Jamby wants CA justice off case involving aunt's estate

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal sought yesterday the inhibition of a Court of Appeals (CA) magistrate in her petition pushing for her right over properties left by her late billionaire aunt, Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal-Collantes.

In an urgent supplemental motion, Madrigal asked Associate Justice Hakim Abdulwahid of the CA’s 10th division to recuse himself from handling the case.

Through lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr., Madrigal cited as main basis the earlier inhibitions made by the other two members of the division – Associate Justices Ricardo Rosario and Rodil Zalameda – over “personal, undisclosed reasons.” Madrigal stressed it is “proper and prudent” for the remaining member of the original division to also inhibit from the case.

In September last year, the CA junked a motion of Madrigal and ruled to give due course to a petition of lawyer Perry Pe and Bank of the Philippine Islands president Aurelio Montinola – executors and trustees of Collantes – questioning the Makati regional trial court ruling in February 2009 that declared Madrigal as a valid heir to her aunt’s estate.