Solon pushes DOJ chief's resignation anew, cites IBP suspension bid
01/21/2009 | 01:18 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez on Wednesday continued his tirade against Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez, saying the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' (IBP) recommendation to suspend him from the practice of law adds to the list of reasons for the Cabinet member's resignation from his post.
In a press conference, Golez said the IBP's recommendation that Gonzalez be dealt with a one-year suspension only makes calls for the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief's resignation more compelling.
"I think this (resignation) has become more compelling today with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, his colleagues in the legal profession, asking that he be suspended," said Golez, who had earlier said resigning would be "the only honorable option" for Gonzalez amid the alleged bribery of DOJ prosecutors in the "Alabang Boys" mess.
The IBP on Tuesday recommended Gonzalez's suspension as a lawyer after his admission that he gave P10,000 to each barangay (village) chairman in Iloilo City as incentives for them to encourage their constituents to vote for administration bets in the May 2007 mid-term elections.
In the press conference, Golez said if the Supreme Court grants the IBP's recommendation, Gonzalez will be effectively disqualified from his post as DOJ chief.
The lawmaker added that Gonzalez had not been acting as he should have, and had been making statements uncharacteristic of a Justice Secretary. "He should have the demeanor of a member of the Supreme Court... In the case of Secretary Gonzalez he forgot that he is no longer a congressman. But he still continues to behave like a congressman," Golez said.
"He (Gonzalez) continues to make partisan statements, he continues to comment on things that he shouldn't comment on," he said, adding that Gonzalez should be more careful in his statements because these can be taken as legal rulings.
For his part, Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said Gonzalez "had it coming."
"I think Raul Gonzalez had it coming," Ocampo said, saying the DOJ chief had been "partisan" in handling cases of political persecution.
Gonzalez had earlier brushed off the IBP's recommendation for his suspension as a lawyer, saying it is "not executory" and that "the final say belongs to the Supreme Court."
Gonzalez even questioned the credibility of the complaint. The complainant, Elly Velez Pamatong, filed his presidential candidacy in 2004 but was later declared as a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections.
"It's alright with me. I'm not worried about these things. In the first place, the complainant here is a nut," Gonzalez said. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
In a press conference, Golez said the IBP's recommendation that Gonzalez be dealt with a one-year suspension only makes calls for the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief's resignation more compelling.
"I think this (resignation) has become more compelling today with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, his colleagues in the legal profession, asking that he be suspended," said Golez, who had earlier said resigning would be "the only honorable option" for Gonzalez amid the alleged bribery of DOJ prosecutors in the "Alabang Boys" mess.
The IBP on Tuesday recommended Gonzalez's suspension as a lawyer after his admission that he gave P10,000 to each barangay (village) chairman in Iloilo City as incentives for them to encourage their constituents to vote for administration bets in the May 2007 mid-term elections.
In the press conference, Golez said if the Supreme Court grants the IBP's recommendation, Gonzalez will be effectively disqualified from his post as DOJ chief.
The lawmaker added that Gonzalez had not been acting as he should have, and had been making statements uncharacteristic of a Justice Secretary. "He should have the demeanor of a member of the Supreme Court... In the case of Secretary Gonzalez he forgot that he is no longer a congressman. But he still continues to behave like a congressman," Golez said.
"He (Gonzalez) continues to make partisan statements, he continues to comment on things that he shouldn't comment on," he said, adding that Gonzalez should be more careful in his statements because these can be taken as legal rulings.
For his part, Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said Gonzalez "had it coming."
"I think Raul Gonzalez had it coming," Ocampo said, saying the DOJ chief had been "partisan" in handling cases of political persecution.
Gonzalez had earlier brushed off the IBP's recommendation for his suspension as a lawyer, saying it is "not executory" and that "the final say belongs to the Supreme Court."
Gonzalez even questioned the credibility of the complaint. The complainant, Elly Velez Pamatong, filed his presidential candidacy in 2004 but was later declared as a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections.
"It's alright with me. I'm not worried about these things. In the first place, the complainant here is a nut," Gonzalez said. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
