SC vows to insulate decision-making system

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will strengthen the weak points of the judicial system to protect the courts from parties trying to influence members of the court. Jose Midas Marquez, the high court’s spokesperson, said that the SC will boost its “integrity development review" to restore the people’s confidence in the judiciary. “(There) are points wherein the decision-making process can be influenced, can be pressured and we’re going to put institutional measures. We can insulate this decision-making process from outside pressure and influence," Marquez said. The IDR will also protect whistleblowers who will disclose extralegal improprieties tainting the Supreme Court, Marquez said. “We’ll try to protect the whistleblower, and at the same time verify the allegations of the whistleblower to make sure we only consider those allegations or complaints which are meritorious," he said. Marquez had earlier said the SC will intensify its initiatives in effort to shield members of the judiciary from being influenced in their decisions by “outside sources." “The SC is now working on some steps on how to make it difficult or even impossible for outsiders to penetrate members of the judiciary," he said. The move to re-establish public trust in the high tribunal came after the SC ordered the dismissal of Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente Roxas for multiple violations of the canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct, grave misconduct, dishonesty, undue interest and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service. Aside from Roxas, four other CA justices, including Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr, were meted with respective punishments such as suspension, reprimand, and admonition. - Sophia Dedace, Carlo Lorenzo, GMANews.TV