MANILA, Philippines - Supreme Court Spokesperson and Court Administrator Midas Marquez vows to answer all the issues raised by the World Bank regarding ineligible expenses charged to a $21 million loan to the judiciary.

The World Bank has given the Supreme Court until the end of February to respond.

Marquez said out of the $21 million, only $200,000 or P8 million was being questioned by the World Bank, not even 1% of the said fund.

Of the said amount, P6 million was used to purchase computer equipment for the Supreme Court and the lower courts, a million pesos to print case digests distributed to judges, while the balance was spent for plane fares.

While he requested for the loan, Marquez said he was not part of the committee that dispensed with it.

"I was the one who requested for that service and I approved that service but in between, there was a bids and awards committee, but I was not part of that bids and awards committee," Marquez said on ANC's "Headstart."

"I requested for the service, it was for the Court. I did not benefit a single centavo from that contract."

"What an ineligible expense means is you can't charge it under the loan. It doesn't mean it wasn't spent for some public purpose."

The World Bank has questioned Marquez's appointment as administrator of the fund, saying holding too many positions could compromise checks and balances in the judiciary.

But Marquez notes, he never sought the sensitive position. He said that as Court Administrator, he is also Chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee due to an administrative circular.

"I've held this position even before the time of Chief Justice Corona. In fact during the time of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, I held more sensitive positions. There were no questions raised..."

"Going over these documents, I'm always very aware of my position in the court, and I've always conducted myself above board."

'Marquez should resign'

Akbayan repeated calls for Marquez to resign amid what he calls a lapse of judgement. On Friday, Akbayan Partylist Representative Walden Bello filed a request before the Ombudsman, seeking an investigation on Marquez for alleged abuse of office, in defending Chief Justice Renato Corona and for his involvement in the alleged misuse of world bank loans.

Marquez said the allegations are baseless, adding he will continue performing his duties in defense of Corona and the institution.

"As a court administrator, he should learn to distinguish yung personalidad ni Corona at nung judiciary. Sa tingin namin malaking lapse of judgement yan," Bello said in a separate interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."

"Noon hong first week ng hearings, naglabas nanaman si Justice Marquez ng statement na sinabi raw ni Corona na irelease na yun SALN kay Mrs. Vidal eh wala naman yun sa court records... He crossed the line again, he really ought to go."

For his part, Marquez said Corona has not yet been found guilty in any of the articles of impeachment.

"He continues to perform his function, a Chief Justice at that, therefore I should also continue to perform my function as a spokesperson of the Court and the Chief Justice," he said.

Marquez questioned the timing of the issue, which comes just as the Senate conducts hearings on the impeachment case against Chief Justice Corona.

"The draft was never leaked to the public. There was no issue at all. It just so happened the chief justice is undergoing impeachment proceedings. There's so much criticisms against the court and therefore this aide memoire... But even the cover letter of the aide memoire would say it is confidential."

In light of the recent controversy, Marquez admitted the Supreme Court should review the positions in the judiciary and possible conflict of interest, but adds, there's no urgency.

"Maybe but I don't think that should be a priority there are other priorities."

He also admitted there have been reports of questionable dealings involving justices but they remain unsubstantiated.

"The past year, we sanctioned around 100 judges and court personnel, some were dismissed, some suspended, some imposed fines."

He recalls one time a businessman told him a judge named his price for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), how he paid up, but then after failing to get an injunction decided to bring the matter to Marquez's attention.

Marquez said he recommended an entrapment operation with the National Bureau of Investigation but the businessman never showed up.

"We need businessmen, the litigants for us to weed the judiciary of misfits... I'm willing to risk my personal safety just to get these judges out of office."