Latest news with #Clavano
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DOJ urges BI employees to come forward amid corruption allegations
Justice spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano has urged the anonymous Immigration employees who reported alleged corruption in the agency to come forward and share their evidence with the Department of Justice (DOJ). 'Lumutang na sana yung mga nag complain dahil ito naman ay isang safe space para sa kanila. Eh dito nga tinatry ang mga admin cases ng mga BI officers eh, 'di ba? Dito hinahain ang mga 'yun. Dito talaga pino-process 'yun,' Clavano said in an ambush interview Monday. (I hope the complainants will come forward since this is a safe space for them. This is where the administrative cases against BI officers are tried. This is where those are filed. This is really where they're processed.) This came after Immigration personnel anonymously submitted a letter to the Office of the President to report the supposed corrupt practices under the present BI leadership, including the mishandling of POGO-related cases and their deportation. Clavano stressed that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has repeatedly said that he wanted to clean the ranks of the Bureau of Immigration (BI). When asked if the DOJ will conduct its own internal investigation, Clavano said it has not yet reached that point as the only basis is the letter, calling it 'vague.' According to the spokesperson, the Justice Department is 'evidence-based.' 'Sana magbigay pa sila ng mas matibay na evidence, no, or mga supporting documents. Dahil sa tingin naman natin, we have followed the letter of the President's directive, which is to make sure that all POGOs are banned and deported out of the country,' Clavano said. (I hope they provide stronger evidence or supporting documents. Because we believe we have followed the president's directive to the letter, which is to ensure that all POGOs are banned and deported out of the country.) He also expressed hope that this is not an attempt to use the current political climate. 'Ngayon, sana naman hindi gamitin ang political climate, lalo na na may courtesy resignations ang mga head of agency, bilang channel or tool para mamulitika sa loob ng BI,' he said. (Now, I hope the political climate, especially with the courtesy resignations of agency heads, won't be used as a channel or tool for politicking within the BI.) For his part, BI Commissioner Joel Viado earlier denied the allegations against him. He dismissed the accusations as 'patently false' and dubbed it a 'smear campaign.' — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
DOJ: De Lima's acquittal stands for now, CA only asked RTC to clarify ruling
The Department of Justice clarified that the Court of Appeals did not overturn former Senator Leila De Lima's acquittal in one of her drug cases. Instead, the appellate court merely remanded the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court's decision for clarification. DOJ spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano emphasized that this move does not constitute a reversal of De Lima's acquittal. 'This is not a reversal per se… it is more of a remanding of the decision to clarify the decision,' Clavano said. He added that the acquittal appears to remain in effect while the Court of Appeals reviews the case, as the other party still has the option to file a motion for reconsideration. De Lima earlier said she plans to appeal the CA ruling to the Supreme Court. Speaking on 'Balitanghali,' she questioned the basis of the decision, saying it seemed to criticize the RTC judge's manner of writing rather than ordering a retrial. 'It only says to fix the decision to comply with the constitutional standard of clarity,' De Lima said in Filipino. As the case returns to the Muntinlupa RTC, the Office of the Solicitor General said DOJ prosecutors will handle it in the lower court. 'The CA decision speaks for itself… the DOJ prosecutors will take it from there,' Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told reporters. If the case reaches the Supreme Court, the OSG will represent the state. However, Clavano clarified that the DOJ's role in the case has largely concluded. 'Our prosecutors participated in the RTC proceedings, but under the law, the OSG takes over when a criminal case is appealed to the Court of Appeals,' he said. Clavano also stressed that De Lima is not a party to the certiorari petition filed by the OSG. Instead, the respondent is Judge Abraham Alcantara of RTC Branch 204, who previously acquitted De Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan. The certiorari questions alleged grave abuse of discretion on the part of the judge, not the merits of the acquittal itself.
