SC urged to 'swiftly' probe bribery scandal in CA
abs-cbnnews.com | 08/01/2008 6:52 PM
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Several senators from both the administration and opposition called on the Supreme Court (SC) Friday to immediately step into the alleged bribery scandal at the Court of Appeals (CA), which involves the battle for control of the Manila Electric Corp. (Meralco), the country's largest power distribution firm.
Senator Francis Pangilinan, in a statement, urged the Supreme Court to "act swiftly to get to the bottom of the scandal and immediately punish the guilty."
"The SC must show no hesitation whatsoever in pursuing this controversy. The entire judiciary's reputation is tarnished by this scandal, and the swiftness within which the SC responds will determine whether the damage is temporary and minimal or if it will be massive and irreparable," Pangilinan said.
CA Justice Jose Sabio has accused businessman and alleged Meralco emissary Francis de Borja of offering him a P10 million bribe to let go of the case involving the fight for control of the Meralco board between the Lopez family and the Government Service Insurance system (GSIS).
De Borja has countered by saying that Sabio was willing to accept P50 million in exchange for rejecting juicy offers from government, including a Supreme Court post, to rule in favor of the GSIS.
Sabio has also indicated that there may be something suspicious in the way two other justices of the CA quickly ruled in favor of Meralco.
The CA decision effectively blocked GSIS President Winston Garcia's attempt to take control of the Meralco board.
Meralco chairman Manuel Lopez denied Friday that he asked De Borja to bribe Sabio in order to get a favorable ruling on the Meralco case at the CA.
"The SC must respond with clear and convincing resoluteness by dismissing from the service the CA justices involved in the irregularities, if the evidence warrants it," Pangilinan said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, a distant relative of Sabio, said whoever tried to bribe the CA should be made to account for the crime.
"Kung sino ang nag-offer ng bribe kay Justice Sabio, dapat ihabla kasi krimen yon e," Pimentel said.
And to show he wasn't taking the side of his distant relative Sabio, he added, "Of course yung sinsabi ng abogado, dapat pakinggan din."
He likewise called on the SC to act immediately and look into the bribery scandal since it is affecting the judiciary's reputation.
"Ang sama ng dating sa taongbayan because kumbaga, right at the doorstep na ng Supreme Court ito e. It's not only the national, but also the international reputation of the judiciary could be compromised," Pimentel said.
Even administration Senator Edgardo Angara is concerned about the effect of the bribery scandal on the image of the judiciary.
"Of course, my God when you say that the second-highest level of the judiciary in the Philippines is corrupt and bribable, who's going to be safe investing here or even travelling here?" Angara said.
Regardless of the outcome of Meralco-GSIS case at the CA, the senators also said it is clear the case can no longer be heard by Sabio since his fairness has already been tarnished by the various allegations. -- with a report from LYNDA JUMILLA, ABS-CBN News
(abs-cbnNEWS.com is the online news department of ABS-CBN Interactive Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., part of the Lopez Group of Companies)
