Retired SC justice denies leaking court ruling

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-retired Supreme Court justice Ruben Reyes on Tuesday denied leaking a court decision on an election-related petition that is being seen to have triggered alleged move to oust Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Reyes said in a radio interview he would not do something that is prohibited under the Anti-Graft Law. He said no one from the court is allowed to distribute the contents of a court decision without proper authority, especially when the ruling has not yet been promulgated. “I swear before God and men hindi ako puwede mag-leak (I cannot leak decisions) and I am not the source of the leak I am certainly not. And I cannot tolerate it," Reyes said. To prove his innocence, Reyes said he and his staff are willing to be the first in line to be subjected under an investigation by the Supreme Court panel formed to probe the leak. Reyes, who retired last January 3, maintained that he would never allow a leak to happen inside his office. Rumors started swirling that there are moves to impeach Puno for allegedly sitting on the citizenship case complaint filed by Louis Biraogo against Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong. In December, Biraogo circulated the supposed leaked decision, upholding the disqualification of Limkaichong due to citizenship questions. The supposed three-page resolution penned by Reyes was signed by all magistrates save for Puno. Limkaichong defeated Paras' wife - Olivia - in the 2007 elections. The Malacañang, a known political ally of the Jacintos, has already lashed out at its critics who have been blaming the Arroyo administration for the impeachment moves against Puno. Some critics have claimed it would be easier for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to extend her term beyond 2010 with Puno out of the way. Puno – the lone remaining non-Arroyo appointee – is scheduled to retire in May 2010 and under the Constitution, the President is not allowed to make an appointment two months before the elections. The Chief Justice can only be replaced either by resignation or impeachment. Possible raps In a separate radio interview, Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said if proven to have been the source of the leakage, Reyes could be charged with censure and contempt of court, depending on the decision that the court could arrive at when it conducts a probe. Marquez clarified that Reyes’s recent retirement could not save the former magistrate from the possible charges that could be lodged against him. The court spokesman said despite being officially retired, Reyes has yet to get his retirement benefits as they are still being computed. Marquez said that despite conducting two hearings last December 2008, the panel hearing the Limkaichong case still has to come up with its decision and submit its recommendations to the Supreme Court en banc next week. Marquez also confirmed that the Supreme Court has yet to receive any impeachment complaints against Puno, and said they would find out Monday next week if one would ever be filed. A Pakistan scenario In a separate report, Sen. Richard Gordon warned that Puno’s impeachment could trigger a public outcry similar to that when Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf suspended their chief justice over misconduct allegations in March 2007. Gordon said the public could become outraged if ever Puno, who the independent senator claims to have a good professional record, gets kicked out from office. The suspension of the Pakistani chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, sparked widespread protests from lawyers and critics of the Musharraf administration. Musharraf rose to power after a coup in 1999. Even Reyes has also expressed his objection for the moves to oust Puno, saying he has not seen a chief justice as “honest and as hard-working" as Puno. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV