Three retired justices to hear CA bribery scandal
abs-cbnnews.com | 08/04/2008 7:23 PM
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The Supreme Court (SC) created a panel of three retired justices to hear the bribery case in the Court of Appeals (CA) involving the battle for control of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) between the Lopez family and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
In a meeting Monday, the SC appointed retired justices Flerida Ruth Romero, Romeo Calleja, and Carolina Grino Aquino to the panel that will hear allegations of bribery and other alleged improprieties of CA justices involved in the Meralco case.
The panel will hold hearings and then submit a report to the SC en banc by August 22.
CA Justice Jose Sabio has accused an alleged Meralco emissary, Francis de Borja, of offering him a P10 million bribe for dropping the case so that two other CA justices would rule in favor of Meralco.
De Borja, in turn, has alleged that Sabio is willing to accept P50 million to reject an alleged offer from government of a seat in the Supreme Court if he decides in favor of GSIS.
SC Chief Justice Reynato Puno, associate justices Antonio Carpio and Consuelo Ynares Santiago inhibited themselves from the decision.
Puno inhibited himself because Sabio's daughter works for him.
Carpio's former law firm, Villaraza, cruz, Marcelo and Angangco, is representing Meralco in the CA case, while Santiago's daughter works for Meralco.
The bribery scandal has tarnished the reputation of the Philippine judiciary, prompting calls for the SC to swiftly intervene.
