Colleagues defend Supreme Court justice

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Supreme Court (SC) Justice Mariano del Castillo has gained more sympathy from his peers.

The Association of Retired Court of Appeals (CA) Justices Inc. (ARCAJI) and the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) have vouched for the integrity of Del Castillo as they reiterated the call for sobriety on the alleged issue of plagiarism raised against the magistrate now being investigated by the SC Ethics and Ethical Standards Committee.

Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law and the UST Law Alumni Association Inc. have also called for the upholding of rule of law and due process.

Del Castillo was alleged to have lifted from another source parts of a ruling on a case involving “comfort women” or sex slaves during the Japanese occupation.

In the ruling, he said the SC has no power to compel the Philippine government to make Tokyo apologize to comfort women or provide them compensation. Most of them are already octogenarians.

“ARCAJI expresses its confidence in the integrity of Justice Del Castillo,” said the retired CA justices in a two-page resolution. 

Led by retired CA Justice Wenceslao Agnir Jr. and retired CA Justice Teodoro Regino, ARCAJI chairman and president, respectively, the group stressed that the SC ethics committee should first be allowed to resolve the complaint before any call for the resignation of Del Castillo is made “in the interest of justice and fair play.”

The PJA, for its part said, that Del Castillo – as a regional trial court judge – displayed extraordinary diligence and exemplary conduct in the performance of duty. 

“The presumption of regularity in the performance of duty and the presumption of innocence must likewise apply to no less than an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,” said the PJA resolution signed by its president Manila RTC Branch 24 Judge Antonio Eugenio, Jr.

The PJA also urged the public to refrain from issuing any statements that may influence the decision of the SC Committee on Ethics and Ethical Standards.