AGO unfazed by probe threat

The Attorney General’s Office will be ready to face any investigation into its recent actions should the House of Representatives press ahead with a planned oversight hearing.

But acting Attorney General Herb Soll dismissed allegations leveled by Rep. Stanley T. Torres of “selective prosecution” and “retaliation” against local residents challenging the AGO’s legal authority.

“They don’t have merits so we cannot comment on the allegations,” he said when sought for comment yesterday. Mr. Soll declined to elaborate.

He added, however, that the AGO would face any oversight hearing on Mr. Torres’ charges if there would be a formal request from the House.

Speaker Benigno R. Fitial instructed the other day the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations to look into the allegations after Mr. Torres called for the probe.

Rep. Dino M. Jones, JGO chair, is expected to meet today with members of his committee to decide on how to proceed with the investigation.

But he said he is not yet sure whether it would be a full-scale oversight, although the panel may ask the AGO to provide them information and documents.

The AGO came under fire anew for its recent actions on cases that Mr. Torres claimed have shown “selective prosecution” and “retaliation” against local residents who legally challenge its authority.

In a privilege speech Monday, the representative accused government lawyers of bias and prejudice based on documents and evidence in several cases handled by the AGO.

Mr. Torres, a staunch critic of the AGO, said the investigation should be conducted by the House to stop what he claimed as unfair actions committed by the agency.

Specifically, 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.