Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Utility worker tagged in court marriage 'scam'
ALARMED over the reported “annulment scam” inside the Palace of Justice, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia conducted yesterday a fact-finding conference between him and the lawyer of the complainant.
De Gracia urged lawyer Eugene Sumampong to convince his client to file an administrative complaint against the alleged “facilitator,” who was identified as a utility worker. Sun.Star Cebu is withholding the name of the worker pending his comment on the issue.
Judges Silvestre Maamo Jr. and Ramon Codilla also attended the conference.
Codilla believes the “scam” has been taking place for a long time.
“This is not an isolated case. The other victims just didn’t complain,” said Codilla.
Sumampong said the victim of the scam is an employee of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
According to him, Ana (real name withheld) sought the help of Ramon (not his real name) sometime last April to fast-track the annulment proceedings of her marriage so she could marry her American boyfriend.
Not honored
Sumampong clarified that Ana’s marriage was officially annulled but when she went to the American embassy, it turned out that somebody with the same name as her was listed as still married.
As a result, the embassy would not honor her certification of no marriage.
Ana paid Ramon another P22,000 after he told her he could have that other woman’s marriage annulled.
Ramon delivered his promise but later the complainant found out that the decision of nullity of marriage given to her by Ramon was “manufactured.”
The decision was allegedly penned by RTC Judge Manuel Patalinghug.
Upon verification, no annulment case was even filed in the court.
“Judges like us are always the last to know. I don’t know how many times these people have sold us,” Codilla said in Cebuano.
“The most marketable item in the judiciary is the judges,” said de Gracia.
Sumampong said his client’s concern is only to retrieve the money but despite several demand letters, Ramon failed to pay her back and even challenged them to file a case against him, prompting them to report the matter to Jeoffrey Joaquino, the RTC clerk of court.
Today, another conference is scheduled so Judges de Gracia, Maamo and Codilla can convince the victim to file the necessary complaint before them.
De Gracia promised that he will submit a report to the Supreme Court. The complaint of Ana will be attached to it, he said.
De Gracia said the move is geared towards protecting the integrity of the judiciary, which has been rocked by many controversies, among them the so-called “marriage scam” where four Municipal Trial Court in Cities judges were suspended by the High Tribunal. (KNT)
