DOJ chief says stepping down is an option

(Updated 3:30 p.m.) Citing possible policy differences with her boss, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday admitted that she contemplated on resigning from President Benigno Aquino III's Cabinet. De Lima said stepping down from her post will continue being an option as she evaluates her differences in policies with the President. She said differences in opinion will not be the only basis for her possible resignation. Otherwise, no president could retain members of his or her Cabinet, she said. However, as of now, she said: "I am firmly committed to the President." In a statement issued later in the day, De Lima clarified there is no substantial difference between her and the president that would warrant her resignation. She added that she understands that debates among the President's "official family" are inevitable but not enough to result in resignation. "In arriving at the best sources of action, full debate and discussion between the President, his Cabinet and advisers is not only expected, it is in fact encouraged. And precisely because of the nature of a debate, certain positions are bound to differ, even oppose each other," she said. "To derive only conflict and disharmony from this exercise, and imply resignation every time a Cabinet member's perspective or opinion is not adopted, is to misunderstand the nature of how debate and deliberation in government works," she added. De Lima then said the differences between the IIRC report and the Palace review "are not even differences in policies, but are issue specific." "There is no such difference between me and the President. The differences in opinion on specific recommendations raised in the IIRC report are far from policy differences," she added. Prodded to resign The Justice chief said she had been prodded by certain quarters to resign when Malacañang decided to review the Incident Investigation and Review Committee's recommendations on who should be held liable for the August 23 hostage crisis. De Lima chairs the five-member IIRC. Despite this, she said she respects the President's prerogative to have his office review her committee's report. "I'm aware of the fact that certain people and certain quarters have suggested or made suggestions, if not proddings, for me to tender resignation. In fact, as early as nung nag-direct ng review [of the IIRC report]," De Lima said at a news briefing. "What I can say is that the matter of whether to resign will purely be my judgment. It will solely be my call. And well, I have to be honest that that crossed my mind. That is always an option, but it's going to be a very serious decision," she added. "Is there a policy difference here? Because if there's just a difference in opinion, then there is not enough basis for resignation, because otherwise there will be none left in the Cabinet. So mere difference in opinion does not suffice to justify any resignation. Difference in policy, perhaps, can [justify]," De Lima also said. Despite this, she said she still feels she enjoys the trust and confidence of the President, that is why she has not resigned yet. Aquino had ordered De Lima's office to conduct reviews of controversial and high-profile cases and incidents, such as the August 23 hostage-taking incident, wherein eight Hong Kong hostages were killed. Disappointment? On Monday, President Aquino announced the results of the review of his legal team on the IIRC report. Among the modifications include the absolution of Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico E. Puno, recently retired Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, and Manila City Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. Puno is the President's long-time buddy and fellow shooting aficionado. De Lima had insisted respecting the President's action plan. However, on Tuesday, DOJ reporters asked her whether she felt any disappointment. To which, she replied: "Again, I don't think my feelings will be important or relevant." Trillanes case Other reviews Aquino ordered the DOJ to conduct include the Morong 43 case, where health workers were arrested in February this year after government security forces suspected them of being communist rebels, and the coup d'etat case of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes is facing coup d’etat charges before the Makati City Regional Trial Court branch 148 for his participation in the July 2003 Oakwood Mutiny. He also stands accused of rebellion before the Makati City RTC Branch 150 for taking part in the siege of the Peninsula Manila hotel in November 2007. De Lima refused to divulge details of her review of the Morong 43 and the Trillanes cases. On Tuesday morning, President Aquino announced he signed the proclamation granting amnesty to Trillanes and other to soldiers involved in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Marine standoff in 2006 and the Manila Peninsula standoff in 2007. At the DOJ news briefing, De Lima said the Palace did not inform her or DOJ prosecutors that an amnesty will be granted to Trillanes. She likewise declined to divulge the sentiments of the prosecutors handling the case. "It's better if you ask them," she said. GMANews.TV tried to get the reaction of Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, the lead prosecutor in the Trillanes case, but he could not be reached as of posting time. — RSJ/VVP, GMANews.TV