CA orders probe on Trillanes claim vs. 2 justices

(Updated 12:20 p.m.) The Court of Appeals has decided to finally probe allegations by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that two of its justices accepted P50 million in bribe to stop the six-month suspension of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay.

 

In a one-page letter, CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. directed its ethics committee to conduct a "thorough investigation" and submit a report on the lawmaker's claims within 30 days.

 

 

In his resolution, Trillanes cited “reliable sources privy to the matter” in alleging that Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Francisco Acosta received P20 million each to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Binay’s suspension last March 16.

 

Trillanes also accused the two CA justices of receiving an additional P5 million each upon the subsequent issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction to stop Binay’s suspension indefinitely.

 

The senator said these “transactions” were allegedly facilitated by lawyer Pancho Villaraza, who is supposedly supporting the presidential campaign of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Mayor Binay’s father.

 

The justices and Villaraza's camp have all denied the accusations.

[Read related: CA justices in payoff controversy boast of clean records, impressive credentials]

 

The Supreme Court has yet to comment on or investigate the issue, but its spokesman Theodore Te said the high tribunal has the authority to probe the matter. 

Senate President Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, said the Senate can look into the matter, but clarified that the two justices could not be compelled to attend the investigation. — RSJ, GMA News