Aquino hopes DOJ will finish Leviste 'vacation' probe before Wednesday

President Benigno Aquino III is “hoping" the Department of Justice will end by Wednesday its investigation into the unauthorized “vacation" of former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste from the New Bilibid Prisons. Aquino said the DOJ’s investigation will be the basis of how he will deal with Bureau of Corrections head Ernesto Diokno, an official perceived to be close to him. “I’m hoping they finish their investigation by Wednesday, meaning the DOJ," he said in an ambush interview aired on government-run dzRB radio. But Aquino, who is to start a two-day official visit to Thailand on Thursday, pointed out Diokno deserves to have due process over the incident. Diokno came under fire after the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Leviste in Makati City last Tuesday for leaving the NBP premises without a proper pass. “May dinadaan tayong proseso (We all go through a process)," Aquino said, recalling that he summoned Diokno after reading about the Leviste incident in the newspapers. He said that when Diokno explained Leviste was entitled to privileges, Aquino decided to refer the matter to the DOJ. Aquino also said he expects the DOJ to look at the legalities and “legal niceties" to review Diokno’s performance based on established procedures. Leviste, a former Batangas governor, was convicted in 2009 for the killing of his friend and aide Rafael delas Alas two years earlier. - KBK, GMA News