PUBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta says that her office will accept the challenge to defend former Metro Rail Transit 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III in the graft case filed against him over alleged irregularities in its interim maintenance contract.
Even if they did not want, however, they have no other option but provide services to the beleaguered Vitangcol as the law mandates PAO to give anyone with legal assistance in the absence of an available lawyer. Just the same, she says, she has yet to wait for the decision from the Sandiganbayan whether or not it will allow PAO to represent him before the anti-graft court.
Saying there was no competent lawyer who was willing to take his case since it was considered a high-profile case, Vitangcol had asked the anti-graft court to appoint PAO lawyer as his counsel de oficio, who would represent him on the duration of his trial.“We cannot refuse.
An accused cannot be arraigned if he or she does not have a lawyer,” she explains as she adds: “PAO can continue assisting the accused until such a time that he or she finds a lawyer.”
In 2000, PAO represented former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada in the plunder case filed against him with the Sandiganbayan.
Despite against its wishes, PAO also represented businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles at the Senate blue ribbon committee on the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla, Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam.
The former MRT-3 official was indicted in December 2015 for his alleged role in the anomalous grant of a multimillion-dollar contract to maintain the rail service in 2012 and 2013.
DENR LAUNCHES DRIVE TO MAKE MAY POLLS GARBAGE-FREE
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has launched the “Basura-Free Election 2016” drive to ensure a garbage-free campaign for the May 9 polls.
This as the DENR, together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections, renewed its commitment in making sure that national and local candidates will properly dispose of their garbage from campaign materials and also help in cleaning up the surroundings after the election.
The campaign period for national positions will begin on February 9 while campaign for local posts will be on March 25.
Environment Sec. Ramon J.P. Paje says the DENR campaign, themed “Kalat Ko, Linis Ko,” was launched in anticipation for the large volumes of waste produced during the election period due to the proliferation of posters, flyers and other campaign paraphernalia.
It was exactly the same campaign the DENR and partner agencies carried out during the 2013 midterm elections, he says. The DENR chief says the drive is supported by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, major political parties, partylists, candidates, youth leaders and civil society members. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
