De Lima says 'Arlene Angeles Lerma' included in NBI probe on judiciary 'fixers'

(Updated 4 p.m.) The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into a certain Arlene Angeles Lerma as being one of the three "fixers" in the judiciary being investigated by a Supreme Court committee under Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

"Kasama 'yan sa imbestigasyon na malaman na 'yan kung si Arlene Angeles Lerma ay 'yung Ma'am Arlene na sinasabi o isa sa mga Ma'am Arlenes," De Lima said.

“Ma'am Arlene,” described in news reports as the judiciary's version of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, first came into national consciousness through Jarius Bondoc's column in the Philippine Star.

According to Bondoc's column, "Ma'am Arlene" throws birthday parties for appellate court justices and trial court judges and finances their family trips abroad, among other things, in exchange for their favors in cases.

Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Ted Te was quoted in a “Balitanghali” report on Monday as saying that Leonen's committee is verifying if Lerma has left the country.

The Bureau of Immigration has confirmed that Lerma left the country Wednesday for Singapore. She reportedly did not purchase a return ticket.

De Lima said she has instructed the NBI, which is under the Department of Justice (DOJ), to proceed with its parallel probe on "Ma'am Arlene." "(J)ustice Leonen as the head of the umbrella committee... would consolidate itong mga parallel probe," she said.

Previous reports said there are at least three notorious fixers working in the judiciary.

A "24 Oras" report aired Friday said one of them is a clerk of court at the Court of Appeals while another previously worked in Malacañang. The third, meanwhile, is an influential figure at the Manila City Hall.

The "Ma'am Arlene" familiar to Manila City Hall employees is said to have close ties with Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News