SC affirms Ong’s dismissal as Sandigan justice

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday affirmed its ruling last month dismissing Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong from judicial service over links with alleged pork barrel fund operator Janet Lim-Napoles.

In their regular session, a majority of the justices of the high court voted to deny the motion for reconsideration filed by Ong last week for lack of merit.

They stood by their finding that Ong was guilty of gross misconduct, dishonesty and impropriety and rejected the plea of the dismissed magistrate for them to consider his long service in government in taking a second look at his case.

The SC reiterated Ong violated the New Code of Judicial Conduct in acquitting Napoles in a case of malversation through falsification of public documents involving the sale of 500 Kevlar helmets to the Philippine Marines in 1998.

The high court’s dismissal of the appeal makes final the SC order, which was already enforced last month.

In its ruling promulgated last Sept. 23, the SC imposed the maximum penalty of dismissal on Ong for violating the New Code of Judicial Conduct by meeting with Napoles on two occasions after acquitting her in the Kevlar case.

The high tribunal also ordered forfeiture of Ong’s retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service.  

A majority of eight magistrates approved the ruling led by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

Five other members of the high court, however, dissented: Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza and Bienvenido Reyes.

They wanted a lighter penalty of three-month suspension slapped on Ong and believed he was guilty only of simple misconduct.

Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Diosdado Peralta took no part in the voting since they were both colleagues of Ong in the Sandiganbayan before their appointment to the SC.

Ong was the first justice of the anti-graft court, which handles cases against corrupt and erring government officials, to be dismissed. 

While the ruling was immediately executory, Ong was allowed to file an appeal. 

The SC started the administrative probe against Ong last January as a result of the inquiry it initiated in October last year on sworn statements by witnesses during the hearing at the Senate.

Whistle-blowers identified Ong as one of the personalities who visited Napoles’ office at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas and joined her parties.