DOJ chief wants probe on Manila judge handling Lozada case

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court should investigate a Manila judge for claiming the perjury case against ZTE witnesses Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. may be a prelude to martial law, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Thursday. An irked Gonzalez said in a radio interview that Manila Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo may have "violated legal ethics" with his pronouncements on the case. "Maybe the Supreme Court should look into what he is talking about ... Ang kanyang pronouncements [his pronouncements] violate legal ethics," Gonzalez said over dzXL radio. He was referring to Lorredo's recent statements claiming that Malacañang may be using the perjury case against Lozada as a prelude to martial law. Lorredo also claimed the Palace is pressuring him to inhibit himself from the Lozada case, as an "emissary" talked to him about it. The perjury case against Lozada, a key witness in the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal mess, stemmed from a complaint lodged by former presidential chief of staff and defeated senatorial bet Michael Defensor. But Gonzalez also chided some sectors of media for "making a mountain" of Lorredo. "I don't want to dignify this judge, he is not at my level. Why make a mountain when he is just a molehill? Why are they making him like, susmaryosep (Oh my God)," he said. Gonzalez also questioned Lorredo's order to have Defensor and Lozada settle the case amicably. He said the most a judge can do in terms of "interfering" is during the pre-trial stage. "A judge like Caesar's wife must be beyond suspicion. Ito pati Martial Law pinag-uusapan [But this guy even talks about Martial Law]. Let us not dignify these kinds of judges," he said. - GMANews.TV