IBP says Camilo Sabio violated legal ethics
Purple S. Romero, Newsbreak, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 08/27/2008 7:49 PM
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Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chair Camilo Sabio may face prosecution from two institutions after he admitted yesterday that he asked his brother, Justice Jose Sabio Jr., to “help” the Government Services Insurance System win in its case against Meralco.
While Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said that it is not yet the “proper” time for the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct its own probe on Sabio, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines is already “waiting” for a disbarment case to be lodged against the embattled secretary.
Sabio said that he called his brother on May 30 to ask him, “in essence,” not to sign the temporary restraining order which would bar the Securities and Exchange Commission from implementing its cease-and-desist order against the Lopez-owned power utility.
GSIS sought the TRO to stop the contentious proxy validation held last May 27, where the Lopez group kept control of the country’s biggest power distributor. Justice Sabio was then chair of the Special Ninth Division which issued the TRO last May 30.
His brother, Camilo, is both a lawyer and a public official.
As a lawyer, Camilo may be disbarred for reportedly exerting undue influence over his brother. Also a government official with a Cabinet rank, he could face imprisonment under the Revised Penal Code.
Disbarment
Fernando Perito filed a complaint for Sabio’s disbarment at the Supreme Court last August 25.
According to Rule 139-B which covers the disbarment and discipline of lawyers, the High Court could act on its own on verified complaints for disbarment.
The IBP could also investigate the matter on its own or upon referral by the Supreme Court or by any other person.
Bautista said that while a complaint has been filed at the Supreme Court, the IBP has also opened its doors against any disbarment case to be filed against the PCGG chairman. rank.
“We’re waiting for it [complaint],” he said.
He added that Camilo’s conduct has been the topic of discussion among the IBP Board of Governors. The IBP Board of Governors has the power to probe and prosecute charges in disbarment cases.
“That’s unethical. He’s a lawyer,” he said, countering Sabio’s claims that he did not commit anything unethical when he sought his brother’s assistance.
“As siblings, they have strong affinity with each other. He went beyond the bounds of ethical conduct,” he added.
Sabio said, however, that he only asked for his brother’s help for the sake of the “long-suffering public.”
“The GSIS has always taken the cudgels for the suffering of the consuming public,” he said in the hearing yesterday, adding that given the said circumstances, he would not hesitate to seek help for GSIS again.
Ombudsman
On the other hand, Villa-Ignacio said it is still “not proper” for the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Sabio amid the pending probe in the High Court.
“In deference to the ongoing inquiry, it may not be proper for the Ombudsman to step in. We’ll have to wait for the termination of the proceedings. We would not want to preempt the Supreme Court,” he told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
He added, however, that the Ombudsman could already secure and monitor documents used by the Supreme Court in its investigation, including the transcript of the hearings.
"Because of this development, the involvement of a non-member of the judiciary, we (referring to the Office of the Ombudsman) should secure the transcript," he said.
He explained that securing the necessary documents could already give the Office of the Ombudsman a head start in its own investigation.
"There is no harm for the Ombudsman to monitor and secure all the documents. At the end of the hearing, there will be a basis to evaluate what appropriate measures the Ombudsman must take,” he stressed.
FG’s lawyer
Meanwhile, Jesus Santos, member of the GSIS board of trustees, denied in an interview today at ANC that he asked Sabio to call his brother and seek the junking of the TRO.
Santos admitted that he did ask for Sabio’s assistance, but added that such help should fall within legal boundaries.
“ I did ask him to help me, provided that it (assistance) would not violate the law,” he said.
Sabio identified Santos, also a counsel of the First Gentleman Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo, as the one who asked for his help for a ruling favoring the GSIS.
Santos also allegedly informed him that his brother is the third member of the hearing division on the Meralco-GSIS case.—with reports from Carmela Fonbuena
