VACC head pays fine for badmouthing Supreme Court

MANILA, Philippines -  Dante Jimenez, founder of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), paid yesterday a P30,000 fine imposed on him by the Supreme Court (SC) for badmouthing the justices on national television last year after they acquitted Hubert Webb and the others previously convicted in the Vizconde massacre some 20 years ago.

Jimenez paid the fine in P1 and P5 coins at the SC’s docket section.

Rule 71 of the Rules of Civil Procedure gives courts the power to cite in direct or indirect contempt people or parties to a case. Section 3(d) of the rule states that “any improper conduct tending, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice” constitutes indirect contempt.

Spokesman Midas Marquez said the SC initially imposed a P100,000 fine on Jimenez “in lieu of imprisonment,” but slashed it to P30,000 after considering Jimenez’s appeal for “understanding and compassion.” 

Marquez explained that rules of court provide for a penalty of P30,000 or imprisonment of up to six months or both for those found guilty of contempt of court.