Bersamin says SC granted Sandigan's request for Napoles to attend PDAF, Malampaya scam hearings

The Supreme Court has granted Sandiganbayan's request to allow convicted plunderer, Janet Lim Napoles, to leave her detention cell and attend the trial of her pork barrel and Malampaya fund scam cases, according to Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday.

"We already granted the request of the Sandiganbayan. We really realized that there is need for granting the request because it will be counter productive if we did not," Bersamin said in an interview with reporters at the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft court's First Division convicted Napoles of plunder on December 7, 2018, in connection with the misuse of P224.5 million Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, of former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.

Napoles was then committed to the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, thus making her a "national prisoner" who needs SC approval so she can attend hearings at the Sandiganbayan. Otherwise, the trial will be held at CIW.

Bersamin said the SC allowed Napoles to temporarily leave the CIW due to the number of cases she faces at the Sandiganbayan, including four plunder charges and numerous counts of graft.

"These rules are very rigid supposed to be, but then we make exceptions when the circumstances demand the exception... and this one clearly demands an exception," Bersamin said.

"The public should be made aware that these exceptions are not tailor-fit to the persons. It's the particular situations and circumstances that impact on the cases that we consider when we make them exceptions. After all, exceptions are exceptions," he added.

Reminder to judges

Bersamin attended a formal welcome ceremony at the Sandiganbayan upon the invitation of Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.

During his speech, Bersamin reminded judges of the judiciary to keep their humanity and be humble "with a good dose of humor." 

"Display courtesy and moderate your temper. Be stern and serious but without being gross. You must convince the public that you are now the visible representation of the law," Bersamin said.

The chief magistrate also said judges should welcome critics in their decisions and practice self-constraint.

"Let us neither hate nor decry the criticism of our work. As judges, we will not be immune. It is right to be critical of us, we should welcome it," Bersamin said. —KBK, GMA News