Palace Defers to SC Bribery Allegations Vs CA Justices

(PNA) — A Palace official has deferred to the Supreme Court to act on bribery allegations against two Court of Appeals (CA) justices who were reported to have been tapped to help issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the suspension order of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay.

In a briefing Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. maintained the Aquino administration’s stance against all forms of corruption.

”We should, however, consider the doctrine of separation of powers as the allegation of purported bribery pertains to the judiciary. We will defer to the Supreme Court to take a look at such serious allegations and for the Senate to act on the proposed resolution presented by one of its members,” he said.

On Monday, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV identified CA Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Francis Acosta, both of the CA Sixth Division, as the magistrates who he claims to have been bribed with Php25 million each to help for the issuance of a TRO.

He said these magistrates also played a part in the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction that stopped the Office of the Ombudsman’s 60-day suspension on Binay.

Reyes, on the other hand, have denied Trillanes’ accusation saying the TRO and the preliminary injunction “were issued by the Sixth Division of the Court of Appeals, acting as a collegiate body, after observing a meticulous, impartial and judicious evaluation of prevailing laws, jurisprudence, and evidence presented by the parties.” (PNA) LGI/JS/EDS