IBP to CA justices in bribery scandal: Resign out of delicadeza

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals justices involved in the bribery scandal and other irregularities related to the ownership case of the Manila Electric Co, (Meralco) should resign out of delicadeza, according to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). "The IBP urgently calls on those CA members involved in the controversy to immediately and irrevocably submit their resignations, out of delicadeza and out of ultimate concern to salvage what is left of the integrity of the Court," the group said in a one-page advertisement that appeared in a national broadsheet Monday. Signing the statement on the corruption in the appellate court were IBP national president Feliciano Bautista, executive vice-president Rogelio Vinluan, and eight of its governors. The group further said that the CA justices involved in allegation of corruption have exposed a troubling divisiveness and a "penchant for personal self-preservation that further erodes the image of what is considered to be the second-highest court in the land." Among the justices who are being investigated by a three-man panel created by the Supreme Court to probe the bribery issue were Associate Justices Vicente Roxas, Jose Sabio Jr, Bienvenido Reyes, Apolinario Bruselas, Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, and Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez Jr. The SC panel, which had conducted marathon hearings on the issue, is expected to submit its recommendations to the high court on Thursday, after which it will be taken up by SC justices in its regular en banc session next Tuesday. SC spokesman Midas Marquez said the CA justices involved should be the ones to answer IBP's calls for resignation. "That is addressed to the CA justices themselves. Sila ang dapat tumugon dun (They should be the ones to answer that),” he said. Marquez however said that since the process has already started with the creation of the panel, it should be proper that the process be allowed to proceed. - GMANews.TV