P-Noy denies sending emissary to Cuevas

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino denied yesterday sending an emissary to ask retired Supreme Court associate justice Serafin Cuevas to withdraw as lead defense counsel of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Truth to tell, the issue seems not worthy of any comment,” he said.

In an interview at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Information Agency, Aquino said his relationship with the Iglesia ni Cristo remained okay.

“I think we have good relations,” he said. “We’re talking with each other.”

Aquino said the cases of Cuevas and former National Bureau of Investigation director Magtanggol Gatdula have “no connection.”

“Gatdula’s case will be driven by the evidence,” he said.

“We have finished the investigation by the DOJ (Department of Justice). It goes now to a formal proceeding called the preliminary investigation, at which point, he can defend himself.”

Aquino said he has lost his trust and confidence in Gatdula.

“Justice here is not based on the desires of any person or group of persons,” he said.

“Justice has to be driven by what the evidence shows us and that is what we’re trying to do here.”

Cuevas initially claimed that an emissary of Malacañang was pressuring the Iglesia ni Cristo to ask him to stop defending Corona in exchange for the dropping of the extortion and kidnapping charges against Gatdula.

Cuevas and Gatdula are members of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Cuevas later denied making such a claim.