JBC to check if Justice Ong appealed dismissal

MANILA, Philippines - The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will check if Justice Gregory Ong had appealed the Supreme Court (SC) ruling last Sept. 23 dismissing him from the judiciary.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, JBC chairman, said the action aims to determine if they could already start the selection process for his replacement in the Sandiganbayan.

“I have to find out the status, I don’t know if he has filed an appeal,” she said.

Sereno spoke at the sidelines of the 11th Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair Lecture at the Court of Appeals auditorium.

The SC imposed the maximum penalty of dismissal on Ong for violating the New Code of Judicial Conduct when he met with Janet Lim-Napoles on two occasions after acquitting her in a malversation through falsification of public documents case involving the sale in 1998 of 500 Kevlar helmets to the Philippine Marines.

Voting 8-5-2, the SC also ordered forfeiture of his retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service.

The SC gave Ong 15 days from receipt of notice to file an appeal.