Ong’s dismissal strengthens people’s trust in courts—DOJ chief

Sandigabayan Justice Gregory Ong. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima welcomed on Tuesday the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Sandigabayan Justice Gregory Ong for gross misconduct, dishonesty and impropriety.

“Finally deciding to dismiss rather than merely suspend Justice Ong, the Supreme Court affirms that moral integrity is not divisible. It is the highest qualification for judges and justices. Members of the judiciary found lacking in integrity cannot be merely suspended because the character disqualification is permanent, not only incidental,” De Lima said in a statement.

“The trust of the people in the justice system is best preserved by maintaining the highest levels of moral integrity in the superior courts,” she added.

Ong was dismissed for his favoring alleged pork barrel scam key operator Janet Lim Napoles in a previous case.

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