SC orders probe of 4 judges dragged into ‘Ma’am Arlene’ controversy

By MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News

Published July 31, 2014 3:44pm

(Updated 9:44 a.m., August 1) The Supreme Court has ordered the Court of Appeals to investigate four regional trial court judges dragged into the alleged influence-peddling in the judiciary involving a certain "Ma'am Arlene."

In a resolution, the high court ordered the CA to determine if the four judges violated laws and rules in the conduct of the elections of the Philippine Judges Association (PHILJA) officers.

The four judges to be probed are: Judge Rommel Baybay, Regional Trial Court of Makati, Branch 132; Judge Ralph Lee, Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 83; Judge Marino Rubia, Regional Trial Court of Biñan, Laguna, Branch 24; and Judge Lyliha Aquino, Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 24.

The high court issued the resolution after acting on the May 29, 2014 initial report submitted by the investigating committee chaired by Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen with retired SC Associate Justices Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez and Romeo J. Callejo Sr. as members.

"The judges shall be investigated individually by different investigating justices. The Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals is directed to raffle the investigation for each judge among the associate justices," said the high court.

The CA justices to be assigned to the investigation were required to submit a report and recommendation within 90 days from raffle.

"The investigation shall be conducted with utmost confidentiality and the report and recommendation shall be directly submitted to the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court in a sealed envelope," the SC added.

Sacked over gross misconduct

But even before a decision could be handed down on Laguna Judge Rubia, he has already been dismissed by the Supreme Court for gross misconduct in a separate case.

In a 32-page decision, the high tribunal ordered the dismissal of Rubia of the Biñan, Laguna Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24 for gross violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct.

With his dismissal, Rubia's retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits, have been forfeited. He has also been prevented from reinstatement or appointment in any public office, including government-owned or -controlled corporations.

And while the investigation is ongoing, Judges Lee and Aquino were ordered suspended as officers of the PHILJA "until such time that this Court will issue a resolution revoking the suspension."

Aquino's designation as acting Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 24, was likewise recalled.

The high tribunal ordered Aquino to return to her station in the Regional Trial Court of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Branch 4 "effective immediately."

The Office of the Court Administrator was also required to submit a report to the SC within five days from the return of Judge Aquino and the resumption of the conduct of court sessions at the Regional Trial Court of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Branch 4.

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

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. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: supremecourt, maamarlene