CA junks indirect contempt case vs De Lima

former Palawan Governor Mario Joel Reyes INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals has junked the indirect contempt case against Justice Secretary Leila De Lima in connection with her public statements accusing the appellate court of partiality.

In a 6-page resolution written by Associate Justice Franchito Diamente, the appeals court said there is no legal ground to cite De Lima for contempt.

The appeals court added that former Palawan Governor Mario Joel Reyes failed to sign the basic documentary requirement of non-forum shopping certification. The certification is needed as proof that there is no other similar case pending in other courts.

The case stemmed from De Lima’s statements to the Court of Appeals’ unfavorable judgment against the petition against the Department of Justice and in favor of the former Palawan governor.

De Lima accused Reyes’ lawyers of using “foul tactics and illicit means” to obtain favorable court ruling.

Reyes, through counsels Demetrio Custodio Jr. and Love Joy Cecilia Brillantes, said De Lima may disagree with the court’s ruling “but casting baseless aspersions on the dignity of the Honorable Court is certainly not an available remedy to respondent.”

Concurring with the ruling junking the contempt case against De Lima are Associate Justices Celia Librea-Leagogo and Melchor Sadang.