Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes inhibited himself from all the cases involving former Vice Governor John Gregory Osmeña and the consignees of the P6 billion pseudoephedrine shipment seized in 2004.
Paredes granted the state prosecutors motion for his voluntary inhibition despite his insisting his impartiality in handling the case.
According to Peredes, the panel of state prosecutors misunderstood him when he only wanted them to prove all the elements of the crime of coddling under Section 4 of the Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law.
“It is but logical that the court was interested in asking the panel to prove all the elements of the crime,” Paredes said, in a two-page order.
He explained that he knows that the quantum of proof beyond reasonable doubts is not required yet in this stage of the case, which he said, the reason why he did not order for its dismissal.
According to him, he only required the prosecution to present additional evidence to support probable cause.
“It is unfortunate that the panel of prosecutors who are not from Cebu City misunderstood the presiding judge,” Paredes emphasized.
The judge said he has upheld and exemplified judicial independence and that the profile taking of judges conducted by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines would bear him out.
But despite not being convinced by the grounds laid by the prosecution panel, Paredes found it necessary for him to inhibit from the cases against Osmeña as well as that of illegal drug importation against Mike Cummings and Dirk Hultz.
Cummings and Hultz are the consignees of the P6 billion worth drug precursor seized in Cebu in 2004 while on transshipment from China to Australia.
“Although the panel of prosecutors showed lack of respect and trust in the action of the presiding judge which is not well grounded, he has no other alternative but to inhibit in these cases,” Paredes said.
The prosecution earlier asked for Paredes’ inhibition, citing Paredes has showed partiality in favor of the accused when he said in open court that he was not satisfied with the evidence presented by the prosecution panel.
“The open court bias of the Honorable Presiding Judge is unfortunate and does not bode well for the public’s continued faith and trust in the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, especially when one considers that the accused in this case is a scion of an influential and prominent political family in Cebu Province and its former Provincial Vice Governor at that,” state prosecutors earlier cited in their motion.
Paredes inhibition would mean further delay on the resolution of the cases. — Fred P. Languido/WAB