CA presiding justice embroiled in alleged irregularities

MANILA, Philippines – Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez Jr. was embroiled yesterday in alleged irregularities in the CA.

Justice Vicente Roxas told the three-member Supreme Court investigating panel that Vasquez “has a greater interest” in the case of Manila Electric Co. vs. Government Service Insurance System because his two daughters, a sister and a niece are working at the state pension fund.

Roxas wrote the decision declaring that the Securities and Exchange Commission has no jurisdiction over the Meralco vs. GSIS case.

Roxas presented to the panel a copy of the “Business Circuit” column of Malaya publisher Amado Macasaet, dated Aug. 7, 2008, which reported Vasquez’s sister Leonora de Jesus, two daughters, and a niece are all working at the GSIS.

“He should have announced before the en banc that he has relatives in the GSIS,” said Roxas.

Roxas was referring to the July 31 CA en banc session, which ended with the recommendation that the squabbling justices in the Meralco case submit themselves to an SC investigation.

Roxas said Vasquez’s daughter, Maria Ruth works at the GSIS corporate secretary’s office, while another daughter, Agnes is employed at the GSIS dental office.

Both receive a monthly salary of P80,000, he added.

Roxas said Vasquez’s sister, former Presidential Management Staff chief De Jesus, is a GSIS consultant earning P200,000 a month.

De Jesus’s daughter, Luisa works for the treasury office and gets a monthly salary of P127,000, he added.

When he cross-examined Roxas after the lunch break, Vasquez dismissed the accusations as nothing more than hearsay evidence.

Vasquez then asked the panel to strike off the records the allegations of Roxas on grounds that these cannot be substantiated.

Roxas also told the panel that last May 29, GSIS vice-president for legal affairs Estrella Elamparo tried to barge into his private chambers.

“She has no business to be in the office of the ponente,” he said.

“She knew that she is committing a crime just by being in the office of Justice Roxas as GSIS is a party in the case.

“She had the gall to say that Justice Roxas met with Meralco lawyers when it was she who tried to barge into the office of Justice Roxas.”

Elamparo later told reporters that she was indeed at the office of Roxas to file a motion to defer action on the Meralco case.

The SC investigating panel is looking at extending the hearings beyond the Aug. 21 deadline.

Meanwhile, Ermin Miguel, Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) legal department head, told the panel that PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio, who is in Brazil on official mission, could not book a flight back to the Philippines earlier than Aug. 22.

Chairman Sabio was summoned by the panel after CA Justice Jose Sabio Jr, revealed during the hearings that his elder brother called him and tried to influence his decision on the Meralco case.

Panel member, retired Justice Romeo Callejo said Chairman Sabio’s statement would have a great impact on the investigation.

In another case, the SC ordered Roxas yesterday to pay a P15,000 fine for violating the New Code of Judicial Conduct.

In a 15-page decision, the SC said Roxas had failed to “resolve a motion for reconsideration” filed by Victoriano Orocio, counsel for retired employees of the National Power Corp.

“The omissions of respondent violated section 5, cannon 6 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary,” read the decision.