SC suspends Pasay judge over alleged P6 million bribe

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered the suspension of a Pasay judge and an acting branch clerk of court who allegedly accepted a P6-million bribe.

The SC suspended Judge Alberto Cansino and acting branch clerk of court Mariejoy Lagman for 90 days to allow the Judicial Integrity Board to conduct an “unhampered probe.”

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Lagman for allegedly accepting P6 million from a litigant in exchange for a favorable judgment in a civil case in Cansino’s court.

Lagman claimed that the exchange was upon the instruction of Cansino, the NBI said. Seized from Lagman was a copy of a court order bearing the signature of Cansino.