Lawmakers on Tuesday expressed their support to the appointment of former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II as commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) representing the private sector.
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez vouched for Aguirre’s capability to be part of the Commission that is disciplining police force and probing irregularities in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“He’s qualified. Being at the helm of the DoJ (Department of Justice) and a trial lawyer as well makes him a good addition to the Commission,” Barbers, chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and vice chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said in a text message.
Alvarez, former House Speaker, also expressed his vote of confidence to Aguirre’s appointment.
“I know personally former DoJ Secretary Vit Aguirre and I believe he is well qualified for the job. Let us support him,” he said.
House Assistant Majority Leader Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo agreed with her colleagues, saying that the President Duterte’s decision to appoint Aguirre as Napolcom commissioner deserves to be supported.
“Secretary Aguirre used to head the Justice Department handling different law enforcement agencies. He has the experience and knowledge. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt,” she said.
Malacañang announced Monday night the appointment of Aguirre as Napolcom commissioner representing the private sector.
In 2016, Aguirre, a former classmate of Duterte in law school, was appointed as DoJ secretary.
In April 2018, he resigned from his post following controversies hounding the DoJ, including the dismissal of charges against self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and Peter Lim. (Charissa Luci-Atienza)
