SC exec on impeach threat vs Justice Carpio: Bring it on

"Bring it on." This was the challenge issued on Friday by Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez to the critics who wanted Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to be impeached. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio was quoted in a newspaper report that his group, the People's Movement for Justice, and Lauro Vizconde are mulling the filing of an impeachment complaint against Carpio for allegedly convincing his fellow justices to acquit Hubert Webb. Vizconde, who lost his wife and two daughters in the massacre, had repeatedly accused Carpio of allegedly influencing his colleagues. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, had defended the justice from the accusation. In a press conference, Marquez also urged the critics to produce evidence and witnesses or just keep quiet. "If they don’t have any witnesses or evidence, then (the accusation) is hearsay, double hearsay or even triple hearsay. It is their responsibility to keep quiet first and have witnesses," he told reporters. "We are not curtailing their freedom of expression but unless they have substantial evidence, witnesses who have seen or have personal knowledge of the supposed incident, it is their responsibility to keep quiet," Marquez reiterated. Topacio had said Vizconde talked with three members of the judiciary who reportedly know how Carpio convinced his colleagues to vote in favor of Webb. "File it. Palagi na lang ganyan. They better come up with evidence. Produce the witnesses. Bring it on," Marquez said. The SC spokesperson admitted that he is yet to talk with Carpio on the matter but he believed the Associate Justice will not dignify such "unsubstantiated" accusations by issuing a comment on it. "It remains unsubstantiated. I don’t think Justice Carpio will dignify that so if they want to push through (with the case) it's up to them, they can go ahead," he said. Asked if the threat to file an impeachment complaint is an attempt to influence the ruling of the Court on the pending motion for reconsideration filed by Vizconde, Marquez said "threats of impeachment always undermine the integrity and independence of the Court." He further said that throwing accussations at the Court is not a simple thing as it "concerns the trust and confidence of the people to the justice system." – VVP, GMANews.TV