Malacañang Welcomes SC Decision on Ong’s Dismissal

The Palace on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision dismissing Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong over his involvement with reported pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte said Malacanang shares the advocacy of the Chief Justice, “who would like to further advance judicial reform by improving the current system and investigating allegations of judicial misconduct.”

As of Tuesday, Justice Ong has yet to issue a statement regarding the decision.

Ong is the first member of the anti-graft court to be dismissed from office.

Sandiganbayan executive clerk of court Renato Bocar said Ong can still appeal the SC’s decision.

“Next to the Presiding Justice [Amparo Cabotaje-Tang], siya ang pinaka-senior. So pag wala si PJ, siya ang acting PJ. Sa Sandiganbayan, this would be the first time [that a Justice is dismissed] as a result of a formal administrative case,” Bocar said.

Bocar added that the ruling of the SC on Justice Ong is immediately executory, but is not immediately final. Ong still has the opportunity to file a motion for reconsideration if he so desires, within 15 days from receipt of the ruling or resolution of the Supreme Court, Bocar said.

Ong chairs the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division, which acquitted Napoles in a case involving anomalies in the sale of 500 Kevlar helmets to the Philippine Marines in 1998. Report said an investigation conducted by the high court concluded that the Kevlar case had been “fixed,” with Ong receiving an undetermined amount from Napoles, resulting in the businesswoman’s acquittal.

Witnesses in the alleged pork barrel scam, Benhur Luy and Marina Sula, had also said they saw Ong meeting with Napoles at her office in Ortigas.

The Supreme Court sitting en banc found Ong guilty of gross misconduct, dishonesty and impropriety for his alleged connection to Napoles. The court voted eight in favor, five against and two abstentions.

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