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Saturday, August 02, 2008
Justice Sabio denies bribery attempt
MANILA -- Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio Jr. denounced as "filthy, blatant lies" the allegations of businessman Francis Roa de Borja that he had special interest in the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) case because of a government offer of money and promotion to the Supreme Court (SC).
Sabio was acting as chairman of the Special Ninth Division that first took cognizance of the Meralco petition. He called a press conference Friday to counter de Borja's affidavit.
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Sabio turned the tables on his accuser, saying it was the Meralco "emissary" who enticed him to accept the P10-million bribe offer in exchange for his inhibition from the Meralco case.
De Borja alleged in his affidavit that Sabio took a special interest in the Meralco case after the government promised him money and a promotion to the SC should he rule in favor of the Government Service Insurance System's (GSIS) takeover of the power distribution firm.
He further said that when he asked Sabio what it would take for him to reject the government's offer, the magistrate told him: P50 million.
But Sabio said de Borja twisted the facts, saying it was de Borja who first approached, called, and told him about the P10-million bribe, even as he challenged his erstwhile family friend for them to submit to a lie detector test.
Perjury raps
The CA justice said he is mulling to file bribery and perjury raps against de Borja.
Sabio said he had planned not to talk to media anymore about the issue following Thursday's en banc session of the justices of the CA. However, he said he was forced to again talk after de Borja had executed his sworn statement.
"I know that the Lopezes will do everything possible using their money and power to discredit me. This is just the beginning. I know that they will not stop doing everything to tarnish my integrity," he said.
In a separate interview, de Borja said he is willing to submit to a lie detector test provided that Sabio also takes the same test and that such will be conducted by a "respected foreign agency."
De Borja further stated that as a justice and a lawyer, Sabio should have known that result of a lie detector test is not admissible in court.
He also debunked Sabio's earlier claim that Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manolo Lopez was with de Borja and was inside a waiting car on the night of July 1 when they met at a Makati mall shortly after the justice was finished with his class at the Ateneo Law School.
"That could not have happened as Manolo Lopez was out of the country at that time," he said.
En banc session
The SC meanwhile will tackle in an en banc session on Tuesday the administrative issue ensuing from the dispute among justices of the CA over the controversial ruling of a division on the Meralco case.
SC spokesman Midas Marquez said Chief Justice Reynato Puno has ordered that all records relative to the dispute must be transmitted to the high court before the en banc session, including the alleged bribery attempt on Justice Sabio.
The en banc session will enable the court to formally endorse the case to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
The same documents will also be forwarded to the OCA for possible sanctions on the propriety of the actions of the justices concerned.
Marquez assured that due process will be accorded to all parties involved.
Once the court has determined any wrongdoing on the part of the CA justices, Marquez said the SC will not hesitate to wield its power to remove them from their posts, if necessary, and file charges against them. (ECV/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (August 2, 2008 issue)
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