Gatdula lawyer mulls contempt raps vs DOJ

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of former National Bureau of Investigation director Magtanggol Gatdula has threatened to file contempt charges against Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and the DOJ panel tasked to probe the former NBI chief.

Abraham Espejo said yesterday they would file first a motion before Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 8 Judge Felixberto Olalia to ask De Lima and her panel of prosecutors why they should not be cited in contempt for defying the temporary restraining order issued by the Manila RTC against the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

Espejo decried the “utter disregard and disrespect of a lawful court order” by De Lima and the DOJ prosecutors.

“They are doing what is prohibited by the law. They only do what they want,” he said.

Espejo said Gatdula has become “more depressed” with the DOJ’s “disrespect” for the court order.

Espejo also dismissed the claim of government lawyers that Gatdula’s motion for the issuance of a preliminary  injunction is moot and academic.

De Lima earlier issued Department Order (DO) 47 reconstituting the DOJ panel to reevaluate the recommendation to charge Gatdula for kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Noriyo Ohara, an undocumented Japanese woman.

The Office of the Solicitor General said the court could not stop the implementation of DO 47.

Espejo, on the other hand,  assured the public that they would abide by the decision of the Manila court, which is hearing Gatdula’s motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the DOJ from conducting an investigation on his case.