AGO performance faces House scrutiny

The House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations is set to conduct its investigation soon into the Attorney General’s Office to determine how government lawyers have handled cases handed over to them for litigation.

According to chair Rep. Dino M. Jones, the panel plans to meet first with acting Attorney General Herb D. Soll and other AGO officials to seek information regarding the status of these cases.

“I will sit down with the AG’s office and request information on all the cases that have been referred to them to find out which are those being disposed accordingly, and those that are not,” he said.

The committee has been tasked last month by House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial to hold the inquiry following a request from Rep. Stanley T. Torres who has alleged that the AGO is not doing its job.

A staunch critic of government prosecutors, he has called for the probe to stop what he claimed as bias and prejudice based on documents and evidence in several cases handled by the AGO over the last few years.

In particular, he wanted lawmakers to inquire on the status of a 17-month old case in which a Filipino contract worker died in a car accident. The suspect involved in the October 1998 incident remains scot-free.

Mr. Torres recently had questioned AGO’s motive in filing a sexual abuse case against lawyer Joey Arriola in light of the latter’s recent victory in a case that finally forced former acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara out of office.

The alleged incident occurred two years ago, but it was only early this month that the AGO charged Mr. Arriola — barely two months following the landmark court ruling. Assistant Attorney General James Benedetto, lead prosecutor on the sexual abuse raps, has denied Mr. Torres’ allegations.

“We continue to have these reports. I want to know what actions have been taken by the public auditor’s office, the AG’s office and the appropriate departments,” explained Mr. Jones.

“We want to make sure that we protect the integrity of the government, that we use appropriately the public funds,” added the JGO chair. “If we don’t do that, it’s going to be a bad mirror for the future generation.”

The committee has yet to set specific date for the probe, as the House leadership traveled to Washington D.C. last week and most members are expected to return to the island later this week.

Mr. Soll has dismissed Mr. Torres’ allegations, saying they have no merits. Speaker Fitial last month said the House should look into the matter “very seriously.”