Thursday, December 13, 2007 IBP stays away from issue v. lawyer
THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter, for now, will stay away from the allegation that a lawyer had a hand in the P50,000 payoff for letting a client off on a lesser drug charge.
Briccio Joseph Boholst, IBP Cebu City Chapter president, said the organization’s rules require a verified complaint prior to the launching of any investigations.
“I don’t know who their source is. There will be no basis to initiate an investigation unless it is upon a verified complaint,” he said.
PO1 Blaire Quezon earlier said that she felt obliged to serve as courier in the botched payoff because the lawyer was her teacher in law school and also her counsel in a pending annulment case.
Quezon needs P30,000 for bail.
She was charged before the court yesterday for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Sufficient
Quezon, 28, is also facing administrative charges for violating the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards, and Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code.
Sarah Vergara, investigator of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, found the complaint against Quezon sufficient in “substance and form.” Vergara conducted the inquest proceedings yesterday morning.
The resolution of the anti-graft court said Quezon refused to sign a waiver of detention for the conduct of a preliminary investigation.
Quezon allegedly meddled in a drug case involving Cleofe Racaza who was arrested last Friday in a buy-bust in Sitio Galaxy, Barangay Tanke, Talisay City.
Quezon reportedly gave P50,000 to a police operative so they would charge Racaza with lighter offense.
Quezon was arrested in an entrapment last Monday. She said lawyer Gines Abellana, who represented Racaza, asked her to handle the negotiations.
Abellana had refused to comment when he was contacted on his cell phone. (KNR/KNT)
