Pasay judge, clerk of court fall in NBI operation; to face bribery, corruption charges

A Pasay City judge and an acting clerk of court are facing bribery and corruption charges after an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation. 

According to a report by John Consulta on 24 Oras, authorities arrested a 59-year old clerk of court of the Pasay Regional Trial Court inside the branch office by NBI agents. At her feet was a paper bag containing P6 million in marked money.

The NBI laid out the entrapment operation against the court officials after the Judicial Integrity Board and the Supreme Court approached them to complain about the alleged solicitation of money in exchange for a favorable outcome of a case filed by the complainant.

The clerk of court and the judge of the RTC branch they are assigned to are facing a complaint of direct bribery, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices act and Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The clerk of court and the judge, who was not physically present during the operation, were also meted a 90-day suspension from the Supreme Court.

"We got the information from the Judicial Integrity Board that an anonymous tipster informed them na may nangyayaring extortion sa Pasay Court. In exchange for some amount of money, the subject judge will decide in favor of the party of interest. Magkakaliwaan sila, pag naibigay itong pera, iaabot naman ni clerk of court ang decision na signed mismo ni judge," said Attorney Jeremy Lotoc, head of the NBI Cybercrime Division.

(It was an on the spot transaction. After receiving the money, the clerk of court would hand the decision that was signed by the judge.)

Agent Terrence Lomas-e said, "P5 million lang dapat yun eh. P1 million na unang good will and P4 million na balance ibibigay the next day dapat. Pero dahil hindi nag push through yung unang usapan sa P1 million, ang naging whole amount na hiningi the next day ay P6 million na. In the span of 1 week, ganun yung amount na pinapaproduce sa kanila".

(It was supposed to be P5 million - P1 million as good will and P4 million as the balance given the next day. But since the first deal did not push through the whole amount became P6 million in the span of 1 week. That was the amount being demanded from the complainant.)

After payment was made, the complainant was given a seven-page certified true copy of the decision in favor of his case.

"It’s highly significant, once in a blue moon ang case na ito. Sa ating mga kababayan, mas maganda kung dito tayo sa tamang proseso, within the legal confines, kasi pag pilit po tayong umayon sa under the table, malaki ang risk na pwede ka mabaligtad, maestafa, at mahuli. Pag ito ang naging practice, walang magiging future ang bayan natin," said Atty. Lotoc.

(It's highly significant, and a once in a blue moon case. For our countrymen, it would be better if we follow the right process, within the legal confines, because if we try to go under the table, there is a big risk that you can be overturned, become an estafa victim, and  get caught. If this becomes the practice, our country will have no future.) 

GMA Integrated News tried to get a statement from the clerk of court but she refused.

Moreover, the computers and cellphones of the Pasay RTC branch will be subjected to forensic examination to obtain additional evidence.—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News