Palace: No reason to doubt independence of Villaruz

MANILA, Philippines - There is no reason to doubt the independence of newly-appointed Sandiganbayan presiding justice Francisco Villaruz Jr. even if he was one of those who convicted former president Joseph Estrada for plunder, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Villaruz’s qualifications would speak for itself.

“He is known to be a man of integrity and he does not take the side of anyone. He makes decisions based on his independent assessment of the facts and the law... He is a very qualified justice,” Lacierda said.

Estrada claimed his successor, then president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, created the Sandiganbayan’s special court to convict him.

Arroyo, who was then vice president, took over following Estrada’s ouster in 2001. Estrada had accused Arroyo of power grabbing when he became embattled over corruption charges.

Lacierda said they were aware of Villaruz’s judicial independence and “that’s why we are confident and that’s the reason why the President appointed Justice Villaruz.”

“Apart from vetting the qualification of Justice Villaruz, of course we know the justice’s reputation and they always say Justice Villaruz is very strict, he is very honest,” he said.

“I think we made a right decision in appointing Justice Villaruz as the presiding justice of Sandiganbayan,” Lacierda said.