Loren on Leviste controversy: Law should apply to everyone

source: gmanews

Inmates should be punished for breaking the law when they go out of jail without permission.

This was the answer of Sen. Loren Legarda when asked on her reaction on the controversy involving her former husband, convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste, who was arrested last week for leaving the national penitentiary without permission from authorities.

“Ang batas ay kailangang ipatupad sa lahat ng tao... patas dapat ipatupad ang batas (The law should apply to everyone and it should be implemented fairly)," Legarda said.

Leviste, 71, is a former governor of Batangas province. In 2009, he was convicted for killing his friend and long-time aide Rafael de las Alas two years before.

“Dapat sundin ang batas mayaman o mahirap, may kapangyarihan o wala (The law should be followed by everyone, whether you are rich or poor, powerful or not)," Legarda added.

The senator, however, refused to elaborate any further and instead appealed to the media to stop asking her questions regarding her former husband.

“Ang habang panahon annulled na rin kami...yung mga seven years mo nang di mo nakikita parang di na rin relevant (We’ve been annulled for so long. If you haven't seen a person for seven years, they don't seem that relevant anymore)," she said.

Legarda and Leviste parted ways in 2003.

In a separate interview, Senate justice committee Sen. Francis Escudero said his panel is open to considering conducting its own investigation into how Leviste managed to go in and out of prison without the proper pass.

“Kung may senador na maghahain ng resolusyon titingnan din namin sa committee on justice (If there is a senator who will file a resolution, we will see what the committee on justice can do)," he said.

Escudero said Leviste can be held liable for evasion of sentence while those proven to have knowingly allowed him to go out of prison without a pass can be held liable for infidelity in the custody of prisoners.

Legarda, for her part, said she will not hesitate to participate an inquiry if the Senate decides to conduct one on the matter.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, for his part, said officials who allowed Leviste to go in and out of prison without a proper pass should be relieved from their positions.

“Kung ako ang masusunod (If I were to be followed), I’ll fire everybody there. That’s about it. I’ll relieve everyone," he said.

source: gmanews