At least 10 employees at the Palace of Justice have been summoned to shed light on the ongoing fact-finding inquiry into the controversial “marriage scam.”
Rullyn Garcia, head of the investigating team created by the Supreme Court, confirmed yesterday that they interviewed some personnel of the Regional Trial Court in the second phase of their investigation. The team started looking into records of the RTC branches starting Monday.
Last week, the team combed records of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities. Chief Justice Reynato Puno then ordered the indefinite preventive suspension of four MTCC judges and the filing of administrative charges for corruption, dishonesty, gross ignorance of the law, and deliberate violation of the law on marriage against them.
Garcia said they are not leaving any stone unturned in the investigation, as they suspect a “network” exists in the alleged scam. He said the court personnel have been cooperative during the interviews.
He also admitted having conducted an “exercise” last week that yielded a positive result, particularly on how to commence with the investigation.
Sources told The Freeman that the so-called “exercise” was plotted to enable members of the investigating team to establish contact with a so-called fixer. At the start of their investigation last week, Garcia said they would also look into the angle of persons that allegedly coordinate the marriages with the courts.
The judges placed under preventive suspension include MTCC Judges Anatalio S. Necessario (Branch 2), Gil R. Acosta (Branch 3), Rosabella M. Tormis (Branch 4), and Edgemelo C. Rosales (Branch 8).
The other day, the Supreme Court disclosed the names of judges designated to take over the responsibilities of those suspended. They are Judge Veronico R. Sardoncillo of Municipal Trial Court- Minglanilla, Judge Glenda C. Go of MTC- San Fernando, Judge Carlos C. Fernando of MTCC- Mandaue, and Judge Delfin N. Decierdo of MTC- Sibonga.
Sardoncillo was designated to handle Necessario’s court while Go is to handle Acosta’s court. Meanwhile, Fernando was designated to handle Tormis’ court and Decierdo will take over the court of Rosales. — Joeberth M. Ocao/LPM