BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The camp of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay says the Supreme Court should investigate the allegations of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that two associate justices of the Court of Appeals received P25-million bribe to issue a restraining order on his suspension.
Trillianes accused Court of Appeals Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Francisco Acosta of receiving P20-million each in exchange for the issuance of a restraining order against the implementation of the six months suspension order on Binay.
The senator said an additional P5-million was given to the two justices after the release of a writ of preliminary injunction. The duration of the restraining order was for 60-days but with the writ, implementation of the order stays until Binay’s petition is resolved.
He passed a resolution seeking to investigate the alleged “justice for sale” at the Judiciary.
“We welcome a Supreme Court investigation because being involved in this case, I know 100 percent kalokohan yan [Trillanes’ bribery allegation],” Claro Certeza, Binay’s lawyer told reporters.
He said Trillanes’ resolution to investigate corruption in the judiciary is misplaced.
“The judiciary is an independent body. The judiciary cannot be investigated by another institution,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Binay camp also filed a libel complaint against the Senator.
Certeza said “He [Trillanes] offered himself to libel” when he filed a resolution to investigate corruption in the judiciary.
“Immunity only covers official actions. Yung paninira hindi covered ng immunity,” Certeza said.
He added that there is also a Supreme Court ruling which states that even parliamentary immunity must not be allowed to be used as vehicle to ridicule, demean and destroy the reputation of the court and its magistrates, nor as armor for personal wrath and disgust.
Meanwhile, lawyer JV Bautista, interim secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), said they would file a contempt case before the Court of Appeals against Trillanes.
He said Trillanes should be held accountable for disrespecting the judiciary.
Binay’s camp has contempt cases pending before the appeals court against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and several officers of the Philippine National Police.