Press Release
July 31, 2008

Loren calls for thorough probe on CA mess

Senator Loren Legarda yesterday expressed dismay over accusations raised by a respected justice of the Court of Appeals that other justices had been favoring Meralco in its case against Government Service insurance System (GSIS).

"The gravity of the accusation raised by Justice Sabio were so damaging to the court of appeals in particular, and to the Philippine justice system in general. Thus they cannot be left unresolved," said Legarda.

The senator said that to preserve the inviolability of the law against perception, whether correct or not, that justice is only for the rich and powerful, the Supreme Court should step in to clean up the mess, or the people's faith will be severely dented.

"This issue calls for everyone to have an open mind, and to come to conclusion only after a dispassionate and objective appreciation of evidence," she said.

Legarda said the appropriate criminal, civil or administrative cases must be filed against whoever will be found to have transgressed the law.

On Thursday, Justice Jose Sabio, in his letter-complaint against Justice Vicente Roxas and Bienvenido Reyes, had revealed the very details of the attempt by a businessman whom he said was "brokering" for Meralco to bribe him P10-million in exchange for him giving way to Reyes the chairmanship of the CA's Special 9th Division,

Originally, the row between GSIS and the Meralco was first raffled off and went to CA's Special Division (9th) chaired by Sabio for resolution. The 9th Division took time and effort to evaluate the merits on the case. Justice Roxas wrote the decision for 9th Division, but sensing it would not earn the nod of two other justices in the division, the case was transferred to the 8th Division for promulgation.

"The judiciary should be above suspicion if it will be effective in dispensing justice. We cannot have one branch of government being diminished by scandals like this," she said.

"The Court of Appeals and the whole judiciary is the same branch that decides on issues involving the government employees. Where are we headed for as a nation when the very guardian of the justice system is in turmoil," Legarda said.

"I think the Supreme Court should step in to this controversy because of the gravity of the situation hounding the CA," Legarda said as she reacted on the bribery attempt against Justice Jose Sabio Jr.

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