Government confident SC will reject MJ’s bail appeal

With the latest ruling denying Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez’s move to exclude four justices who voted against his petition, the government expressed confidence yesterday that the Supreme Court will uphold its previous ruling canceling the congressman’s P1-million bail.

Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said they are confident that the Sept. 24 decision of the Supreme Court turning down the motion of Jimenez to post bail will be affirmed.

"There is no reason that should alter the decision. The government is confident in its position," Teehankee, who is also the department’s spokesman, said.

Jimenez earlier urged the high tribunal to nullify the votes made by Associate Justices Renato Corona, Romeo Callejo Sr., Conchita Carpio-Morales and Alicia Austria-Martinez, claiming they have been biased against him since they were appointees of President Arroyo.

Jimenez’s counsel, former University of the Philippines College of Law dean Froilan Bacungan, argued the four Arroyo-appointed magistrates assumed office only recently and were not privy to the deliberations of the case.

The SC, however, turned down Jimenez by stating the four magistrates had fully participated in the deliberations since this is the actual and normal procedure for all magistrates.

In a two-page resolution, the high court branded Jimenez’s arguments as "totally erroneous assumptions" that the four magistrates abstained because they had assumed office recently when it handed down the ruling Sept. 24.

The high court said the four magistrates were among the eight who voted to invalidate the P1 million bail granted by Manila Judge Guillermo Purganan to Jimenez.

They said the Manila congressman was a flight risk and he should be arrested and detained to face extradition charges.

Teehankee said the decision of the high court turning down Jimenez, in effect will affirm the original 8-6 decision that the Manila legislator is not entitled to bail.