CA justice won’t inhibit in port case

A Court of Appeals justice has denied for lack of basis the motion for his inhibition filed by One Source Port Support Services, Inc. which used to manage the 10-hectare Harbour Centre Port Terminal in Tondo,

Manila.

In a 12-page decision, Justice Noel Tijam also issued a stern warning to One Source president Cyrus Paul Valenzuela, a lawyer, for making “baseless, malicious and unfounded” allegations that Tijam was biased in his handling of the port dispute between One Source and Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI).

Tijam said while a lawyer or any person may be critical of the courts and their judges, any criticism must be respectful and through legitimate channels. But Valenzuela’s directly accusing him of bias based on “rumors” constitutes misconduct that could subject him to disciplinary action.

Tijam also lashed out at Valenzuela for his attempt to “sabotage” the voting process, intimidate the other justices, and “manipulate” the outcome of the decision of its case.

“Attorney Valenzuela is sternly warned that a repetition of similar acts will be dealt with more severely,” Tijam said. Jerome Aning