Acosta, Palace to abide by order

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential adviser Nereus Acosta, who argued that suspending him would be tantamount to suspending the President, yesterday said he would abide by the ruling of the Sandiganbayan suspending him for 90 days on graft charges.

“I will submit myself to the law. This is what all public officials should do. Though the case was filed 12 years ago when I was still a congressman of Bukidnon, I will simply cooperate,” he said.

Acosta was representative of Bukidnon for three terms from 1998-2007. He ran for senator in 2010 under the Liberal Party but lost.

President Aquino appointed Acosta last year as presidential assistant on climate change and general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

Malacañang said it would not attempt to block the suspension order on Acosta, saying it will comply with the court order.

“Secretary Neric Acosta himself relayed to us that he, as an accountable official, should follow the decision of the Sandiganbayan. Secretary Acosta said he will comply with the court order,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Acosta, for his part, said he would only want to clarify with the Sandiganbayan what are the specific tasks or functions that he cannot perform during his 90-day suspension.

“It is clear to me that I would not be able to do administrative tasks. But then how about speaking in forum and similar activities,” he added.

Acosta tried to stop the Sandiganbayan from placing him under preventive suspension by arguing that as a Cabinet member, he is not covered by civil service rules and cannot be suspended because, as an alter ego of the President, it would be tantamount to suspending the President himself.

He also claimed that his appointment as a presidential adviser and LLDA general manager “is a political act which is beyond the power of courts to rule upon, interfere with, or adjudicate against.”

He also said the purpose of preventive suspension can no longer be achieved since the prosecution is almost finished in presenting its evidence and that there is no danger of him tampering with documentary evidence as he does not even have access to Congress files anymore. – Delon Porcalla