Carpio denies allegations of electioneering

MANILA, Philippines - Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has denied a lawyer’s allegations that he tried to influence the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) elections in 1989.

In a letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Wednesday, Carpio said he saw nothing wrong with spending P20,000 for the accommodations of lawyers from his former law firm.

“At that time, I was the managing partner of my former law firm,” he said.

“It was, and still is, customary for law firms to send their lawyers to attend IBP seminars and conventions.

“Of course, the law firms would have to pay for the expenses of their own lawyers, including hotel accommodations.”

Lawyer Joel Obar has accused Carpio of being “one of the conspirators who treated the sanctity of IBP elections in 1989 with ignominy.”

Carpio said his action was not irregular since he was not a candidate in the IBP elections, and that the lawyers were not voting delegates.             – Edu Punay