PAO chief: DOJ chief's 'crazy' remark libelous

MANILA, Philippines – Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta on Friday scored Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for calling her “crazy," saying the remark was libelous. In a radio report, Acosta assailed the remark that was made by Gonzalez Thursday upon learning that the PAO chief had come rushing to the side of broadcaster Teodoro “Ted" Failon, regarding the shooting incident that killed the latter’s wife. Persida on Thursday morning dropped by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in Camp Karingal and helped convince police officials to allow Failon to visit his then seriously wounded wife, Trinidad Etong, at the New Era General Hospital. Gonzalez hit at Acosta’s assistance and stressed that the PAO is only mandated to help people who have passed an “Indigency Test," showing they are financially incapable of availing legal assistance from a private counsel. The Justice chief said that helping Failon – a veteran broadcaster from one of the biggest media networks in the Philippines – might trigger a “conflict of interest." Gonzalez said she called up Acosta to tell her to refrain from helping Failon. Gonzalez later issued a memorandum against the PAO chief. The PAO is an attached agency under the Department of Justice. "[But] she [Acosta] was trying to argue it was within her authority… [She should not help Ted] when there is no court order, when there is no mandate from us," Gonzalez said. "She’s crazy," Gonzalez told reporters at the Justice department office in Manila Thursday. On Friday, Gonzalez was quoted in a radio report as denying ever calling Acosta as “crazy," but a GMA 24 Oras report by Carlo Lorenzo showed the Justice chief as indeed making the remark. Acosta stressed that she was merely giving "temporary assistance" to Failon since the case was still in its "custodial investigation" stage. She also stressed that although her office is under the DOJ, the PAO still gets to enjoy independence from other agencies. Acosta said she wondered why she was being called “crazy" when she has been teaching law at the Ateneo de Manila Law School and the Bulacan State University. But Gonzalez said he was merely irked by PAO’s involvement in the case surrounding the shooting incident of Failon’s wife. In fact, Gonzalez praised Acosta for the past cases that she had won, and the convicts that she had helped in becoming free men sooner. Acosta - a recipient of the Linkod Bayan Award, the highest Presidential award given to outstanding public servants – had been pivotal in the release of convicts in high-profile cases like the Aquino-Galman double murder case. Gonzalez said some of his critics might just want to discredit his reputation in dealing with his subordinates. - GMANews.TV