MANILA - New Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II will not hesitate to prosecute members of the Department of Justice found to engage in corrupt activities.

This was Aguirre's warning to the DOJ family as he attended his first flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

"I will be relentless in pursuing the investigation and prosecuting the guilty parties. Hindi po katanggap tanggap sa ating pangulo na magkaroon ng kahit isang kaso ng corruption dito involving DOJ officials," Aguirre said.

"Kaya po't kung mayroon pong mga nagpapatuloy ng kanilang maling ginagawa, haharapin po natin yan, tutugisin po natin yan."

Aguirre reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte's marching orders for the DOJ: weed out corruption, and prioritize the resolution of drug-related and heinous crimes cases -- ills which Aguirre labeled as "the three-headed hydra."

He stressed that while there are honest and well-performing DOJ officials and employees, there are those who have succumbed to corruption.

"Alam ko po, inuulit ko, marami sa atin naniniwala sa kalinisan ng ating goberyno lalong lalo na sa ating Department of Justice. But I know also there are some na medyo naliligaw ng landas kaya nga po hopefully beginning this morning tayo ay magkakaisa."

"Kung kayo ay naliligaw, tayo po ay magkaisa at tuwirin po natin ang ating gawa," Aguirre said.

On his first day in office last Friday, Aguirre told journalists that he has yet to receive sworn complaints against alleged corrupt DOJ officials and employees. He also said there is no documentary evidence, so far, to back up claims of corruption at the department.

Addressing both the DOJ family and the public on Monday, Aguirre said his office is open to receive complaints and evidence. "Bukas po ang aking tanggapan upang tanggapin ang anumang complaint o sumbong tungkol dito," he said.

Ending his speech, Aguirre borrowed the words of the late French philosopher and journalist Albert Camus: "Don't walk in front of me… I may not follow. Don't walk behind me… I may not lead. Walk beside me… just be my friend."