http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/j...070730met1.html
Monday, July 30, 2007
SC to probe TRO fixers, justices in appeals court
By Jomar Canlas, Reporter
THE Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the alleged indiscriminate issuances of temporary restraining orders by 12 Court of Appeals justices, dubbed the “dirty dozen.”
In a one-page resolution of the SC en banc, the Court ordered the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to appoint a judicial supervisor that would audit the cases heard by CA Justice Romeo Barza, who is suspected of being among the “dirty dozen.”
The Court issued the ruling based on a 23-page verified disbarment complaint/letter affidavit of former Malabon RTC judge Florentino Floro Jr. before the SC for charges of gross misconduct, gross ignorance of the law, manifest undue interest, questionable temporary restraining orders, grave violations of Republic Act 6713, or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards, against the members of the “dirty dozen” and CA Justice Romeo Barza.
Barza was a former PJA president and a former senior partner of the Carpio Villaraza Cruz Angangaco law.
The SC also ordered the “designated judicial supervisor to submit a report to the Office of the Court Administrator within 30 days from date of investigation.”
Floro also asked the Court to conduct a judicial audit and preventive suspension against the “dirty dozen.”
The “dirty dozen” of the appellate court is composed of 10 male justices and two lady justices, who are on the list of alleged corrupt magistrates in the CA, according to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
The CA is composed of 69 justices, 51 of which are stationed in Manila. Majority of these justices came from the lower court.
Flora based his case against Barza on the justice’s “frequent” issuances of TROs as reported by lawyer Mercedita G. Dadole-Ignacio, CA Cebu Division Clerk of Court to CA Clerk of Court lawyer Elisa Pilar-Longalong, according to the complaint.
Barza issued five TROs from January 18 to February 26, 2007, or a series of five TROs for five consecutive weeks, the complaint said.
Based on records submitted by the 23 Divisions Clerks of Court of the appellate court, the most number of TROs issued was by Barza, during his stay at Cebu CA. Barza is now with the CA in Manila.
The TROs were issued in connection with the cases of Sun Life of Canada v. National Labor Relations Commission, Armed Forces of the Phils. v. Yolanda Lauron, Doloreich A. Dumaluan v. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Assumption Iloilo v. Fedy T. Bhuiyan and O.G. Holdings Corp. v. Environmental Management Bureau.
Floro also prayed that upon due notice and hearing, “judgment be rendered dismissing respondents from service, with prejudice and recommending the filing of criminal charges against them for violations of R.A. 6713 and R.A. 3019 [antigraft and corrupt practices act], and under R.A. 1379, or Forfeiture of Illegally Gotten Wealth.”
He cited pertinent laws that were violated such as the violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct, Code of Professional Responsibility and the Revised Administrative Code of 1987.
Recently, the Supreme Court set an example by sacking CA Associate Justice Elvi John Asuncion due to delays in resolving the motions for reconsideration within the required period and the irregular issuance of a TRO.
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http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2007/...t.building.html
Friday, July 27, 2007
Fire hits appellate court building
VIDEOS:
Fire hits Court of Appeals
07/26/2007 | 05:08 PM
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/9651/Despite-C...earing-still-on
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/9623/Fire-stri...peals-buildings
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/9615/Fire-hits-Court-of-Appeals
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