MANILA, Philippine?A new judge will hear the controversial Dacer-Corbito case after the judge previously handling it has recently been promoted as an Associate Justice in the Court of Appeals.
Judge Myra Garcia Fernandez of Manila Regional Trial Court 18?who issued the warrant for the arrest of Senator Panfilo Lacson in connection with the abduction and killing of publicist Salvador ?Bubby? Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito?was among the last set of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's judicial appointees before a constitutional ban took effect last week.
Fernandez was the fourth judge to hear the double murder case since it was filed in 2001.
According to lawyer Carolina Comon, RTC Branch 18's clerk of court, Fernandez, who took his oath as associate justice last March 11, will be assigned in Cebu. She added that the judge served at the Manila RTC for five years prior to her latest promotion.
Comon added that the trials of the cases pending before their court, including the Dacer-Corbito case, have been ?suspended indefinitely? as they await a new judge to take over from Fernandez.
Former Superintendent Glenn Dumlao was supposed to take the witness stand Wednesday for the continuation of his redirect and cross-examination testimony. But Comon said the trial was suspended and will be reset to a still unknown date as they wait for Fernandez's replacement.
Fernandez's nomination in the appellate court had been marred with controversy after she issued the arrest warrant for Lacson, who fled the country.
The senator's lawyers earlier asked Fernandez to voluntarily inhibit herself from hearing the case, saying ?it is inevitable and understandable for Lacson to entertain serious doubt on the neutrality and impartiality of the Honorable Presiding Judge? following reports that she was being recommended for promotional appointment at the CA.
But Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, in an earlier interview, defended Fernandez's nomination, saying that her application was filed way ahead of her handling of the Dacer-Corbito case.
Staff at the Manila RTC Branch 18 also defended Fernandez, saying her record is clean and was in fact repeatedly awarded for being an outstanding judge.
