5 CA justices sanctioned over Meralco-GSIS case - report

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court on Tuesday sanctioned five Court of Appeals justices in connection with the alleged improprieties and bribery attending the disposition of the ownership case of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). A radio report said those sanctioned by the high court were were Justices Vicente Roxas, Jose Sabio Jr., Bienvenido Reyes, Conrado Vasquez, and Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal. The report, quoting "reliable sources," said the SC, voting 11-1, ordered the relief of Roxas, who penned the controversial July 23 decision stating that the Securities and Exchange Commission has no jurisdiction to validate the proxy votes counted in favor of the Lopez-bloc of the Meralco. Sabio, who had exposed a P10-million bribe offer on him to inhibit from the Meralco-GSIS case, was slapped with a two-month suspension. He admitted during the panel hearings that his brother, Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio, called him up twice to influence him on the position of the Government Service Insurance System, which has a big stake in Meralco. Vasquez and Reyes, on the other hand, were reprimanded and ordered to pay a fine, while Vidal was admonished. The panel also recommended that businessman Francis de Borja, who allegedly bribed Sabio, undergo a preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice since he is a private individual. The panel also referred the case of PCGG's Sabio to the Bar confidante since he is a lawyer. The SC issued the decision based on the recommendations by the three-man panel created to probe the alleged irregularities surrounding the case between Meralco and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the CA. The panel was composed of retired SC justices Carolina Grino-Aquino, Flerida Ruth Romero and Romeo Callejo. The high court is set to formally announce its verdict to the media 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. - GMANews.TV