SC justice faces impeachment raps

MANILA -- Eleven legislators filed an impeachment complaint Tuesday against Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo for plagiarizing a ruling on World War II comfort women case.

The lawmakers were acting on the petition filed by "comfort women" Isabelita Benuya, Pilar Galang, Maria Kilantang, Maxima Regala Dela Cruz and Leonor Hernandez Sumawang.

The supporting lawmakers included Representatives Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro), Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello (Akbayan), Bernadette Herrera (Bagong Henerasyon), Bolet Banal (Quezon City), Vincent Belmonte (Iligan City), Teddy Baguilat, Jr. (Ifugao), JV Ejercito (San Juan), Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes), Florencio Flores, Jr. (Bukidnon) and Irvin
Alcala (Quezon).

“It was from our own volition that we want to file this case kasi we feel that there is really this need to pursue this action considering that marami nang dapat macorrect ang ating hudikatura,” Umali told reporters.

For her part, Bag-ao noted that they decided to file the complaint against the Supreme Court justice because it is the only power left in Congress in pursuit of a checks-and-balance system.

Del Castillo was earlier accused of plagiarizing portions of a ruling on World War II comfort women from foreign sources without proper attribution.

Parts of the decision denying the plea of the comfort women were reported to be borrowed from “A Fiduciary of Theory of Jus Cogens" by Evan Criddle and Evan Fox-Decent, "Breaking the Silence on Rape as an International Crime" by Mark Ellis, and "Enforcing Erga Omnes Obligations in International Law" by Christian Tams.

Ten justices however cleared Del Castillo of the accusations, saying his staff member “accidentally deleted” the attributions. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)