De Lima unfazed by APO threat to block her appointment

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is unfazed by the threat of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) to block her confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA), the congressional body that approves or rejects presidential appointments. “On what ground? For doing my job? It goes with the territory. If you do your job, if you do it firmly, certain sectors or interests feel threatened," De Lima said at a news briefing on Tuesday. A Philippine Daily Inquirer report over the weekend quoted APO elder Ferdie Ramos as saying that the fraternity will use its connections in the CA to block De Lima’s appointment. De Lima had linked members of the fraternity to at least three grenade-throwing incidents in Metro Manila, the latest of which was the blast that marred the last day of the Bar examinations last September 26. Among the notable members of the APO fraternity is Vice President Jejomar Binay. De Lima said the APO fraternity had put her in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t" situation. “Where did I go wrong there? Why are they accusing me of bias or partiality or lack of objectivity, when the [National Bureau of Investigation] is an attached agency of the [Department of Justice]?" she said. Transfer to Comelec In a related development, De Lima said she prefers to stay at the DOJ amid reports she is among the possible replacements for former Commission on Elections chair Jose Melo, who resigned last week. Melo's resignation takes effect early next year. De Lima, a veteran election lawyer, said she likes it better in the DOJ even as she said being part of the Comelec will be a “walk in the park." De Lima was among the most sought-after election lawyers before she was appointed as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in 2008 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. De Lima’s father, Vicente, once served as Comelec commissioner. — Sophia Dedace/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV