Pia: Justice chief's sense of judgment is 'disturbing'

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today criticized the soft attitude shown by the usually brash and outspoken justice secretary Raul Gonzalez towards Atty. Felisberto Verano, the controversial counsel of prominent drug trafficking suspects Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson.

"It's disturbing that Sec. Gonzalez appeared not the least bothered by Verano's admission that he used the letterhead of the Department of Justice to draft a release order then had it routed for approval in attempting to free his clients from prison," she said.

The lady senator, a lawyer, was reacting to news about Sec. Gonzales who reportedly described Verano's action as "a minor infraction" when he could have immediately disowned and condemned it.

"Sec. Gonzalez said he will investigate first whether there's any malice or bad faith on the part of Verano when he used the DOJ letterhead and had it routed for his signature. How come? Doesn't a private person's unauthorized use of the DOJ letterhead to issue an official order already constitute a serious breach of the agency's supposedly tight-guarded procedures?"

"Verano's action indicates that the dispensation of justice can be easily tinkered with, literally, if you have strong connections at the DOJ. As justice secretary, he should be the first to ensure the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in his agency."

"The justice secretary is notorious for not mincing words, especially when vilifying critics of the Arroyo administration. But why the sudden clam up on a person who clearly tried to usurp his authority? Does he owe Verano anything?" she asked.

"If Sec. Gonzalez's sense of judgment can't distinguish between proper and improper procedure happening in his office, then how can we trust him to seriously crack down on unscrupulous government agents suspected of botching cases against drug pushers?"

She added that instead of covering up for the possible lapses of his men in the dismissal of high profile cases like those of Verano's clients and the shabu laboratory bust in La Union, Gonzalez should work for a no-holds-barred investigation to find out whether drug syndicates have already managed to infiltrate and maintain moles at the DOJ.