SC probe body summons ‘Ma’am Arlene’

MANILA, Philippines – The investigating body tasked by the Supreme Court to probe allegations of big-time fixers in the judiciary has summoned to its next meeting “Ma’am Arlene,” the reported counterpart in the judiciary of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

In a statement issued through the SC public information office (SC-PIO) on Friday, March 21, the committee said it expects to submit a preliminary report to the Court en banc during its summer session.

“In its forthcoming 14th meeting, the Committee has invited Ms. Arlene Angeles Lerma, among other resource persons, to attend. It has served its invitation to Ms Lerma at her last known address and also through other persons who know Ms. Lerma personally,” the committee said.

Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc had written about how she specializes in fixing big corporate cases in Manila and other major cities. “She throws birthday bashes for magistrates, gifts their spouses with signature brands, and bankrolls their family junkets to Hong Kong and Macau. All this, in exchange for decisions favoring her litigant-clients. One such client allegedly is a flour smuggler,” he wrote.

In December last year, Newsbreak reported the business interests of Lerma as well as her personal and business ties with Manila Vice Mayor Iskho Moreno. Moreno had confirmed that he and Lerma are business associates in two companies but said that he was not aware of Lerma’s alleged transactions in the judiciary. (READ: Ma’am Arlene and her diversified business interests)

The committee also said, “With its regular meetings, the Committee has been able to keep to its timetable and hopes to submit a preliminary report to the Court En Banc on the issues covered by its mandate for the Court’s action during the summer session.”

The committee said it has held 13 sessions and received sworn testimony from 32 resource persons, including members of the judiciary, Supreme Court officials and employees, 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 (NBI), which has been in close coordination with the Investigating Committee. All these documents, information and tips have allowed the Committee to also pursue independently other sources of information,” it said.

Confidential proceedings

The committee said its proceedings and deliberations “are confidential but on record,” as agreed upon by its members in its organizational meeting.

“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,”  it said.

The committee is chaired by SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen with retired SC Associate Justices Alicia Austria-Martinez and Romeo Callejo Sr. Earlier, the High Court said it would keep a “closed-door” policy in its investigation to avoid trial by publicity. (READ: SC warns against undue haste in ‘Ma’am Arlene’ probe)

The SC created the committee in October 2013 following allegations that a certain “Ma’am Arlene” and other big-time fixers are involved in influence-peddling in the judiciary.

Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez was reported to have spotted 3 “Ma’am Arlenes” in the judiciary operating at different levels and for different causes. Marquez had said that the alleged fixers could not be compared to Napoles, since no public funds were involved, though others do not share this view. (READ: Ma’am Arlene fixes cases, steals justice)

Amid such reports, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno had asked the help of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to probe the allegation, and discussed with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales the conduct of lifestyle checks on members of the judiciary and court personnel. – Rappler.com