The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) thanked the Office of the Court Administrator headed by Justice Jose Midas Marquez for helping in the transfer of the case of human rights defender Temogen Tulawie.
In a letter, CHR chair Etta Rosales said: “The people within and outside government who were mobilized to help protect Mr. Tulawie, a staunch human rights defender in Sulu, saw in action how their SC can reach out to protect the vulnerable in society.
“The judiciary’s prompt and effective response to our requests in recent events affirms even more the deep esteem I have held for the institution ever since that first time we worked with it on democratizing access to justice especially for the poor and the powerless,” Rosales said.
Meanwhile, Marquez said he is willing to submit to a possible investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman because he has nothing to hide.
In a statement, Marquez said the request of Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello that he be investigated is premature. Nonetheless, “the Court is still presently addressing the concerns of the World Bank. Just the same, I will submit to the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman should it see it fit to investigate me.”
Bello wants Marquez investigated for alleged abuse of power.
In a 3-page letter addressed to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Bello said: “Mr. Marquez’ position has given him a unique opportunity, one that he has squandered. As the public face of the Supreme Court, he could have stood for all that is best in the courts and the legal profession: wisdom, integrity, fairness, a zeal for serving the people. Instead, the totality of his acts and omissions encapsulate what unfortunately many now perceive as the institutional failings of the Court: entrenchment into a privileged position, and a refusal to be accountable to the public.”
He alleged that Marquez is acting like “an unofficial defense counsel” of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is facing an impeachment trial at the Senate.
Bello said Marquez “crossed the line,” when he should be a representative of the court. “Worse, he has marshaled the scarce resources of the Supreme Court and the rest of the Judiciary for the personal defense of the Chief Justice, to the detriment of the public.”
Bello also noted the alleged irregularity in the management of the World Bank-funded Judicial Reform Support Project.
The World Bank earlier said there are “ineligible” expenses in the project.
“It should be noted that the project is funded through a loan, and therefore a liability of the State. As such, they are public funds and subject to Philippine laws designed to prevent their misuse. Whether this new burden to the public can be traced to malice or incompetence, those responsible must be made to answer,” Bello said.
Marquez earlier said: “The Court, through the Judicial Reform Support Program Management Committee, with the assistance of the PMO, is currently addressing the issues and concerns detailed in the Aide Memoire with utmost adherence to the strict guidelines of the Bank.”
He, however, pointed the premature and unauthorized disclosure of the World Bank report contained in an aide memoire. He said such was “highly malicious and reprehensible as it was obviously purposely leaked at the start of the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice.” (abs-cbn news)
PINOY SNIPER 