Senatorial aspirant and respected litigator Lorna Kapunan on Sunday expressed confidence that the Department of Justice under its new chief, Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa would rule the Iglesia Ni Cristo cases based “on the merits” given Caguioa’s reputation as a fair “straight-shooter” known for his integrity.
“The Samson complaint has attracted a lot of attention, and I’m sure whatever decision the DoJ arrives at will elicit strong reactions either way,” said Kapunan.
“Given this, it’s important that the issues raised in the complaint are carefully threshed out, and Caguioa is known to be a very meticulous, thoughtful litigator; he can be trusted to rule in accordance with the law,” Kapunan stressed.
Caguioa obtained his degree in Economics (Honors Program) from the College of Arts and Sciences of Ateneo de Manila University in 1981 (Honorable Mention), and graduated with honors from its College of Law in 1985 ranking 15th in his class. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1986 after placing 15th in the 1985 Bar examinations. In January 2013, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III appointed Caguioa Chief Presidential Legal Counsel after almost three decades in private practice.
The seasoned lawyer added that apolitical, low key Caguioa gives the DoJ added credibility, “since it is obvious he does not have a political agenda.”
“He has no reason to curry favor with any of the parties involved, and probably does not care if he is criticized or praised after the DoJ rules; that should reassure both parties in the case,” explained Kapunan.
Kapunan also cautioned the lawyers involved from “forum-shopping to the media” if the ruling does not favor their clients.
“It’s very easy and tempting to create all sorts of conspiracy theories which the media and public is all too willing to feast on. We don’t need that. What we need is for us to educate the public about how the law really works,” explained the lawyer, graduated from the UP College of Law and was Commercial Law Bar Examiner in the 1988 Bar Exams.
It was every lawyer’s duty to respect and uphold the rule of law,” Kapunan noted. “Leave all the non-legal media and online hype to someone else.”
Ex-INC minister Isaias Samson has accused INC officials of harassing and detaining him and his family members. Samson alleged that he was being punished on suspicions of exposing corruption within the INC.