Vizconde mum on source of info on alleged lobbying by SC justice

(Updated 5:09 p.m.) — Saying the information received was transmitted under a cloak of confidentiality, Lauro Vizconde on Monday declined to name his sources who gave him the information that Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio lobbied for the acquittal of Hubert Webb, who was previously convicted for killing Vizconde's family. Vizconde, who filed his answer to the Supreme Court later in the day, said he wants to protect the integrity of the justices who fed him the information. "Alam niyo, siguro sa proper forum na lang natin idi-discuss ito. Pero I have my proof. I have my evidence when I said so. Ang advise sa akin ay medyo hindi muna napapanahon. I want to protect the integirty of the justices. Hindi ko papangalanan muna ang aking tinutukoy na justice," said Vizconde at a news briefing. (You know, maybe I will discuss this in the proper forum. But I have my proof. I have my evidence when I said so. I was advised that it is not yet the right time to divulge my information. I want to protect the integrity of the justices. I will not name the justice.) In his joint compliance submitted with his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Vizconde added that "after much soul-searching and introspection," he decided that it is not yet the proper time to break the seal of confidentiality with his sources. "He thus begs the indulgence of the Honorable Supreme Court if he would thus decline to present the proof he has in his possession regarding the acts of Mr. Justice Carpio," said Vizconde. At the news briefing, Vizconde said he has not spoken with his "primary" source recently. He only hinted that his key source was "really sincere" in giving him information. Vizconde added that his camp is preparing an impeachment complaint against Carpio, which will be submited to the House of Representatives. The House has the first authority to initiate impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court justices. "We're already talking to some members of the House of Representatives," said Vizconde. Sought for comment, SC spokesperson and administrator Jose Midas Marquez said it is Vizconde's prerogative to seek Carpio's impeachment. Despite this, he warned that "threats of impeachment aren't really doing any good to the court." "[Threats of impeachment] undermine the integrity of the court. Before filing all these cases, let's see first and think," Marquez said at a news briefing. For his part, Vizconde's lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the allegations of lobbying against Carpio were not made in malice. "We clarified here that our pronouncements were made, not in malice, but in given to us in confidentiality by certain sources," said Topacio, who was also ordered by the court to show proof. Allegations against Carpio On December 14, 2010, majority of the Supreme Court voted to acquit Hubert Webb and six of his co-accused in the June 30, 1991 killing of Estrellita, Carmela and Jennifer Vizconde. Prior to the release of the ruling, Vizconde alleged that an SC justice lobbied for Webb's acquittal. The clues he gave pointed to Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. Carpio was among the four justices who inhibited from the deliberations of the case. He once testified during the Vizconde massacre trial handled by the Paranaque City Regional Trial Court Branch 274. Back then, Carpio was still a private lawyer and testified that Webb was in the United States when the Vizconde murders occurred. On Dec. 29 last year, Vizconde appealed the SC decision, which was junked by the Supreme Court on Jan. 18, 2011. In the court's denial of Vizconde's motion for reconsideration, the SC gave Vizconde and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio 10 days to substantiate their claims that SC justices received bribes in exchange for ruling in favor of Webb and the six formerly accused. They were likewise ordered to explain their allegations that Associate Justice Antonio Carpio lobbied for Webb's acquittal. "Mr. Vizconde and Attorney Topacio are directed to submit proof of truth of the statements they uttered," said SC spokesperson and court administrator Jose Midas Marquez. Dante Jimenez: No apologies The SC also ordered Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption's Dante Jimenez to "show cause" why he should not be cited in contempt for hurling invectives against the Supreme Court last December 14, immediately after the acquittal was voted upon. Last Dec. 14, Jimenez, Vizconde's sympathizer, held a press conference and hurled tirades against SC justices using thinly-veiled obscene language. "Kayo mga justices, mga PI kayo! Pinatay ninyo ang criminal justice system," Jimenez had shouted angrily in front of media. (You justices, you SOBs! You killed the criminal justice system.) Rule 71 of the Rules of Civil Procedure gives courts the power to cite in direct or indirect contempt people or parties to a case. Section 3 (d) of the rule states that "any improper conduct tending, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice" constitutes indirect contempt. Jimenez also filed his compliance (answer) on Monday, but he offered no apologies for his utterances against the high tribunal. He explained that what he said was brought about by his "outburst" against the decision of the court. "The utterance of Dante Jimenez were expression of emotions and without malice. Dante Jimenez vehemently disagreed with the judgment of the seven Justis of the Honorable Court, and considered their judgment unjust and contrary to the evidence established jurisprudence," said Jimenez in his compliance. He then asked the court for "understanding and compassion." "His utterance did not in any way mean to harbor ill-will or to spite or to malign the Honorable Court as an institution nor any individual justice of the Court. Nowhere in his utterance did Dante Jimenez threaten, impede, obstruct, embarrass, and influence the Honorable Court in its resolution of the case. Nor did he degrade the Honorable Court, destroy public confidence in it and bring it into disrepute, and thus be considered contempt of court," said Jimenez. — RSJ/VVP, GMANews.TV