SC junks disbarment case vs Miriam

The Supreme Court has dismissed a disbarment case filed against re-electionist Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for having no factual basis. “We find the instant complaint to be without merit. Consequently the same is dismissed outright," the SC Second Division said in a resolution dated February 22. The complaint was filed by a certain Efren Battad, who accused Santiago of being of “unsound mind" and of unparliamentary behavior.

He also accused the senator of non-disclosure of two mansions she allegedly owned, obstruction of the police investigation into her son’s death, and graft during her past stints as agrarian reform secretary and immigration chief. The Supreme Court, however, said Battad’s allegations were “mere generalizations, speculations, malicious insinuations, and conclusions without any factual basis" as he did not back his claims with documents. “The allegations are pure hearsay," said the court. A report in GMA News' "24 Oras" said Santiago lauded the decision. It quoted the senator as saying that the complaint was a handiwork of people who were affected by her exposés on corruption and other government wrongdoings. - KBK, GMANews.TV