DoJ chief to inhibit in probe of Susano’s flash cards
By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/06/2010 Newly-appointed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is recusing herself in the continuing investigation into the possession of former Quezon City Rep. Mary Ann Susano of election compact flash (CF) cards. Speaking to reporters, De Lima yesterday said she has decided not to participate in the case because Susano, who ran but lost in the Quezon City mayoral race last May 10, used to be her client. “If that case would ever reach my office, I would have to inhibit because she was my client in an election case when I was still practicing law in private,” De Lima said, adding the case may instead be assigned to an undersecretary in the department. Former Justice Alberto Agra said Susano could be held liable for mere possession of CF cards, which she presented during an earlier inquiry in the House of Representatives. In the last case conference on June 28, Susano’s lawyer only submitted a certificate from local election office showing that there is no missing CF card in the precinct where her CF cards supposedly came from. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office had already reported that there were some CF cards missing in that same precinct, which shows an apparent inconsistency in records of the poll body. The mere possession of CF card is prohibited under the poll automation law. Aside from Susano, the election officer assigned to take custody of the card could also be held accountable for misplacing the card. Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100706hed4.html |
0 comments
Post a Comment