Corruption in judiciary also severe —Ombudsman Remulla

Ombudsman Boying Remulla on Saturday said that aside from the executive and legislative branches, corruption in the judiciary is also severe.

Remulla made the remark while recalling the fertilizer fund scam, where former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante was cleared by the Sandiganbayan of plunder charges in connection with the P723-million fertilizer fund scam.

“'Yung Sandiganbayan ang galing din mag-acquit, ano? Lahat ng dahilan para mag-acquit, meron ang Sandiganbayan," Remulla said on his radio show on dzRH.

(The Sandiganbayan is good at acquitting, right? It has given all the reasons to acquit.)

He said there are lawyers lobbying cases within the judiciary.

“(May mga) abogado na gumagapang. Kaya nga 'yung corruption sa atin, huwag ninyong sasabihing sa executive lang ’yan o legislative. Matindi ho 'yung judiciary. Matindi ho ’yan. Panoorin n’yo lahat ng judges. Panoorin n’yo 'yung mga justices. Panoorin natin," the Ombudsman said.

(There are lawyers who lobby (for cases). So when it comes to corruption, don't just say it is in the executive or legislative branches only. It is intense in the judiciary. It is intense. Watch all the judges. Watch the justices. Let us watch.)

Acquitted

Remulla also brought up Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) cases where several accused were acquitted.

Last October, the Sandiganbayan cleared former senator and then incumbent chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles of 15 counts of graft over their alleged involvement in the PDAF scam.

“'Yung PDAF, huling-huli ’yun. Huwag mong sasabihin na mahina ang Ombudsman sa ebidensiya," Remulla said.

(With PDAF (scam), you can't say that the Ombudsman was weak in getting evidence.)

Decisions, evidence

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said that steps are already being taken to address such concerns.

"We do agree that corruption also exists in the judiciary that’s why the Supreme Court has institutionalized an office which is the judiciary integrity board in order to curb that practice," said IBP National President Atty. Allan Panolong.

Panolong also disagrees with Remulla's claim that corruption is "severe" within the judiciary. 

"As to whether it is rampant or not, my observation is that, it is not. There are more ethical judges than those alleged corrupt ones. In the case of the Sandiganbayan, i haven’t heard of any case where a Justice was involved in an alleged corruption," he said.

"Their decisions are based on appreciation of the facts of the case and the laws applicable. The decision largely depends on the evidence adduced by the Prosecution, so it is not fair to label them as corrupt when they dismissed a case because of a weak or insufficient evidence," added Panolong. 

Remulla, meanwhile, said that by January 15, the Office of the Ombudsman will have 20 new lawyers for prosecution and litigation. —KG/ VAL, GMA Integrated News