DOJ chief resigning before November

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez confirmed yesterday his plan to run for mayor in his hometown of Iloilo and to resign from his Cabinet post earlier than required under the law for officials seeking local elective positions.

Gonzalez told reporters that he would tender his resignation before November after setting in motion the reinvestigation of the murders of Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. The poll automation law requires Cabinet officials and other appointees eyeing elective posts in 2010 to resign no later than November.

Gonzalez said he has already signified to President Arroyo his intention to resign long before the 2010 polls, citing the need to attend to “some family problems.”

“The President knows that I’m suffering a little bit of fatigue. And she is suggesting that I get a less strenuous job,” Gonzalez said.

A source said the Justice secretary was offered the post of presidential chief legal counsel.

Gonzalez said he wants the preliminary investigation on the Dacer-Corbito double murder case properly done before he leaves his post.

He admitted he is unlikely to complete the investigation and prosecution of the controversial case: “The best thing I can do is to handle the presentation of evidence in this case but that’s impossible,” he said.

“I don’t want to take responsibility for something I won’t have control of,” he added. A source said Gonzalez is determined to unmask the mastermind in the gruesome murders.

When asked, Gonzalez said he has no personal choice for his replacement but added, “It is possible that there are people salivating for this job.”

Reports said Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III and Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera are among those being considered by the Palace as Gonzalez’s replacement.

One of the personal concerns of Gonzalez is his ailing son.

“From the time of my resignation, I want to have time with my family before the May election. My son is sick. I haven’t attended to him for a long time because of my job,” he said.

“I want to bring him to Lourdes in France and pray for a miracle there,” he said.

But a source said issues hounding his department’s handling of many cases have contributed to his decision to resign at an earlier date.

“He feels beleaguered since his office is plagued with so many intrigues,” the source said.

A source had claimed that the death of the wife of broadcaster Ted Failon had something to do with Gonzalez’s decision to resign.

Gonzalez supposedly resented pressure from powerful individuals for him to order the National Bureau of Investigation to make it appear that it was Failon who killed his wife Trina Etong.

The NBI eventually ruled Etong’s death a suicide.

The DOJ chief said that he has supported the NBI “all throughout.”

Earlier, Gonzalez said he opted to run for public office because he did not expect the next president to give him a new job.

“President Arroyo’s term will end in 2010 and I can’t expect the next administration to appoint me, so I will probably just serve my people there in Iloilo,” he said.

“The best option for me is to run for mayor. I would like to spend my remaining time in government in my own home,” he explained.

He said he would only consider running for congressman if his son, Raul Jr., who currently holds the post, would yield to him.