Palace welcomes filing of charges vs SC spokesman

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang welcomed yesterday the filing of charges against Supreme Court (SC) administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez for alleged misuse of the high tribunal’s Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) funds from the World Bank (WB) and for abusing his office by lawyering for Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is facing an impeachment trial at the Senate.

In a three-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales should investigate Marquez for possible criminal and administrative offenses.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte denied the Palace orchestrated the filing through Bello, but saw it as a welcome move so that the truth would come out and Marquez would be given a chance to defend himself.

“I believe that Congressman Bello did it on his own initiative. Whether it is premature or not, the Ombudsman will make the decision. Because when the charges against him were filed, and if the other side will answer, the Ombudsman will determine if (the case is) premature or not,” she said.

She said it is okay with the Palace if Marquez is given the chance to reply on the complaints, adding it would be better if the Palace and the SC would no longer exchange comments about it through the media.

“Let us course this through the proper forum. Now that we have this, all the statements, all his defense for himself will be done through that venue,” Valte said.