DOJ Sec. Menardo Guevarra, Vitaliano Aguirre II face graft raps

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and his predecessor Vitaliano Aguirre II are facing graft charges for granting witness protection and immunity to convicts serving time at the New Bilibid Prison. 

Sen. Leila de Lima filed the complaints against Guevarra and Aguirre before the Office of the Ombudsman last week.

Aguirre allegedly admitted to the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP) those “convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude” when he was justice secretary from June 2016 to April 2018.

Guevarra was charged for supposedly continuing the illegal admission of drug convicts to the WPSBP.

Apart from graft, De Lima said the respondents should be held liable for dereliction of duty in the prosecution of offenses under the Revised Penal Code.

Among those admitted to the WPSBP were convicts Jojo Baligad, Peter Co, Vicente Sy, Hans Anton Tan, Herbert Colangco, Noel Martinez, Froilan Trestiza, Engelberto Durano, Nonilo Arile, Jaime Patcho and Rodolfo Magleo.

De Lima said the convicts were allegedly granted immunity in exchange for testifying against her.

“The admission of the convicted criminals as state witnesses is illegal,” she said.

Under Republic Act 6981, De Lima said a state witness could only be admitted to the WPSBP if “he has not at any time been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.”