Guv’s aide file criminal, admin raps vs DOJ secretary

By Florence F. Hibionada

Abusive, ignorant, oppressive and immoral.
 

Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada

Such summed up the alleged offenses as charged now against Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sr. by a top aide of Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas.  And what’s more, the Ilonggo Secretary is purportedly bent on carrying out a political vendetta thus the “purpose of inflicting harm and trample upon the rights” of the complainant’s boss and a known Governor’s ally, Second District Board Member Cecilia Capadosa.

In a five-page complaint-affidavit obtained by The News Today, Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada went on to narrate offenses which he averred was committed by Justice Secretary Gonzalez.  The controversy stemmed from the September 12th DOJ order that required Tupas and Capadosa to explain or comment under oath on the administrative complaint filed against the two by the People’s Graftwatch of Iloilo.
 
In issuing the DOJ directive, Mejorada said, usurpation of authority was committed and more so on the apparent lack of official receipt by the Office of the President on the said Graftwatch complaint.
 
“Hence, Secretary Gonzalez arrogated unto himself the powers and prerogatives of the Office of the President illegally, maliciously and immorally,” excerpts of Mejorada’s complaint stated.  “Neither was the complaint properly indorsed or referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the Office of the President or the Executive Secretary which is the proper procedure had it been received by the Office of the President, a clear evidence of the patently illegal, improper and malicious manner by which Secretary Gonzalez assumed jurisdiction over the same.”

Evident was the haste, the Provincial Administrator further charged of Secretary Gonzalez’s action, just so to allegedly intimidate, harass and oppress the two top Capitol officials.

As for the “ignorance of the law” charge, Mejorada pointed out the supposed lack of basis for the investigating team created by the DOJ Secretary.  Again, he said, the panel was created “for the sole purpose of harassing, oppressing and maliciously prosecuting Governor Tupas and Board Member Capadosa.”

Other contentions as contained in the complaint include Mejorada’s assertions of an “orchestrated effort to harass, oppress and intimidate Governor Tupas and Board Member Capadosa with trumped-up charges as act of political vendetta and against the latter for their declaration of support to the Liberal Party stand asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign last July 8, 2005.”

Not only that, all he added, “is but a scripted play, a “moro-moro.”
The complaint was lodged before Tanodbayan Simeon Marcelo, Office of the Ombudsman.