OUTGOING Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Emmanuel Caparas said he is willing to help the incoming secretary of the department if there is any point in the future when he would need a second opinion.
In an exclusive interview with Sun.Star Davao on Tuesday afternoon at Blugre Cafe, Landco Corporate Center in Davao City, Caparas said that he had been touring different provinces in the last two weeks for the purpose of checking out different challenges and problems faced by the DOJ offices so that he could solicit ideas on how to improve the services of the department during his remaining days in the position.
"I've been going around, meeting prosecutors, and telling [them at the same time to] support well our incoming [DOJ] secretary [Vitaliano Aguirre]," Caparas told Sun.Star Davao, adding that the latter will have plans and programs that they should support.
Caparas said that he had met with Aguirre just recently and he had given him his observations and some of his comments that he thinks should be done to improve the services of DOJ.
"[Aguirre] knows what he wants to do. He is very open and [I think] very purposeful ang pagka secretary niya and I have high hopes for the department," Caparas added.
He met with Regional Prosecution Office-Davao Director Lawyer Janet Grace Fabrero together with the City Prosecutors on Wednesday to discuss their problems and how he could extend help to them.
He had also been to Cebu City, Tacloban City, Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) and Cagayan De Oro City for the same purpose.
"I wanted to meet with the prosecutors to ask them how they are, what their issues and challenges are, and find out if I could come up with a suggestion on how to make a way forward for them," Caparas said.
He also suggested to prosecutors to put all their concerns in a memorandum and send it to him so that he could prepare it for the incoming DOJ Secretary.
"Respect [Aguirre] very highly. The work in the department is very serious. The job is very heavy and it is necessary that we start with a man who will take the challenge and will never drop the ball," Caparas said.
"I wish him all the best. If any point during his term, he requests me to give him some second point of view para matulungan siya, I am willing to help," Caparas added.
Caparas serves as undersecretary in the department for five months and nine days by June 30 this year since he was appointed by outgoing President Benigno Aquino III and started his term on January 22.
Caparas was preceded by Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguio and Leila de Lima.