AMID the reports of bribery involving members of the court, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV will file a resolution on Monday seeking Senate probe on the alleged judicial corruption involving Court of Appeals (CA) justices.
The senator said rampant bribery incidents alleged to have involved members of the court and the court decisions being sold in exchange for millions of pesos have reached an "alarming and frightening" level.
Trillanes said the alleged go-between using big-time fixers will be one of the main focus of the Senate investigation.
Vice President Jejomar Binay had challenged Trillanes to file charges if there is enough evidence against the CA justices in relations to the issuance of a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of the Ombudsman's preventive suspension order against his son, Makati City Mayor Erwin Jejomar Binay Jr.
Trillanes said it will be a big surprise for everyone because the go-between will reveal details of the so-called negotiations, which he described as a big threat to democracy.
"People look to the courts for justice. We believe that rich or poor, under the law, we are equal and entitled to have justice. This is the reason why the symbol of justice is the blindfolded lady holding a scale symbolizing that justice sees nothing but truth and reason and if this is true that our justice is now for sale, I think this is very alarming for all of us. Lalo sa mga mahihirap at walang kakayahan na magbayad," Trillanes said.
At the same time, Trillanes plans to mention the amount of money that supposedly changed hands, purportedly between the three CA justices and the Binays, alleged to be in tens of millions of pesos.
The lawmaker's move came just as when a group called Coalition of Filipino Consumers (CFC) urged the Supreme Court to investigate the alleged "justice for sale" scheme and order the conduct of a lifestyle check of CA justices.
In a statement sent to Senate media, the group claimed to have received report that one member of the appellate court allegedly received over P5 million in exchange for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction.
"This allegation is tainting the image of the CA and eroding the public's trust in the justice system in the country," said Perfecto Tagalog, the coalition's secretary-general.
The justice member, the coalition said, was a former elected official who was appointed to the bench. Some of his alleged pork barrel that were released at the time of his incumbency in office, had been included in the investigation of the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) scam.
"We are urging Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to investigate some justices in the Court of Appeals to find out if their lifestyles match the salaries they receive as public servants," Tagalog added.
He said this is the chance for the high tribunal to weed out corrupt justices and restore the image of the courts in the country.
Trillanes said the concern raised by civic groups should be given proper attention as this will destroy the last recourse of democracy.
The coalition earlier appealed to Supreme Court Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno to lead in cleaning the courts insisting that SC should investigate this issue and tainting the whole system. (Sunnex)