DOJ chief back, holds ‘sanitized’ press con

Like Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez made good on his promise to return to his Padre Faura office, albeit looking more fragile this time.

After surviving a life-threatening kidney transplant, the 76-year-old Gonzalez last Monday addressed Department of Justice (DOJ) employees and officials in his first flag-raising speech after his operation.

“You cannot imagine the things I underwent. I survived a very serious medical problem. I have returned. I came through a very serious medical problem and when I was in the hospital, I told the President I shall return and with the grace of the Almighty God, I have returned,” he told the DOJ employees.

Later in the afternoon, Gonzalez met reporters at the DOJ executive lounge in a “sanitized” press conference.

Reporters entering the lounge were surprised when members of Gonzalez’s staff sprayed their hands with disinfectant. Tape recorders, microphones and cameras were also splashed with disinfectant.

Unlike before his operation, reporters were no longer allowed to crowd near Gonzalez and were made to ask their questions from a distance as the justice secretary sat behind his desk.

During the conference, Gonzalez stressed that there is no “power struggle” between him and former acting justice secretary, Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera, contrary to what was reported by another newspaper.

Gonzalez had earlier told DOJ employees there is no truth to the rumor.

“Is there a need among members of the DOJ family to engage in these kinds of hearsay? I am very open. That is not my character,” he said.

Gonzalez also dismissed the need for an independent probe of the Batasan blast as it has already been probed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Most of the findings there came from the NBI in the same manner that the findings from (the) Glorietta (blast) came from NBI. I think that is irrelevant already,” he said.

Gonzalez likewise reiterated that the policies he had set forth when he assumed office three years ago will remain unchanged.

“The policies I set forth since August 31, 2004 remains basically our main mission, which is to give the poor more access to justice and to give everyone an equal opportunity to justice,” he said.