Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday identified Court of Appeals (CA) Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Francis Acosta as the magistrates who were allegedly bribed with P25 million each that led to the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and eventually a writ preliminary injunction that stopped the 60-day preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr.
Trillanes named the two CA justices, both members of the CA’s Sixth Division, in Senate Resolution No. 1265 that he filed to urge the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights to investigate the alleged bribery and “related anomalies” in the judiciary.
Justice Reyes, chairman of the CA’s Sixth Division, vehemently denied receiving money, favor, or promise in exchange for the issuance by his division of the TRO, and later a preliminary injunction, that stopped Mayor Binay’s six-month preventive suspension.
“The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and preliminary injunction were issued by the Sixth Division of the Court of Appeals, acting as a collegiate body, after observing a meticulous, impartial and judicious evaluation of prevailing laws, jurisprudence and evidence presented by the parties.
“Baseless accusations constitute harassment that seeks to threaten magistrates in our bounden duty to discharge justice based on fairness, impartiality, and the rule of law, and undermines the integrity of the judiciary as an institution and weakens the people’s faith in our legal processes.
“The judiciary must be insulated from partisan politics. We dispense justice based on the rule of law and established evidence, and will continue to do so,” Justice Reyes said.
Aside from the two CA justices, Trillanes also implicated lawyer F. Arthur “Pancho” Villaraza to the alleged bribery, citing “reliable sources privy to the matter.” Trillanes said Villaraza allegedly “facilitated the transaction and talked to” the two CA justices. Villaraza, however, could not be reached for comment.
Manila Bulletin
