Thankful Aguirre says they made DOJ better

FILE: Vitaliano Aguirre II ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

After the President formally received his letter of resignation yesterday, April 5, now former Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said that his stint made the department better.

Thanking President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the trust and confidence as his first Justice Secretary, he said that he is grateful for the opportunity to serve.

“In our own humble way, we have delivered on our promise to make the DOJ better than when we found it,” Aguirre said in a statement released on April 6, Friday.

“As I leave the Department of Justice, I find comfort in the thought that, by our collective efforts, we have improved the DOJ in key areas. We have achieved this by hard work and indomitable faith in the protection, providence and guidance of the Almighty,” he added.

Aguirre, however, maintained that the efforts are from his team, co-officials, undersecretaries, and other employees, not because of him in his stint.

“I salute the good men and women of the DOJ for showing me how it is to serve selflessly in government. You have provided me the inspiration to lead by walking beside me, never behind me nor ahead of me, from Day One,” he said.

As Aguirre formally leaves the DOJ, he also endorsed the incoming Justice Secretary to replace him.

“Moving forward, I humbly ask everyone to welcome with the same degree of enthusiasm and cooperation, more if need be, the team of incoming Secretary Menard Guevarra,” Aguirre said.

Reports and calls on his resignation came when the criminal case against suspected drug lord Peter Lim and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa were dismissed by the Justice Department.

Duterte warned Aguirre that if Lim and Espinosa get away, the former DOJ Secretary will “replace” them in jail.

“’Pag nakawala ‘yan si Lim at Espinosa, siya ang ipapalit ko (If Lim and Espinosa get away in jail, I will replace him there). I can review that dismissal order. Nag-amin na nga sa (He even admitted to) Congress! Why not admit it as evidence against him?” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. quoted the President in a Facebook status.