MANILA, Philippines - Her colleague, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, may have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Supreme Court(SC) spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez for alleged abuse of power, but Commission on Human Rights(CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, herself a former representative of the party list, has recognized and thanked Marquez's "invaluable assistance" to the CHR in a recent case.

In a letter addressed to Marquez dated January 17, 2012 but received by the Supreme Court Public Information Office(PIO) last January 25, Rosales thanked Marquez and expressed her "appreciation to the Supreme Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator" for ensuring the transfer of venue of trial against Temogen Tulawie, whom she described as a staunch human rights defender in the province of Sulu.

"In behalf of the Commission on Human Rights, may I express my heartfelt appreciation to the Supreme Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator(OCA), for its invaluable assistance to the Commission's efforts to ensure that the Court's order changing the venue of the criminal cases filed against Mr. Temogen Tulawie from RTC Sulu to RTC Davao was upheld," Rosales' letter read.

Tulawie is accused of involvement in the alleged assassination plot against Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan last May 13, 2009 when the Sulu Capitol Complex in the town of Patikul was bombed.12 people were injured in the blast.

Tulawie was forced by alleged military intelligence operatives to board a commercial plane bound for Zamboanga City last January 17, and thereafter was supposed to be brought to Sulu upon orders of Sulu RTC Judge Betlee-lan Barraquias.

The CHR asked the Supreme Court to intervene and uphold the magistrates' resolution on June 13, 2011 that ordered the transfer of venue of Tulawie's trial to Davao City.

Tulawie's lawyers earlier opposed the holding of his trial in Sulu for fear his life may be in danger.

"I cannot possible over-emphasize the importance of OCA's quick response without which Mr. Tulawie's right to be tried in a safe and impartial venue would have been irreparably jeopardized. The people within and outside government who were mobilized to help protect Mr. Tulawie... saw in action how their Supreme COurt can reach out to protect the vulnerable in society," Rosales said.

While she recognized the efforts of the CHR regional offices, civil society organizations and the Philippine National Polcie(PNP) Human Rights officers in Region 11, Rosales said "the greatest credit for this success belongs to OCA, under your able leadership and the tireless support of Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva."

Rosales also said she remembered Marquez's role at the time of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, where Marquez also served as chief of staff of the then chief magistrate.

"I have never forgotten how in my previous role in civil society, Chief Justice Reynato Puno, with your able assistance, kept the doors of the Judiciary open to the scores of farmers being indiscriminately arrested on trumped up charges by landowners bent on frustrating the ends of agrarian justice," Rosales expressed.

"The Judiciary's prompt and effective response to our requests in recent events affirms even more the deep esteem I have held for the institution ever since that first time we worked with it on democratizing access to justice especially for the poor and powerless," she added.

Rosales' colleague, Bello, today accused Marquez of "marshaling" the resources of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary for the "personal defense of the Chief Justice, to the detriment of the public.”