Below are excerpts from Ramon Tulfo’s recent column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer containing allegations that Judge R. Villanueva (Las Pinas City’s former executive judge and recently promoted to the rank of deputy court administrator in the Supreme Court) had connived with the clan of retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tinga and his son (city mayor of Taguig) in the dismissal of drugs-related criminal cases of members of the Tinga clan in that city.
The Bar hopes that the good judge would soon disprove the allegations against him and clarify the nagging questions in the minds of the reading public.
As a young judge whose academic and professional credentials are impressive and whose moral character, integrity and independence are unquestioned, Judge Raul Villanueva still has a bright judicial career path ahead of him that he must protect.
One-sided attacks by media critics who do not take serious and fair efforts to verify and confirm their facts before launching public accusations in their columns unjustly destroy an innocent citizen’s professional future, peace of mind, human dignity, and public image. His family suffers with him.
On Target
Why most Pinoys are poor
By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:54:00 03/08/2010
Jeffrey Roquero, an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), has been charged with libel by retired Supreme Court Justice Dante Tinga whom he linked to illegal drugs.
The libel case stemmed from Roquero’s allegation that Tinga and his son, Taguig Mayor Freddie, influenced Pasig Judge Raul Villanueva into dropping charges against Tinga relatives for drug peddling.
Roquero, who arrested Alberto and Fernando Tinga in a buy-bust operation, asked the Supreme Court to disbar Villanueva.
His superiors at the PDEA must give Roquero their full support in his war against the powerful Tingas by providing him with lawyers.
Other drug enforcement agents might be demoralized if Roquero doesn’t get support from PDEA.
* * *
Roquero has created a noise so loud that it has been heard all the way to the Supreme Court.
Dante Tinga was still a member of the high tribunal when he allegedly told Villanueva to drop the charges against his relatives, according to my sources at PDEA.
If that is true then Tinga used his exalted position to influence Villanueva.
The high tribunal’s reputation as an ultimate dispenser of justice has been tarnished.
See:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100308-257491/Why-most-Pinoys-are-poor
