Camarines judge caught receiving P.4-M bribe

A Camarines Norte judge found himself yesterday in the shoes of a common criminal, facing an inquest fiscal and presented to reporters, after he was caught by agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) allegedly in the act of receiving P400,000 in bribe money from a police colonel the other day.

Chief Superintendent Francisco Zubia, the PAOCTF's deputy chief for operations, said Judge Owen Amor, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 41 of Daet, Camarines Norte, was nabbed in the entrapment laid out by his agents at Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

Amor received P400,000 in marked money from Superintendent Danilo Manzano, chief of the Anti-Narcotics Group of the Southern Tagalog police. The judge later tested positive for ultraviolet powder.

Manzano sought the help of the task force after Amor allegedly approached him several times, offering to dismiss the charges of robbery and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against him in exchange for P500,000 and a pick-up truck. The judge later reduced the amount to P400,000.

Manzano said the charges were filed against him when he was still the intelligence chief of the Bicol police.

He said the judge reset the payoff thrice: first, at the judge's residence in Daet last Sept. 17, then at the Camp Crame tennis court last Oct. 3, and then again in Daet last Dec. 10.

Zubia said Amor finally decided to push through with the payoff at the Sulo Hotel the other day.

Amor was charged with direct bribery and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili recommended a bail of P180,000 for the judge's temporary liberty.

The judge declined to comment on the charges, invoking his right to remain silent.

He is now detained at the PAOCTF office at Camp Crame.