

Aguirre said that the DOJ has a witness who submitted an affidavit that tagged Osmeña — who was criticized in 2016 for offering "rewards" to police officers who kill drug suspects — as protector of drug lords.
 
The DOJ chief said that the witness came out last year but he did not disclose the information as his office was still building the case. Once the information is verified, the National Bureau of Investigation will file charges against Osmeña, who has close ties to the vice president and her late husband, according to the justice secretary.

Osmeña has been critical of Aguirre, whom he has accused of interfering in the city's tax case against a mall developer and a bank.

Robredo pointed out that there seems to be a pattern with DOJ’s persons of interests in its continuing probe on war against drugs.

She said: “I am saddened by what’s happening. It seems it’s becoming a pattern in which anyone who opposes any announced policy or anybody who disagrees with decisions is tagged as ‘drug protectors.’”

But Aguirre said that the opposition has used this stand before, with the case of detained Sen. Leila de Lima.

“[Should there be no] case should be filed against Osmeña because he is an anti-Duterte advocate?” the justice chief said.

De Lima, one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been in detention since February 2017 due to three drug cases filed against her by state prosecutors.

READ: De Lima’s arraignment postponed anew

She has yet to be arraigned in her cases, as the prosecuting team filed motions to change charges against her, from illegal drug trading to conspiracy to commit drug cases.

De Lima’s legal team has opposed this move by the prosecution. They said that the change of charges should merit another preliminary investigation.