Leonen to meet NBI team on court fixing

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen will meet with members of the National Bureau of Investigation assigned to investigate the corruption and decision brokering in the judiciary.

“Associate Justice Marvic Leonen will meet with the NBI dedicated team that has been formed by [the] Secretary of Justice to investigate the alleged influence peddling in the judiciary tomorrow (Friday),” high court’s information Chief Theodore Te said in a text message.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has ordered the NBI to create a team that would investigate “Ma’am Arlene,” a decision broker in the judiciary.

“The NBI is hereby directed to form a dedicated team tasked to conduct an investigation. The team shall file a report with the Chief Justice, without need of any clearance from the [Justice Secretary], as soon as its investigation is concluded,” De Lima said in a memorandum issued to NBI OIC Director Medardo De Lemos.

De Lima said she gave De Lemos freehand to act on any recommended action or request from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The Justice Chief made the directive after a meeting with Sereno.

However, De Lima said she is stepping away from the investigation due her pending contempt and disbarment case.

De Lima has been slapped with a contempt and disbarment case after she defied the temporary restraining order regarding the implementation of her Department Order when she stopped former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to travel abroad.

Any findings of the NBI, De Lima said, shall be submitted directly to the Chief Justice.

The controversy is being linked to the equally controversial election of officers of the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) in which “Ma’am Arlene” was said to have worked her ‘magic’ to influence the selection process.

The Supreme Court has also created a body that would investigate corruptions in the judiciary.