Leonen urged to inhibit from Garcia case

MANILA, Philippines - Sandiganbayan officials want Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to inhibit himself from hearing the case of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia’s plea-bargaining agreement now pending before the Supreme Court (SC).

STAR sources said the anti-graft court does not intend to file a comment on the petition asking the SC to void the plea-bargaining deal but will instead submit all pertinent documents and resolutions regarding the case in order to enlighten justices on certain facts.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Sandiganbayan officials said Leonen should voluntarily recuse himself after he had expressed the opinion that the agreement that the anti-graft court had approved in May 2011 was illegal.

Leonen had prejudged the case based on his opinions submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee when he was still a dean and professor of the University of the Philippines, they added.

The Sandiganbayan officials said Leonen should know that his inhibition from the case is warranted.

Leonen was among those who voted to stop the Sandiganbayan from proceeding with the implementation of the Garcia plea-bargaining deal.

Under the agreement, Garcia was allowed to post bail and plead guilty to the lesser offense of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering.

Garcia was originally charged with plunder and money laundering.