Midas talks about bribery in the judiciary | ABS-CBN News

Midas talks about bribery in the judiciary | ABS-CBN News

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The SC OCA/Spokesman M. Marquez admits in an ABS CBN interview that he knows of reports of corruption versus judges brought to him verbally by aggrieved litigants, mostly businessmen, but he does not act on them because the oral complainants are equally guilty of corrupting a public official and that he simply suggests to them to just go to the NBI to ask for entrapment assistance. This attitude of a high SC official is disappointing for it shows lack of pro-activeness and sincerity to purify the judiciary. It passes the buck, so to speak, and frees himself of a legal duty to think, act, and be creative in solving a problem. You do not always need the formality of a notarized complaint to implement the spirit and the letter of the anti-graft and corruption laws and the Constitution to cleanse the Judiciary of misfits and "hoodlums in robes", to quote ex-Pres. Erap Estrada. There are many ways of skinning the cat, to so speak. The SC must be more creative and pro-active. It must learn to think out of the box.

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Supreme Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez on Monday admitted that he has heard stories of alleged bribes being paid to judges and justices but none have panned out.

Marquez, who also holds the position of Court Administrator, said he has heard allegations that some magistrates accept bribes in exchange for favorable decisions.

"We hear some stories like those but when we start investigating, no one comes to us. Even the businessmen who supposedly pay these judges wouldn't even talk to us," he told ANC's "Headstart."

Asked if he tries to persuade witnesses to testify, he said: "Oh yes. In fact, I am willing to risk my personal safety just to get these judges out of office."

The SC spokesman said his office regularly conducts discreet investigations on justices who are accused of accepting bribes. He said he does not require judges to comment outright on unsubstantiated allegations until there are sufficient grounds that would require a response.

He also told the story of a young businessman who complained about a Metro Manila judge who allegedly accepted bribes.

He said the businessman admitted paying the judge a large amount of money to get a temporary restraining order (TRO), which was granted.

He said the judge later asked for more money to grant an injunction, which the businessman paid and even delivered in cash.

However, the businessman alleged that the judge did not give the injunction "because apparently the other side paid a bigger amount."

"That is why he was in my office, before me. He wanted the judge out of the office. I told him: 'How do we go about this? You are as guilty as the judge. You paid him,'" Marquez recounted.

Marquez said he urged the businessman to help in a National Bureau of Investigation entrapment operation against the judge. The businessman, however, did not pursue the complaint and no longer answered Marquez's calls.

"After a week, he did not show up. Didn't pick up my calls. I checked the decision of the judge and it could go either way, he said.

Marquez said the Supreme Court needs complainants that would testify about the alleged wrongdoings in the court.

"We need businessmen and litigants for us to rid the judiciary of misfits. Only the businessmen can pay," he said.

Asked what happened to the alleged corrupt judge, Marquez said the judge is no longer in the service because he got sick.

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