MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) All eight justices of the Court of Appeals and a businessman implicated in a bribery scandal faced the Supreme Court panel investigating the allegations Thursday and were given until later in the day to submit their affidavits.

The three-man panel said appellate court Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez; Associate Justices Vicente Roxas, Jose Sabio Jr., Apolinario Bruselas, Bienvenido Reyes, Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, Martin Villarama, Edgardo Cruz; and businessman Francis de Borja to submit their affidavits.

Sabio, who was named in the bribery scandal involving a case filed by the Manila Electric Co. against the Government Service Insurance System, will appear first before the panel this Friday while his accuser, De Borja, will be the last to testify, according to the panel.

Vidal, Villarama, and Vasquez will also be questioned, it said.

Only De Borja will be allowed to bring a lawyer since all the eight justices, being lawyers, are in a position to defend themselves, the panel said.

The eight justices said they would file their affidavits before their clerk of court who will forward the documents to the investigating body composed of retired Associate Justice Carolina Grino-Aquino, chairman; and former Associate Justices Romeo Callejo Sr. and Flerida Ruth Romero, members.

Aquino said the affidavits would be used by the panel for cross-examining the eight justices and De Borja.