Lauro Vizconde of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Monday filed a disbarment complaint against acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio for alleged corruption and influence in the impeachment of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona.

 

In the five-page complaint, Vizconde said: “In truth, there is no other lawyer and/or judge who is more corrupt than Justice Carpio. He is everything a lawyer and judge should not be. He cannot be permitted to remain member of the bar any longer.”

 

He also claimed that Carpio had a “hand in the impeachment of former Chief Justice Corona.”

 

Vizconde is the father of Carmela and Anne Marie Jennifer Vizconde, and husband of Estrellita N. Vizconde, who were murdered in 1991. The case gained public prominence after Hubert Webb, son of former Senator Freddie Webb, was implicated as one of the suspects.

In December 2010, the high court acquitted the younger Webb and six other people in the Vizconde massacre case, effectively reversing two lower courts’ guilty verdict after two decades.

 

Vizconde accused Carpio of having a “hand in influencing other members of the Supreme Court in acquitting Hubert Webb.”

 

In an interview with reporters, Vizconde conceded that the disbarment case was just a wake up call to the JBC, which vets and screens candidates for judicial posts.

 

“Nagfile ako ng disbarment case against acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio… Kasi napansin ko ‘yung finile ko sa JBC [na opposition] parang hindi pinansin,” Vizconde said.

 

Vizconde earlier filed an opposition against Carpio’s chief justice nomination, claiming the latter has not proven his possession of the qualities of integrity, probity and independence.

“Nagtataka lang ako when the [public] interviews came, walang naitanong tungkol sa opposition ko. I’ve been wondering why,” Vizconde said.

 

“Siguro ‘pag nabasa ng ating Presidente na mayroong disbarment complaint baka magdalawang isip din kung sakali lang,” he added.

 

The JBC is set to deliberate on the shortlist on Wednesday. The list would contain names of at least three candidates for the chief justice position.

 

President Benigno S.C. Aquino will appoint the 24th chief justice of the republic based from the shortlist provided by the council. He has until August 27 to take his pick. — RSJ, GMA News