Produce evidence, Perez tells Abra gov

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez challenged Abra Gov. Vicente Valera yesterday to substantiate his allegations that justice is, indeed, for sale in his province.

"If he can execute a sworn statement on what is going on in his province, then it will be a welcome development. We will conduct the necessary investigation," he told reporters.

Perez also urged Valera to collate and submit his evidence against alleged corrupt judicial officials in his turf.

"If (the governor) can submit the necessary documents, if he can cite the cases (where there had been fixing), then I will take action. Unless I have evidence on hand, then I cannot make any action," the 62-year-old Cabinet secretary said.

Perez, however, clarified that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will only investigate suspected erring prosecutors, not judges who, he said, falls under the authority of Supreme Court administrator Presbyterio Velasco.

Valera, himself a lawyer, has urged both the DOJ and the Supreme Court to conduct a "full-blown investigation" into what he claimed is corruption in Abra’s judicial system.

He earlier said this corruption could have triggered the recent ambush of Abra prosecutor Rodor Gayao.

"Justice is for sale here and the whole province knows it. We are lucky that my provincemates are not relying on the New People’s Army for quick justice. Shall we wait for that time to come?" he said.

Prosecutors and judges in Abra, however, are not in good terms with Valera. The provincial chapters of the Philippine Judges’ Association, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the National Prosecutors League of the Philippines have denounced his recent tirades.

In a signed manifesto, Judges Charito Gonzales and Corpuz Alzate, Abra-IBP president Cipriano Blanco and prosecutors Oscar Lorenzo and Nestor Tolentino said Valera’s accusations were not just unfair but "highly inflammatory."