SC probe body summons 'Ma'am Arlene'

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court's special investigating body on Friday summoned "Ma'am Arlene," the alleged influence peddler and tagged as a counterpart of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in the judiciary.

The high court's Ad Hoc Committee led by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, issued a subpoena to Arlene Angeles Lerma to attend the body's 14th session.

Lerma is being accused of paying court officials to fix decisions in favor of high-paying clients.

Reports said that the committee has sourced information from 32 testimonies from within the judiciary, including officials of the Supreme Court.

The committee has also gathered photos and findings from the National Bureau of Investigation, tapped by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, to assist in the probe.

A photo showing Lerma in a party with justices from the Court of Appeals and a Supreme Court magistrate was published by newspapers in December 2013.

In a Philippine Star report, it said the photo was taken during the retirement party of Deputy Court Administrator Antonio Eugenio Jr. on Nov. 20, 2012.

The retired court official said Lerma was a staff of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. He claimed Lerma's and the magistrates’ presence at the retirement party was only coincidental.

The Manila vice mayor, meanwhile, had admitted that he knew Lerma.

Leonen, however, refused to comment on the merit of the picture as its context has not yet been established.

Members of the committee include retired Supreme Court Associate Justices Alicia Austria-Martinez and Romeo Callejo Sr.

The committee is expected to submit a preliminary report on its "Ma'am Arlene" investigation to the high court during its summer session in Baguio City next month.