Tatad to SC: Unmask pro-Poe businessman, politician 'pressuring' justices

Former Sen. Francisco Tatad has asked the Supreme Court to probe a businessman and an influential politician who were allegedly trying to influence magistrates into voting against the disqualification of Sen. Grace Poe, a presidential aspirant in the May elections.

In an urgent manifestation, Tatad, through lawyer Manuelito Luna, cited a Daily Tribune report claiming that a businessman said to be bankrolling Poe's presidential run has been "exerting pressure" on the justices through an "influential politician" known to the justices as a "fixer."

The newspaper report cited sources in its story.

The businessman, the Tribune report said, has been allegedly dangling "incentives" to get the justices to rule in favor of Poe, who is contesting before the SC her disqualification by the Comelec over residency and citizenship requirements.

The same Tribune report, citing another source, claimed that President Benigno Aquino III has been "applying pressure" on his six SC appointees to get them to qualify Poe for the presidential elections next year.

Apart from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the other Aquino appointees are Associate Justices Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

"Given the gravity and sensitive nature of the matter at hand, not to mention its implications on judicial integrity and independence, the sporting idea of fair play, public confidence in the judiciary, and the rule of law, it behooves the Honorable Court to swiftly order an investgation to unmask the businessman and influential politician concerned, and to hold them in contempt of court, after observance of due process," read Tatad's manifestation.

Tatad, who was one of the petitioners who asked for Poe's disqualification, said under Rule 71 of the Rules of Court, any unlawful interference with the processes or poceedings of a court that is not direct contempt constitutes indirect contempt of court.

The SC is in the middle of holding oral arguments on Poe's twin petitions challenging her disqualification by the Comelec. It has so far conducted four rounds of oral arguments, in which justices interpellated both the lawyer of Poe and Comelec officials. —KBK, GMA News