Newly-appointed Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday took the helm of the Department of Justice with a marching order from President Rodrigo Duterte to give “special focus” on the prosecution of crimes on illegal drugs and terrorism.
“He [Duterte] just reminded me to put special focus on the prosecution of crimes on illegal drugs and terrorism,” Guevara told reporters.
The new DoJ chief said that he would prioritize the review of the controversial drug case involving Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and the decision of his predecessor, Vitaliano Aguirre II, to place alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles under provisional coverage of the Witness Protection Program.
“I would have to review the past actions of the DoJ, more of the recent things give focus on these matters. I am not prejudging [but] the first thing I will look at facts presented without premature conclusion [and] I would not be bothered by public sentiment” he said.
Guevarra said the President instructed him to weed out the DoJ of corruption and remove those who are involved in wrongdoings.
“He gave me a free hand to replace people, to bring his honor to the Department of Justice,” he added.
“First order of business to familiarize myself with the various functions of the DoJ as a lawyer. I know that I need to know the nitty gritty of the DoJ basically to know the key people here. To determine for myself if there is a need to make new recruits, to introduce new people to help me out in the DoJ,” he said.
While there will be changes in the DoJ, Guevarra assured that the reorganization will not be abrupt.
“Like any person who is new into the job I would like to have people in my confidence, but I want continuity. I don’t want abrupt. I have a lot of respect with people who have been here in some time even those under previous and present organization,” he said.
Guevarra admitted that the President will not intervene in his way of performing his duties.
“He [Duterte] expressly stated he would not interfere in any way in the discharge of my functions as secretary of justice,” he said.
He said even relatives or those close to President Duterte who would ask for any kind of favors from him would be disappointed.
“The President told me that if any of his relatives approached me asking for favors, consider it denied,” Guevarra said. “I can do what I need to do for as long as I follow the rule of law.”
Guevara, who served as Deputy Executive Secretary both in the Aquino and Duterte administrations, was appointed as DOJ chief following Vitaliano Aguirre’s resignation last week.
The new Justice Secretary admitted that he was surprised that he was chosen by the President to become Justice Secretary.
“I’m surprised really to a certain extent that the president chose me among so many people who are connected with him because I also served in the previous administration in my capacity as deputy executive secretary for legal affairs,” he said.
“I guess the President has his own way of determining whether a person is suitable for a particular job or not. To his credit he does not mind appointing people who does not belong to the same political group. He keeps an open minded about this,” he said.