DOJ chief tells Sabio: Extend leave

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday issued Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairman Camilo Sabio a two-page memorandum asking him not to assume his post for 30 more days.

Gonzalez’s memorandum was in response to Sabio’s letter dated Oct. 31, 2008 that informed the justice department that he will be reassuming his post as PCGG chair after going on vacation last September.

In his memo, Gonzalez told Sabio that while there is no legal impediment to his returning as PCGG chair, his return to the PCGG at this time might create an impression on the public that he has ulterior reasons for doing so.

Sabio went on leave after he was placed under investigation by the Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Confidant for allegedly talking to his younger brother, Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio, allegedly trying to influence him on the Meralco case before the CA.

Gonzalez asked Sabio to extend his vacation for 30 more days to allow the DOJ to wrap up its probe of the alleged bribery try on CA Justice Sabio by businessman Francis de Borja.

“In view of the foregoing incident, and while I consider that legally, there is no impediment for you to re-assume your duties as chairman of the PCGG, nonetheless, should you now assume your duties, it may appear in the public’s mind that you may have certain ulterior reasons or interests in the commission to protect that is why you now want to re-assume even without the results of the investigation conducted by the DOJ as well as the Bar Confidant’s being terminated. It is on this note that I ask you to give at least thirty days for this investigation to be concluded before re-assuming the chairmanship of the PCGG. Please be guided accordingly. Her Excellency the President is being advised on the matter,” said Gonzalez in his memo.

“Records will show that there were demands for your resignation and while no action was taken by this office nor by the Office of the President, you voluntarily went on leave of absence. We construed this to mean that your leave was out of delicadeza in order to free the PCGG, of which you are the chairman, from any unnecessary involvement since it had nothing to do with the conversation with your brother Justice Sabio which is a very statesmanlike gesture,” Gonzalez added.

Gonzalez told reporters that he issued the memo to Sabio to show the President that he can decide on matters that fall under his jurisdiction.

The PCGG was placed under the supervision of the DOJ last year by President Arroyo following reports that the agency had allegedly made secret compromise deals with the Marcos family.

“He can always cut short his leave. However, because he is the subject of an investigation, as a result of that Supreme Court order to us to investigate that problem in the Court of Appeals, I would feel that he should probably wait until the investigation is terminated. There is always the danger that he will be found responsible for something,” said Gonzalez.

Sabio went on leave after a disbarment case was recommended against him by the Supreme Court for his involvement in the CA bribery scandal that arose from the Manila Electric Co. corporate dispute between major stockholder Government Service Insurance System and Meralco management. – With Rainier Allan Ronda, Aurea Calica