Bishops welcome DOJ chief’s resignation

Some church leaders welcomed Justice Secretary Vitaliatio Aguirre II’s move to stand down, following the dismissal of criminal charges against alleged drug lords.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said resigning was the right thing to do for the top defender of the government’s brutal crackdown against illegal drugs that continues to claim thousands of lives.

“He is so erratic as secretary in his sense of justice. The decision is good for him and the country,” said the prelate.

President Rodrigo Duterte on April 5 announced his acceptance of the resignation of Aguirre, who had been under fire over the dismissal of cases against alleged drug lords Kerwin Espinosa and Peter Lim.

Duterte then appointed Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra to take over the vacated post.

“I don’t know him (Guevarra) but I really hope he serves the cause of justice,” added Pabillo.

Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon said he was “happy” for Aguirre’s departure because “he is not doing his job well”.

“His act encourages drug lords to continue their criminal activities and the proliferation of extra judicial killings and murders,” he said.

Bastes also expressed hope that the new DOJ chief “will do better” than Aguirre.