De Lima questions SC writ of amparo to witness’ father

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday questioned the writ of amparo issued by the Supreme Court (SC) last Tuesday that paves the way for the bid of the father of the 16-year-old witness who tagged Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. in the killing of Infanta town Mayor Ruperto Martinez last December, to regain custody of his son.

De Lima likened the issuance of the extraordinary relief to the case of former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula who got a writ of amparo from the Manila regional trial court last year but which the SC voided recently.

“Like in the Gatdula case, this may very well be another case of misuse of the extraordinary remedy of a writ of amparo,” she said in a statement.

De Lima vowed to challenge the propriety of the SC’s issuance of the writ in the petition of Jaime Aquino.

She said she could not believe how Aquino convinced the SC to issue the writ based on allegation that the DOJ and NBI “abused” and enticed his son into pointing to Espino and Pangasinan first district Rep. Jesus Celeste as the alleged masterminds in the Martinez killing.

“More than anything else, the DOJ/NBI simply act as the protectors of the subject minor witness and the investigators of the illegal/criminal acts narrated by said minor witness. Are these acts of ours unlawful? This is our mandate,” she said.