De Lima orders DOJ panel to 're-assess' criminal raps vs Gatdula

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday ordered one of its fact-finding panels to "re-assess" the recommendation to slap criminal charges against sacked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula.

 

Through Department Order No. 47, De Lima decided to reconstitute the fact-finding panel to revisit the case due to the "sensitivity" of the matter, which involved the supposed arrest and extortion of undocumented Japanese alien Noriyo Ohara in October last year.

 

The fact-finding panel earlier recommended criminal and administrative charges against Gatdula and at least 13 other officials and personnel of the NBI for their supposed involvement in the incident. In light of the recommendation, Malacañang eventually ordered the sacking of Gatdula as NBI chief. 'Sensitive matter'

 

But in its latest order, De Lima ordered that actions regarding Gatdula's criminal liability regarding the case be "held in abeyance."

 

De Lima ordered the panel to "re-assess" and "re-evaluate" its recommendations "in the interest of ensuring the exercise of utmost prudence and  diligence in this highly sensitive matter."

 

The Justice chief admitted that Gatdula's implication in the incident "has become a matter of public interest in light of the rank, status and sensitivity of the position once held by the former NBI director."

 

De Lima clarified, however, that the purpose of revisiting the case was to determine Gatdula's "exact culpability, particularly as to the extent and nature of his participation and criminal liability."

 

De Lima required the reconstituted panel to come up with a supplemental report on the matter within 10 days or not later than January 30.  

Meanwhile, recommendations to file administrative charges against Gatdula and the other respondents had already been forwarded to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for her "appropriate action" and for her to determine the administrative liability of the respondents.

 

De Lima also said she was leaving it to Justice Prosecutor General Claro Arellano to determine whether the DOJ sjould conduct on a preliminary investigation on the Ohara case. — RSJ, GMA News