New justice chief vows reforms

Former deputy speaker Raul Gonzalez Sr. is taking over the Department of Justice with a bold vision to "spread justice properly among the rich and poor."

While he believes it is too early to disclose the details of his plans for the department, Gonzalez said one of his "ideas" is for a performance audit of prosecutors.

"We start with the basics. We have to find out the performing and non-performing prosecutors because most of the cases they handle involve the poor people, those without any connection. We tend to focus on high-profile and glamorous cases," he said. "We have to pity and work for the marginalized sectors of our society."

Gonzalez is also considering an audit of evidence in the department.

"There are reports that some are missing, some are being sold. We have to find out these things. It is unfair to actually make prejudgments at this point," he said.

Gonzalez vowed to strengthen the Public Attorney’s Office, which provides free legal assistance to the poor, and "fast-track the resolution of cases."

"We know how people get disheartened with the snail-paced system of justice, and that is not good for our image," he said.

Gonzalez said he would also check on the attached agencies of the department such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Corrections.

"We have to solve the Nida Blanca case. This is a concern of the NBI, isn’t it? And there are these reports of privileged prisoners. We will look into these problems," he said.

The tough-talking Gonzalez dismissed talk that his appointment by President Arroyo was a political "payback" for his role in the congressional canvassing for the presidential and vice presidential votes.

"I don’t know what payback they are talking about. She does not need to run again, so she is no longer beholden to anybody. That is quite unfair to the President and to the appointee. It detracts from the qualifications and competence of the appointed person," he said.

Gonzalez admitted he had talked with the President about the job as early as last year, when then justice secretary Simeon Datumanong announced he was resigning to run for his old congressional post in Maguindanao.

He said it was Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. who recommended him to the President after a dinner at Malacañang for visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

"It came in a circuitous way. When Speaker De Venecia brought up the idea, the President asked me if I was interested, and I said, if you (Mrs. Arroyo) have confidence in me, why not?" he said.

Gonzalez said his appointment "was delayed" because the President asked him to be her campaign manager for the Visayas during the May 10 elections and to help protect her votes during the congressional canvass.

"I told her that whatever she thought I could do to support her, I would gladly abide by it," he said.

Gonzalez earned the moniker "Mr. Noted" during the canvassing in Congress as this was his frequent reply to complaints by the opposition over the way the canvass was being conducted.

Gonzalez argued that if the President was after a "payback Cabinet," then former Batanes congressman Florencio Abad should not have been appointed education secretary because he delivered only 6,000 votes for her.

"That is only one barangay. So what does the President owe him? I delivered a large vote for the President in Iloilo and the Visayas but apparently this was not her gauge, considering the case of Abad. She also looked into our qualifications," he said.

Gonzalez began his public service as Tanodbayan (the old name for the Ombudsman) in 1986 after the EDSA people power revolt. He served only until 1988, when he was suspended from law practice after a bitter feud with justices of the Supreme Court (SC).

Before that, he was the lead prosecutor in the trial of the soldiers involved in the Aquino-Galman double murders in August 1983.

As Tanodbayan, he initiated investigations into complaints against the SC justices, who believed they could only be removed from office through impeachment.

Gonzalez then served as consultant to his wife, Pacita, who became the representative of Zambales’ second district from 1987 to 1992, the year his suspension was lifted.

In 1995, he ran for Congress and won a seat as Iloilo representative. He was twice reelected to the post.

In an interview with a STAR editor, Gonzalez said his appointment was a "vindication" for standing his ground against the justices of the SC even if it cost him his job.

"They wanted me to apologize," he said.

Gonzalez will replace Acting Justice Secretary Ma. Merceditas Gutierrrez, who has been named chief presidential legal counsel.

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño vowed to support Gonzalez as the "President’s choice."

"We will back whoever the President chooses. That is her decision and we respect it," he said.