SC drops probe bid on alleged P30-M extortion by CA justices

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has dismissed the request for an investigation on the alleged P30-million extortion committed by justices of the Court of Appeals to allegedly lean in favor of Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri.

The request for a probe on the alleged extortion case was made by Caloocan City Vice Mayor Edgar Erice in a letter to the high court dated Aug. 16, 2011

The high court, in September last year, directed Erice to identify under oath the justices that he wanted investigated. However, Erice was not able to give the names of the justices.

In its resolution released to the media recently, the high court said “considering that Vice Mayor Edgar M. Erice of Caloocan City failed to comply with the resolution dated Sept. 6, 2011…the court resolved to deny, for lack of sufficient basis, his request for investigation of the
newspaper reports…”

In September last year, the appeals court indefinitely stopped the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) from implementing the suspension order against Echiverri, City Treasurer Evelina M. Garma, City Budget Officer Jesusa Garcia and City Accountant Edna Centeno.

Echiverri and the three other local officials were suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged failure to remit more than P38 million representing Caloocan City employees’ contributions to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Eventually, the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal and administrative case against them for lack of basis.