Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s announcement of an informal investigation on the alleged involvement of seven judges in the illegal drugs trade “was premature”.
”The SC would consider it important to know the source and basis of any allegation that specific judges are involved in the illegal drugs trade,” Sereno said in her four-page letter to President Duterte.
She expressed alarm over the announcement of the ‘narco-judges’, saying that judges are vulnerable to extra-judicial killings and this would have an impact on the performance of the judges’ “adjudicative role”.
Sereno emphasized the importance of the good reputation and credibility of judges.
She said they are expecting this to have an effect on the schedule of trials and conferences of the judges.
Admitting that the President’s announcement sprang a surprise on them, the Chief Justice said it would have been better if the High Court was given the opportunity to conduct preventive measures before the announcement was made.
Sereno also disclosed that the SC is investigating a judge who may be involved in the trade of illegal drugs but is not in the list of President Duterte.
President Duterte has earlier named Judge Lorinda Toledo-Mupas of Dasmarinas, Cavite; Judge Reyes of Baguio City; Judge Savilo of Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13; Judge Casipli of Kalibo, Aklan Municipal Trial Court (MTC); Judge Rene Gonzales of Iloilo City Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC); Calbayog City, Samar RTC Judge Navidad; and Dapa, Siargao MTC Judge Ezekiel Dagala.
Of the seven judges, Mupas was dismissed in 2007, Navidad was shot to death in 2008, and Gonzales retired in January 2016. (PNA)
