Judge asked to inhibit self from Aguilar case

MANILA, Philippines - Prosecutors have asked a judge hearing an obstruction of justice charge against Marlene Aguilar-Pollard to inhibit himself from the case following the judge’s earlier disclosure that he is a fraternity “brod” of her lawyer.

Assistant Prosecutor Ulric Badiola filed the motion “to dispel any suspicion or doubts which maybe entertained in the minds of the complaining NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) operatives and the public in general.”

Aguilar-Pollard was earlier charged with obstruction of justice after her son, road rage murder suspect Jason Ivler, was arrested in her house in Blue Ridge A Subdivision on Jan. 18 after two months in hiding. Ivler has been charged with murder for the killing of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr.

Judge Voltaire Agas of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 35, in an order dated Jan. 26, told both parties that he and Aguilar-Pollard’s lawyer, Mitzell Arthur Magdaong, belong to the same fraternity at San Beda College.

“Although, the undersigned believes in the integrity, honesty and sense of impartiality of the judge, it would still be best or at least more prudent for the judge to inhibit from handling the case so as not to further agitate the sentiment of the public regarding this seemingly celebrated case and ultimately preserve the trust of the people in the judiciary and judicial system as a whole,” Badiola said.

Badiola cited in his motion that even before Agas’ disclosure, information on his connection to Magdaong was already circulated on the Internet.         – Reinir Padua