MANILA, Philippines ? For their ?scurrilous attacks? on the Supreme Court, a father and daughter were cited for indirect contempt.

In a resolution by the high court?s Special Second Division, lawyer Oliver Lozano was fined P10,000 while daughter Evangeline, also a lawyer, was reprimanded.

"A commission of the same or similar acts shall be dealt with more severely,? the high court said.

"The Lozanos' scurrilous attacks on the character and integrity of Justice [Dante] Tinga and the hardworking employees of the Court, punctuated as they are with vile, intemperate and libelous language, degrade the dignity of the Court and denigrate the trust and respect that should be accorded the judiciary to maintain and uphold the highest ideals of justice." the high court said.

"The statements of the Lozanos assail not only the integrity of the decisions and resolutions of the Court, but also their genuineness."

The case stemmed from a motion for reconsideration filed by
Lozano against the high court?s decision, which Tinga had authored, to uphold the Court of Appeals? ruling that found Dominador Malana and Rodel Tiaga guilty of the complex crime of murder with frustrated murder and attempted murder.

Lozano sought the inhibition of Tinga.

In his appeal, Lozano said the high court ignored "the main defense," adding that ?such oppression resulting in conviction committed by a Supreme Court justice constitutes the highest form of rendering unjust verdict."

But Tinga refused to inhibit.

Lozano filed a motion asking that he be allowed to file a second motion for reconsideration, which noted that in the denial of his first appeal, Tinga ?ignored, misappreciated, and misinterpreted the physical facts, evidence and circumstances. There is a travesty and mockery of justice indicating that all along the accused were deprived of fair play, due process or cold neutrality," Lozano said.