CA 6th division cries harassment on Trillanes bribe allegations

THE Court of Appeals Sixth Division branded as “harassment” the allegation of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that members of their division received P25-million each as bribe to rule in favor of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

Trillanes alleged that Associate Justices Jose C. Reyes Jr., chairman of the Court of Appeals 6th Division, and Francisco Acosta received P25-million bribe to stop the implementation of the six months suspension order against Binay.

“Baseless accusations constitute harassment that seek to threaten magistrates in our bounden duty to discharge justice based on fairness, impartiality and the rule of law and undermines the integrity of the judiciary as an institution and weakens the people’s faith in our legal processes,” Reyes said in a statement issued on behalf of the CA Sixth Division.

The appeals court sixth division issued the writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of Binay’s suspension.

“The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and preliminary injunction were issued by the Sixth Division of the Court of Appeals, acting as a collegiate body, after observing a meticulous, impartial and judicious evaluation of prevailing laws, jurisprudence and evidence presented by the parties,” Reyes said.

“The judiciary must be insulated from partisan politics. We dispense justice based on the rule of law and established evidence, and will continue to do so,” he added. AC