De Lima chides VACC’s Jimenez over impeach threat vs. Ombudsman

Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday scored Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chairman Dante Jimenez over his threat to have Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales impeached.

In a statement, De Lima said Jimenez’s repeated threats to pursue such action against the Ombudsman was “irritating” and vindictive.

De Lima said the VACC was being used as a  “mercenary group” as some of its members were becoming “willing agents of vengeance and demolition.”

“I implore you not to bastardize the cause you are fighting for, or to shame the memory of the victims you are representing, by yourself resorting to ‘less legitimate options’ that work injustice towards other people,” De Lima told Jimenez.

“Do not file frivolous cases against those you have personal grievances against. The work of justice is not the work of retribution; the work of a crusader is not that of an oppressor or a butcher,” she said.

De Lima recalled that in December 2010, Jimenez was reported to be resigning from his post and considering “less legitimate options” to continue his fight for justice after Hubert Webb was acquitted by the Supreme Court.

“I am aware that he felt personally aggrieved by the decision of the Supreme Court, which included then Associate Justice Carpio-Morales,” De Lima said.

De Lima challenged Jimenez to instead be a “champion of justice.”

“Reclaim the mission of the VACC. Disassociate yourself and your group from shadowy operators (you know who they are),” De Lima said.

A newspaper report said Jimenez vowed to impeach Morales following its decision to junk the treason and espionage charges filed against former President Benigno Aquino III and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/614940/ombudsman-dismisses-treason-espionage-raps-vs-ex-pnoy-trillanes/story/

The report said the VACC legal team will already start its case build-up to have Morales impeached in Congress. — MDM, GMA News