Group tags female CA magistrate in ‘justice for sale’ scheme

A GOOD governance advocate group on Monday called on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to conduct an investigation on reports that a female Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals has been receiving bribe money in exchange for a favorable decision.

In a statement sent to Justice beat reporters, the Alliance for Good Governance said they received the information that the said associate justice “used her nephew to act as a conduit” adding that the amount involved ran in the millions of pesos in grease money.

“This is a clear case of justice for sale. We are writing the Supreme Court to formally inform them about this corruption in the judiciary,” Alberto Vicente, the group’s spokesman said.

“Chief Justice Sereno and her peers should find cause to investigate and to find a solution, a long-term solution to this corruption in the judiciary,” he added.

The group, however, refused to identify the justice noting that it will still be subject of an investigation by the Supreme Court. Vicente said they would identify the justice in a formal letter that they will send to the Chief Justice.

But the group said the justice is close to a lawyer of a controversial businessman because they worked together at the Office of the Solicitor General.

“We came up with the statement to tell the Supreme Court that this is ongoing in the CA. And we believe there should be a way for them to police their own rank in the judiciary,” he said.

As to the particular case involving the CA magistrate, Vicente said it is “currently pending before the CA involving a business dispute.”

The group also prompted Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. to order its Ethics Committee to conduct an investigation.

The group, which was founded early this year according to Vicente, is an independent watchdog composed of professionals campaigning for good governance, judicial reforms and rule of law.