De Lima willing to probe ‘Oplan Nognog’ too

To dispel accusations that her department has been practicing 'selective justice,' Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Wednesday she is willing to probe the alleged conspiracy against Vice President Jejomar Binay related to the 2016 presidential elections.

But in an interview with reporters, De Lima said there has to be a formal request first before she can mobilize the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the so-called Oplan Stop Nognog 2016, supposedly a conspiracy to discredit Binay and diminish his chances in the upcoming presidential elections.

 

"It would depend on what they [Binay's camp] really want to know. Kung may legitimate request, why not," said De Lima, adding that the NBI can step in only if it could be proven that the alleged plot has a "criminal end goal."

 

De Lima issued the statement following accusations that the Justice Department seemed to be practicing "selective justice" when it comes to conducting investigations.

 

"Anong selective justice sinasabi nila eh napakarami nga ng iniimbestigahan namin. Ang attitude namin, hanggat maaari, i-prioritize namin lahat," she said.

 

"Naha-highlight lang ito kasi high-profile. Hindi namin kasalanan if high-profile," she added.

 

De Lima earlier opened the possibility of the NBI stepping in to help the Senate in further investigating Binay, saying the Vice President is not immune from any government probe and suit.

This elicited a strong response from Binay, who criticized De Lima for focusing on the case of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and other allegations of corruption instead of the other matters that had long been pending before the DOJ.

 

“Andami daming kaso sa Department of Justice. May mga dapat ihabla sa DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program), PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund). E ito, ako ang inuuna pa. Parang walang gagawin ang DOJ kaya ako ang inuuna,” Binay was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

 

Binay added that the DOJ had yet to file complaints against the other lawmakers involved in the pork barrel scam after filing cases against Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. 

Both Enrile and Estrada are political allies of Binay.

Not part of 'anti-Binay plot'

 

But on Wednesday, De Lima said that if indeed there is such a plot against Binay, she is not a part of it.

 

"I don't think mayroong ganyang [Oplan]. Hindi ako sumasamasa ganyang so-called plot or conspiracies," she said.

 

Saying she does not belong to the ruling Liberal Party or any political circle, De Lima clarified neither President Benigno Aquino III nor Interior Secretary Mar Roxas convinced her to launch a probe against the Binays.

She said it was her own initiative to jump in the investigation. "I am an alter ego [of the President] in the sense na when I fulfill my mandate, hindi naman ako papakialaman ng Pangulo kasi wala akong ginagawang masama." 

 

"Pero pipigilan ako kung hindi tama o hindi naaayon sa batas ang ginagawa ko. Kung tingin niya part ito ng mandate, hindi ako pipigilan," De Lima added.

The Vice President's camp earlier pointed to Roxas as behind the anti-Binay plot.

Allies of Roxas, however, have since dismissed such accusation, stressing that the DILG chief does not have time to stage a demolition job because he is preoccupied with his tasks in the Aquino Cabinet.

On Tuesday, even former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he does not believe Roxas is behind the supposed anti-Binay plot. — RSJ, GMA News