Marquez on WB funds misuse charges: ‘I have nothing to hide’

MANILA, Philippines—“I have nothing to hide,” Supreme Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said in response to a request by a lawmaker to investigate his alleged misuse of funds from the World Bank and “unofficial” defense of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello has asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate Marquez.

But Marquez said the request of Bello could be “premature” as the Supreme Court is currently looking into the “concerns” of World Bank regarding its fund support for the high tribunal’s Judicial Reform Project.

“With all due respect, the request of Akbayan to investigate me may be premature. The court is still presently addressing the concerns of the World Bank,” Marquez said in a text message sent to reporters.

“Just the same, I will submit to the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman should it see fit to investigate me,” he said.

Marquez earlier said the World Bank report is not yet final and the Supreme Court’s Project Management Office has yet to review and correct errors in the World Bank report.

He said that only after the PMO submitted its report that the World Bank would come up with a final report.