Photo shows ‘Ma’am Arlene’ rubbing elbows with justices

MANILA, Philippines - Just like alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, her reported counterpart in the judiciary also has a controversial photo.

The Supreme Court (SC) committee tasked to investigate the reported influence peddling in courts allegedly by a certain “Ma’am Arlene” has received a photo showing her in a gathering with lady magistrates last year.

Arlene Lerma, who has been tagged by probers as the “Ma’am Arlene” who supposedly fixed cases in trial courts, is seen seated in the center of the photo surrounded by female justices of the Court of Appeals and a magistrate of the Supreme Court.

The photo, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR from authorities investigating the controversy, was taken during the retirement of Deputy Court Administrator Antonio Eugenio Jr. on Nov. 20, last year.

When asked about the photo, Eugenio confirmed that it was indeed taken during his retirement ceremony.

“That is all there is in that picture. Those who impute malice are simply malicious,” he told The STAR.

The former SC official, who had served as a prosecutor for eight years and a judge for 16 years, admitted that Lerma was his guest during the event.

“I first met Arlene when I sought the assistance of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno sometime in 2007 when I became the first Manila judge to be elected president of the Philippine Judges Association. She was always tasked by the vice mayor to give a helping hand to judges,” Eugenio recalled.

“In 2009, I was re-elected. So each time I would ask for assistance from the vice mayor, the latter would instruct Arlene to take care of the matter for him. So Arlene and I became friends,” he added.

Eugenio said the justices in the photo were also his friends.

“During all those years, I developed many friendships among my peers. I have known them from way back, even before they became justices,” he explained.

An insider bared that the investigating SC committee chaired by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen has invited CA Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind Delorino to identify those in the photo and explain the circumstances behind it.

The probe panel had earlier invited Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Court Administrator Raul Villanueva to shed light on the goings-on during the last Philippine Judges Association (PJA) election, from where the allegations about “Ma/am Arlene” reportedly originated.

The other members of the committee are retired SC Associate Justices Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez and Romeo Callejo Jr.