Activists urge Ombudsman to probe Midas Marquez for 'abuse of power'

Published January 27, 2012 1:30pm

The activist group Akbayan on Friday urged the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Supreme Court spokesperson and administrator Atty. Midas Marquez for alleged cases of corruption and abuse of office.

In a letter of complaint delivered to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales by Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, the group identified two bases for the investigation:

allegedly acting as unofficial defense counsel of Chief Justice Renato Corona at the public’s expense, and
alleged irregularities in the implementation and management of the Judicial Reform Support Project.

“Hindi lang si Chief Justice Corona ang kailangang managot sa taong bayan,” Bello said. “To restore the integrity to the Supreme Court, it is imperative that we also make Corona’s henchmen accountable for their transgression, una na sa lahat ang kanang kamay ni Corona na si Atty. Midas Marquez.” Corona's spokesman
After Corona was impeached last year, Akbayan said Marquez has acted as Corona's spokesman.

According to Bello, Marquez has “squandered the unique opportunity to stand for wisdom, integrity, fairness and the zeal for serving the people,” his actions reflecting the institutional failings of the Court that is being increasingly evident in the impeachment trial against CJ Corona: “entrenchment into a privileged position, and a refusal to be accountable to the public.”

“All the while that the Filipino people were demanding that Corona be made accountable for his blatant disregard of the people’s interest, Marquez took it upon himself to defend the Chief Justice. He was not speaking for the integrity of the High Court, he was very partisan to the interests of Corona,” Bello explained. He also cited the court holiday undertaken in December last year.

“Nakapagpa- court holiday pa nga siya para ipagtanggol si Corona laban sa impeachment, samantalang ayon sa batas, bawal gumamit ng tauhan, opisina at iba pang resources ng gobyerno para depensahan ang isang opisyales na nahaharap sa impeachment,” Bello said.

Bello claimed that through these actions, Marquez consumed the Court’s facilities and resources and led to waste, inefficiency and delay in the administration of justice.

Marquez apologized to the public on December 15 last year for the delay in some court cases caused by an activity supporting Corona.

In a radio interview, Marquez said the activity involved judges who wished to show their support for Corona, who delivered a scathing speech against President Benigno Aquino III at the high court in Manila.

"Bilang court administrator, ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin. Sana maintindihan ng ating kababayan na ang huwes at hudikatura gusto magpakita ng suporta at marinig ang saloobin ng punong mahistrado," Marquez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

The pro-Corona activity ended at 3:00 p.m. on December 14. By then, it was late for many judges to return to their salas.

Corona's impeachment

In the impeachment complaint, Corona is being accused of the following:

partiality and subservience in cases involving the Arroyo administration;
failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN);
issuance of flip-flopping decisions in final and executory cases;
issuance of the “status quo ante” order against the House of Representatives in the case concerning the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez;
decision in favor of gerrymandering in the cases involving 16 newly created cities, and the promotion of Dinagat Island into a province;
granting temporary restraining order in favor of former President Arroyo; and
failure and refusal to account for the Judicial Development Fund (JDF) and special allowance for the judiciary collections

The Senate's 23 members who are sitting as judges will determine whether Corona, an appointee of Arroyo, should be removed from his post.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III earlier said the trial may be over by March 23 before Congress goes on its annual Holy Week break. High court's World Bank loan

Akbayan also raised the issue about Marquez’s alleged participation in the mismanagement of the Judicial Reform Support Project that the World Bank funded. According to Akbayan, the report of the World Bank pointed to how Marquez’ designation as Court administrator, head of the Public Information Office and chair of the Bids and Awards Committee led to a “breakdown in internal controls” and ineligible expenditures worth $199,000.00 or PhP8.6 M.

“It is important for Marquez to be made accountable to these allegations, especially as the Filipino people stand to lose PhP8.6M to yet another instance of corruption even as the nation is buried further into debt,” Bello added. “Sa dulo, taong bayan ang lugi sa utang na ito, kaya kailangang panagutin si Marquez sa bawat mamayang Pilipino.”

For Akbayan, making Marquez accountable through the Ombudsman’s investigations is as important as making the Chief Justice accountable through the impeachment process.

However, Marquez on January 22 dismissed as “highly malicious and reprehensible” accusations that he used his position in the Supreme Court to illegally draw from the $21.9-million World Bank loan to the high court in 2003 and use it for purposes other than was intended.

In a statement, Marquez insisted that there are no discrepancies or misuse of close to $200,000 of the loan, saying all disbursements are in line with the project components set by the bank. - RJMD/VVP, GMA News

Tags: midasmarquez, akbayan, ombudsman