SC summons Ma’am Arlene

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has summoned the woman believed to be “Ma’am Arlene,” the reported “fixer” of cases in courts, in its investigation on alleged case fixing in the judiciary.

The ad hoc committee chaired by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen invited Arlene Lerma, reportedly a former staff of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, to its forthcoming meeting before concluding the probe and submitting a report to the high court next month.

According to the committee, Lerma is being asked to attend the investigation as a “resource person” in an invitation sent to her last known address and also through other persons who personally know her.

“As agreed upon by the committee members during its organizational meeting, the proceedings and deliberations are confidential but on record. This is to allow greater freedom on the part of resource persons to speak and to give the committee members the flexibility to probe more deeply,” the committee said in a statement yesterday.

Lerma left the country in October last year and has reportedly not returned.

In December last year, a photo of a woman tagged as “Ma’am Arlene” rubbing elbows with lady justices and judges was published in two newspapers. She was identified as Lerma.

The photo was taken during the retirement of Deputy Court Administrator Antonio Eugenio Jr. on Nov. 20 last year.

When asked about the photo, Eugenio confirmed that it was indeed taken during his retirement ceremony. He also admitted knowing Lerma, but explained that the presence of members of the judiciary in the event with her was only coincidental.

Meanwhile, the committee said it would be able to meet its self-imposed deadline of submitting a report to the full court during the summer session next month.

It revealed that in the past 13 closed-door sessions, there were 32 resource persons, including SC officials and employees, justices of the Court of Appeals, trial court judges and other government officials.

“It has also received many documents, photographs, and reports as well as information and tips, many of them coming from official as well as unofficial sources. The committee has also been relying on information provided by the National Bureau of Investigation, which has been in close coordination with the investigating committee,” the committee bared.

“All these documents, information and tips have allowed the committee to also pursue independently other sources of information,” it added.

The SC had initially traced the source of the reports to a supposed smear campaign in the electoral contest in the Philippine Judges Association (PJA).

The three judges who vied for the top post in the PJA have denied involvement on the controversy.

PJA president and Quezon City regional trial court Judge Ralph Lee and his rivals Makati City RTC Judge Rommel Baybay and Marikina City RTC Judge Felix Reyes all said they had nothing to do with the allegations.