Woman in judiciary probe still out of PH, says immigration agency

Bureau of Immigration building. Photo from Bureau of Immmigration website

MANILA, Philippines—The alleged influence peddler in the Judiciary has not yet returned to the country based on records of the Bureau of Immigration.

Immigration Spokesperson Maria Angelica Pedro said “the bureau has not recorded any return flight or arrival by Ms. [Arlene Angeles] Lerma since she left for Singapore last October.”

Immigration records showed that Lerma left the country for Singapore last October 16 on board Philippine Airlines to undergo medical treatment.

Lerma’s photo with female members of the Judiciary appeared in three news dailies Friday. The committee created by the Supreme Court to investigate the influence peddling issue confirmed that the photo is among the documents they are studying.

The committee said it will try to wrap up its probe within six months since its creation last October.

The issue stemmed from the controversial election of officers of the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) where a so-called ‘Ma’m Arlene’ was said to have worked her ‘magic’ to influence the selection process.

‘Ma’m Arlene’ was alleged to have provided expensive gifts to justices and their spouses as well as bankrolled their travels abroad in exchange for favorable ruling for rich litigants.