FORMER Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday, April 10, shared the accomplishments of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during his stint as he addressed for the last time employees he had led for the past two years.
During his last flag ceremony at the DOJ, Aguirre said he was glad that the department has made great strides in its plan to make the DOJ better.
Among the accomplishments he cited are the grant of the 30-day wellness leave for prosecutors; the procurement of one laptop per prosecutor; the construction of the DOJ Regional Building in Cebu City and the signing of a memorandum of agreement for the future site of a DOJ Building in Davao.
He also mentioned the groundbreaking of the DOJ Building in Tuguegarao City and the groundbreaking of the DOJ Building in Virac, Catanduanes.
Aguirre added that during his tenure, the DOJ's Provident Fund has increased from P122,400 to P57.35 million as of December 31.
Aguirre resigned last week following public outcry stemming from the DOJ's decision to junk the drug complaint filed against Peter Lim and Kerwin Espinosa and its decision to place alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles under the department's witness protection program.
Aguirre said he was grateful for having served the country. He also thanked employees at the DOJ for their support.
"You have provided me the inspiration to lead by walking beside me, never behind me nor ahead of me, from day one. And for that I thank you!"
"I am not sad that it has ended, rather I am thankful that it happened. I am eternally grateful to all!" he added.
He reiterated his call for the DOJ employees to welcome with the same degree of enthusiasm and cooperation the team of incoming Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
He ended: "There is only one DOJ. Let us love and serve it to the best of our abilities. As they say, no tearful goodbyes, but always a joyful hello and a blessed see you again." (SunStar Philippines)