MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is hoping the Philippine National Police (PNP) can provide an update on its investigation into the red-tagging of a Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court judge.
Last March, a tarpaulin was displayed at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and EDSA thanking Mandaluyong RTC Branch 109 Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio, ordering the release of red-tagged journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esperago.
A poster displayed in March on a pedestrian walkway above Edsa in Mandaluyong City purportedly from communist rebels thanks Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio for releasing their “comrades,” Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem and union organizer Rodrigo Esparago. —LYN RILLON
The tarp was supposedly from the Communist Party of the Philippines as its logo was at the bottom of the tarp.
“We have yet to receive a report from the PNP, I think, on who’s responsible for putting up those tarpaulins along EDSA. We are coordinating with the police on this. In fact, when we had a courtesy call from the former PNP chief [Debold Sinas], there are a number of matters that we took up with them,” Gesmundo told reporters in his first CJ Meets the Press.
“Hopefully, when we meet the new Chief PNP [Guillermo Eleazar, we can be updated,” Gesmundo said, noting that the PNP Chief has requested a courtesy call.
For now, Gesmundo said Judge Quisumbing-Ignacio was given an extra layer of protection.