Batangas judge hits back, says she’s a victim of political game

Batangas City – A controversial judge in Batangas province lashed back at her critics for picturing her as a corrupt member of the judiciary.

In a statement obtained by The Star, Judge Maria Cecilia Austria said she became a subject of criticism allegedly because one of the parties involved in the high-profile corporate rehabilitation of a multi-million steel business in the province is supported by a big-time politician.

“It’s hard to keep silent. I have to defend myself from serious insinuations. Where is justice?” Austria of the Batangas Regional Trial Court Branch 2 said.

Austria said she became a victim of a harsh political game after being charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman on the presumption of favoring a party during a case hearing.

“I was even accused by one politician of working to kill the case. This is unfair and I believed the entry of this politician into the scene is part of the overall plan to destroy me” Austria said.

Austria did not mention the name of the politician in her statement but she specifically mentioned the person to be a member of Congress.

Nueva Viscaya Rep. Carlos Padilla Jr. earlier urged Austria to inhibit herself from the rehabilitation case of Steel Corp. of the Philippines even as he noted that the Court of Appeals has already stopped the judge from enforcing a management committee to act on the complaints of the steel company.

Padilla had delivered a privilege speech accusing the judge of conspiring with two commercial banks to take over SCP by ordering its rehabilitation and immediately appointing a receiver in the person of lawyer Santiago Gabionza, who in turn appointed a financial adviser.

Padilla also questioned the timing of Austria ’s acquisition of two brand-new luxury cars, a Toyota Camry (VEE-548) and a red and white-striped Mini Cooper (NMD-272), which he discovered to have been acquired sometime in May 2007, apparently during the time of the controversial receivership issue.

Antonio Lorenzana, SCP executive vice president and chief operating officer, on the other hand has filed a graft complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman against Austria for allegedly siding with Banco de Oro, which was involved in a legal battle for control of SCP, the country’s largest steel mill.

In his complaint, Lorenzana alleged that Austria violated RA 3019, or the Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Lorenzana likewise claimed that Austria held unrecorded “informal meetings” to allow the bank unmitigated access to the company’s records and facilitate the takeover.

He alleged that the judge intentionally allowed the appointment of a rehabilitation receiver despite a conflict of interest situation with the creditor bank, which was seeking the corporation’s rehabilitation.

Austria, however, brushed aside the allegations saying “my conscience is clear.”

She said any judge who will be in her place would surely suffer the same fate citing the inappropriate entry of politicians who dip their hands in cases involving big corporate entities.

Austria went public this time claiming to have been experiencing sleepless nights for almost two months now, pondering the fate of the judicial system against politicians using the halls of Congr ess to advance their personal interest.

“I hope people who have something to do with the charges filed against me would come to their senses and help restore dignity in our profession” Austria said.

Austria believed that breaking her silence would trigger another demolition job against her. “But what good is silence when dignity and justice is being stepped upon?” she added.