MANILA, Philippines -- The Supreme Court has created a panel of its retired justices to conduct daily hearings into allegations of bribery at the Court of Appeals, its spokesman said.

The panel will be composed of retired associate justices Romeo Callejo, Flerida Ruth Romero, and Carolina Griño-Aquino, lawyer Midas Marquez said Monday.

"They will be tasked to investigate the proprieties of actions of the justices in the decision of the Court of Appeals and the allegations in the attempt to bribe a justice of the Court of Appeals," Marquez said.

The panel has until August 21 to submit results of its investigation, he added.

The controversy stemmed from the appellate court’s July 23 decision nullifying a cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against the election of Meralco’s board, which was sought by Government Service Insurance System general manager Winston Garcia in a bid to wrest control of the power firm.

Associate Justice Jose Sabio said the wrong justices ruled on the case because it was the 9th division composed of himself, Associate Justice Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal and Vicente Roxas that heard the petition filed by Meralco and issued a TRO against the CDO.

But it was the 8rth division of Justices Roxas, Bienvenido Reyes and Apolinario Bruselas who declared the CDO void.

Sabio accused businessman Francis Roa De Borja of offering him P10-million bribe on Merlaco’s behalf to inhibit himself from the case.

But De Borja, in an affidavit, claimed the original bribe offer to Sabio was from government and that the justice asked for a higher amount to resist the government “blandishment.”

Sabio has denied the allegation and threatened to file charges against De Borja.

The appeals court, meeting en banc on the controversy last week, urged the high court to investigate the matter.

But Chief Justice Reynato Puno; and Associates Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago and Antonio Carpio have inhibited themselves from the inquiry.

Puno said Sabio's daughter works in his office while Santiago's daughter works in Meralco. On the other hand, Carpio's former law office of Carpio, Villaraza, Angangco is counsel for Meralco.