Taguig gov’t seeks SC action vs CA justice in Ft. Boni row

The Taguig City government is asking the Supreme Court to dismiss from government service a Court of Appeals (CA) associate justice who refused to inhibit herself from the Fort Bonifacio land dispute between Taguig and neighboring Makati.

The local government earlier demanded the removal of CA 6th Division Justice Marlene Gonzales-Sison from the case due to her “close association” with former Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In a 43-page complaint filed March 28, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano wanted Gonzales cited for “grave misconduct, undue interest and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

This was after a Feb. 18 ruling of the appellate court division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Taguig calling for Sison’s inhibition from the case. The Taguig government, who started the move against Sison in August 2015, noted that the CA Justice was married to lawyer Casimiro Sison, “a known stalwart” of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance and currently a Manila city councilor.

In its complaint in the SC, Taguig said Sison should be held administratively liable for violating the New Code of Judicial Conduct when she insisted on handling the case “in spite of clear grounds for her voluntary recusal.”

“This failure to disclose on the part of (Sison) and her failure to voluntarily inhibit herself … cast serious doubt on her impartiality in rendering a fair and judicious resolution of the case,” it added.

In August 2013, a CA ruling written by Sison ordered Taguig to immediately cease and desist from exercising jurisdiction over the disputed area and return it to Makati. The disputed area covers Cembo, South Cembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Comembo, Pembo and Barangay Pitogo. Kristine Felisse Mangunay