Sandigan probing alleged special treatment to Roxas, Padaca

MANILA, Philippines - Security guards, employees, and even justices of the Sandiganbayan are now under investigation for allegedly violating security protocols when they gave special treatment to Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca last week.

Sources said the investigation is being conducted to determine who could be held administratively liable for the unauthorized use of the anti-graft court’s basement parking area by an accused in a graft and malversation of public funds case and a Cabinet official.

The source said some Sandiganbayan justices expressed concern and outrage over how Roxas and Padaca were given special treatment, which is not accorded even to former presidents like Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Associate Justice Jose Hernandez, as chair of the Sandiganbayan’s committee on security and safety, ordered a probe specifically against a bailiff who allegedly claimed that he was acting under the orders of another justice.

In an initial investigation report, Security and Sheriff Services Division chief Albert dela Cruz said all court security personnel are pointing the finger at Security Guard 3 (SG3) Roland Woods, acting bailiff of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division where Padaca is charged with allegedly misusing P25 million in government funds when she was governor of Isabela.

The report, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR, said security personnel were surprised when Roxas’ and Padaca’s group suddenly arrived at the basement parking area, which only associate justices are allowed to use.

Security guard Raul Octavino said everything happened so fast that he even had to stop eating his lunch and go to the service elevator to assist.

Records show that Roxas’ and Padaca’s security escorts were asked to surrender their firearms in accordance with the internal security rules of the Sandiganbayan building.

“All security personnel pointed to acting bailiff SG3 Woods as the source of the alleged instruction from Justice (Roland) Jurado allowing the use of the basement parking by the accused and Secretary Roxas,” Dela Cruz told Associate Justice Hernandez in his report.