SC concludes probe on leak; Reyes may be sanctioned
By Aries C. Rufo, abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak | 01/27/2009 3:49 PM
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The Association of Retired Justices of the Supreme Court has held in abeyance the possible membership of former Justice Ruben Reyes from the group, following the leakage scandal in the Tribunal.
This developed as the SC committee tasked to look into the leakage wrapped up its probe and is expected to submit its findings to the High Court in today’s en banc.
A retired justice told abs-cnnews.com/Newsbreak that Reyes’s membership has been put on hold in the wake of his alleged involvement in the leak.
A copy of Reyes’s draft ponente (or decision) found its way to one of the litigants in the election and citizenship case of Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong. The draft decision was not promulgated by Chief Justice Reynato Puno after seven justices only concurred ‘in the result.” This means the justices agreed with the decision but not on the premises or reasoning of the ponencia (writer).
Puno’s refusal to promulgate the decision has raised suspicions of irregularity on his part causing alleged attempts to impeach him in the House of Representatives. One of the parties to the Limkaichong case is the Paras family, Limkaichong’s political rival.
Over a lunch meeting today, the retired justices agreed to wait for the SC resolution on the leakage before further action on Reyes’ membership, the source said.
“The standard procedure is to invite the justice after retirement. But in the case of Reyes, we will decide whether to invite or accept him depending on the SC resolution,” the source said.
The source recalled the case of retired Justice Fidel Purisima who was admonished by the Court following his failure to disclose the fact that a nephew was one of the examinees in the 1999 bar examinations. Purisima was chair of the bar exams then. “He was not invited because of the SC censure.”
Same fate as Purisima?
Meanwhile, indications show that Reyes may suffer the same fate as Purisima.
We learned that the committee, chaired by Justice Leonardo Quisumbing with Justices Renato Corona and Conchita Carpio-Morales as members, has asked for a copy of the SC resolution on the Purisima case.
In that resolution dated March 2000, the SC censured Purisima for breach of duty and confidence and forfeited half of his fees as chair of the 1999 bar exams. Purisima resigned from the SC.
“They might use the resolution as precedence,” one former justice said.
Since Reyes is no longer an active justice, his retirement benefits could be slashed. We learned that Reyes has not yet received his retirement benefits.
Reyes was among those summoned in the probe, including his staff. There is general suspicion that money changed hands in exchange for the leak.
