Raps vs Benigno Aquino III a retaliation — rights lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights lawyer Jose “Chel” Diokno branded as “revenge” the joint House committee’s move to file graft and technical malversation charges against former president Benigno Aquino III, two of his ex-Cabinet officials and several others over the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.

Diokno said the timing and recommendations of the report by the House committees on health and good government and accountability under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were suspicious.

“This seems to be nothing but revenge,” Diokno said, adding  he was not surprised with the action made by “Arroyo’s Congress.”

“From the very start, it seems all the actions of GMA (Arroyo’s initials) are meant to twist the justice system and get back at those who made her accountable for all her sins against the country,” he said in Filipino.

Diokno, who is running for senator under the opposition slate Otso Diretso in the May elections, maintained that the law applies to all – rich or poor – but justice is not about revenge.

“Justice is about healing. We should not let a few flout the justice system for personal motives,” he added.

Arroyo was jailed during the time of Aquino on corruption, election cheating and other charges.