Aquino to meet with Diokno again regarding Leviste caper

President Benigno Aquino III plans to meet with Bureau of Corrections head Ernesto Diokno again after receiving the report of the Department of Justice panel that investigated the unauthorized “vacation" of homicide convict Antonio Leviste. “I’m meeting him... I’m not sure exactly when I’ll be meeting Director Diokno," Aquino said in an interview with reporters Monday after the launch of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity at Malacañang. “I’m sure there will be a positive outcome in all of this," he said without elaborating. Aquino first summoned Diokno to Malacañang two weeks ago shortly after Leviste’s arrest for his authorized departure from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP). Aquino had earlier said that he told Diokno, his appointee, how dismayed he was with the incident. Leviste, a former Batangas governor, has been charged with evasion of service of sentence as a result of the incident. He was convicted of homicide in 2009 for the killing of his friend Rafael de las Alas two years earlier. Diokno, when he faced the DOJ panel last week, said he should not be blamed for the incident because he is only concerned with policy-making matters, an explanation the DOJ panel found unacceptable. The DOJ panel is expected to submit its report to Aquino on Monday afternoon. In a press statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the fate of Diokno and other directly concerned officials will be decided fairly. “The President already stated this is not a matter of loyalty or shared history. Integral to due process, we plan to avail of all available resources to uncover the truth," he said. He further said that the administration has always stressed integrity among public servants, and “everyone accountable in the breach in BuCor will be determined and meted the proper disciplinary action." Lacierda added that the government is looking at all possible avenues to implement reforms in the country’s prison system. He said the President has already asked concerned agencies to submit proposals. — KBK, GMA News