Austerity measures at DOJ

Newly appointed Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday he would support the government’s austerity measures by using his own vehicles and reducing travel and other perks of officials and employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies.

"I will also limit my backup cars," Gonzalez said. "I don’t believe in having backup cars — only when necessary, maybe — and I don’t like small cars anyway. I have a Hi-ace and a Pajero."

He said another way the government can save funds is to cut traveling expenses — junkets normally passed off as "seminars or lectures," out of town and other non-essential spending.

"Of course, there are seminars and travels that are necessary. But, if there are seminars that can be done in the regions, then let them be held there," he said.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Merceditas Gutierrez, who was acting justice secretary, turned the DOJ over to Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said he felt "vindicated" as he assumed the helm of the DOJ. "I had many detractors, including the media," he said.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez wept as DOJ employees sang Auld Lang Syne to bid her goodbye.

She served at the DOJ for 21 years, starting as part of the department’s legal staff in 1983. As acting secretary, she succeeded in pushing for the 100 percent increase in compensation for the department’s undersecretaries, state counsels and prosecutors through special allowances.

Gutierrez expressed hope that Gonzalez would continue with the weekly meetings she had with rank-and-file workers in the DOJ to hear out their grievances and requests.

She also managed to save public money during her stint as acting DOJ secretary by being strict with the use and payment of utilities like water and electricity.

"The savings are for the rank-and-file," she said as she left.

Gonzalez, for his part, said he would first review the situation at the DOJ, including funding and expenditures, but said he already has a generally good impression of his new staff. — Aurea Calica