CITY OF MALOLOS—Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa sneaked out from his hectic works in Malacanang and made an early Christmas mingling with his former fellow practicing lawyers in Bulacan to seek their help and participation in President Aquino’s justice reform program.
Speaking as guest speaker at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Bulacan chapter Legal Olympics and Christmas party at the Capitol Gym here Friday night, he said he disregarded three other invitations to him that night and chose to re-visit Bulacan to re-unite with his colleagues and also to ask them what they can contribute for the needed reform in the justice system in the country under Mr. Aquino’s administration.
He told his colleagues that the legal sector has a big role in the “walang corrupt walang mahirap” thrust of President Aquino.
“Walang corrupt walang mahirap, malaki ang papel nating mga abogado as lawyers, fiscals, judges sa pagsusulong nito, si Presidente kayang kaya niyang panindigan ang kalinisan niya sa paglilingkod”.
Ochoa disclosed that he had been making talks with Justice Secretary Leila De Lima about what he sees being a lawyer himself who had practiced his profession before that there are laws and provisions under the present justice system in the country that needed to be reformed and changed.
He said they have found shocking and earth-worm like dirt but could not make immediate legal actions because of the weakness of the law especially on the rules of evidence.
“Sa six months namin, marami kaming nakitang karumal dumal pero hindi ganoon kadaling dalin sa husgado o patunayan dahil sa rules of evidence,” he said.
Ochoa boasted that it is the only time that the country would see a leader with such integrity as Mr. Aquino’s. “Straight guy, clean guy,” he said.
Ochoa sought the help of Bulacan judges, prosecutors and lawyers to be part of the reforms needed to be done.
“Maybe you can propose something to help us up” as judicial reforms is one of the top priorities of the Aquino administration”, he said.
Ochoa said that he hope the changes in the reform system would start in Bulacan as he trust and agree with the policies and governance of the present administration. “Sana dito mag-start sa atin sa Bulacan. Tapat tayo sa ating tungkulin, sa ating sarili to move forward ang bansa natin, the fight against graft and corruption is a long journey and we are only in our six months now”.
“Maybe you can propose something in aid of legislation because of conflicting and overlapping laws. Ang revised penal Code natin ay Commonwealth Period pa naka-based, may mga batas, provisions doon na dapat baguhin. Mas Maganda kung magagawa natin ito dito sa Bulacan”.
He told NEWS CORE that court procedures particularly in acquiring speedy justice in the country has to be improved to better serve the people.
The Executive Secretary who hails from Pulilan town and have practiced his law profession for six years in Malolos City in 1990’s, said the works in Malacanang is really tough although they are trying to make it look ordinary.
“Ginagawa lang naming ordinary ang kapaligiran namin pero ang trabaho ang hindi ordinaryo”.
According to the Executive Secretary, there is only a few in the government who are expert yet are lazy and not dependable compared in the private offices that’s why the lawyers, judges and fiscals have their own major part to make the reforms.
He recalled he used to help a number of inmates at the Bulacan Provincial Jail when he started practicing as a young lawyer in the province in early 1990’s “Ang dalas noon na langgoniza ang almusal ko dahil iyon ang ibinabayad sa akin ng mga natulungan ko sa kaso nila na mga bilanggo. I’m so happy I started those days and come to help people in my profession in the past. I have no regrets”.
Ochoa was was given the highest Marcelo H. Del Pilar recognition for being the current Executive Secretary of President Aquino, the highest position in government attained by a member of the Bualcan IBP.
Renato Samonte and Jose De La Rama, current and former President of the Bulacan IBP who have long been helping inmates and other victims of injustice in Bulacan who come to seek their help welcomed the Secretary’s appeal and assured him of their help.
However, despite the loopholes in the justice system especially in the procedures for speedy justice, Ochoa said fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson should still trust the law.
He reiterates Malacanang’s hands off stand on the arrest of Lacson but expressed hope that the official should trust the law.
He told reporters in an interview that Malacanang really has to distance itself on the case and the situation of Lacson as there is already a case filed against him in court.
“Siyempre it has to distant itself dahil may kaso ng naka-file and it’s up to him to defend himself. Sana magtiwala siya sa batas,” he said.