CA bribery probe: DOJ panel subpoenaes Sabio's daughter, De Borja's cousin

MANILA, Philippines - The Justice department on Wednesday said it has already subpoenaed two key personalities who will give light to the bribery scandal that rocked the Court of Appeals. Summoned to appear before the DOJ panel investigating the bribery scandal were Evelyn Clavano and lawyer Sylvia Jo Sabio, daughter of CA Justice Jose Sabio Jr, the magistrate who disclosed of a P10-million bribe offer to him by an alleged emissary of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). Clavano and Ms. Sabio are expected to attend Friday’s hearing scheduled at 10 a.m. Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Pineda, chair of the investigating panel, said the two could be sanctioned with imprisonment of up to six months if they choose to ignore the subpoena. He said the same penalty will be meted to other personalities who will be subpoenaed but will not attend the hearings. Pineda said Clavano and Ms. Sabio were summoned due to their knowledge on the P10-million bribery mess concerning the legal battle between Meralco and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Pineda said the panel has to confirm from Clavanom, a cousin of De Borja, if the alleged Meralco emissary, Francis Roa de Borja, called her up to ask for Justice Sabio's phone number. Clavano, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, had earlier issued an affidavit saying De Borja called her through her cell phone to ask for the magistrate’s number. Noting that Clavano’s address, Pineda said they are amenable to changing the hearing’s schedule just to accommodate her. “We can always reset the date as long as she’s willing to testify," Pineda said. On the case of Ms. Sabio, Pineda said they would ask her about her father’s text messages reportedly informing her of the alleged bribe offer and his decision not to accept it. Justice Sabio had earlier asked the panel to use the text message response of his daughter to be considered as evidence in the bribery mess. - with Carlo Lorenzo, GMANews.TV