THE Supreme Court’s investigation of the four judges implicated by President Rodrigo Duterte in the illegal drugs trade will be concluded soon, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said Monday.
“We already started the investigation and we hope to conclude soon. There are four judges being investigated and unless anything concrete comes from law enforcement agencies or from the President himself, we hope to conclude the probe,” Sereno said, during an interview at the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Judges Symposium on Law Policy and Climate Change at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Mandaluyong City where she delivered the welcome address.
However, Sereno declined to give further comment on the probe of the so-called narco-judges.
SC Associate Justice Roberto Abad has been tapped to spearhead the investigation of Judge Exequil Dagala, MTC, Dapa-Socorro in Siargao island, Judge Adriano Savillo, RTC, Branch 30, Iloilo City, Judge Domingo Casiple, RTC, Branch 7, Kalibo, Aklan, and Judge Antonio Reyes, RTC, Branch 1, Baguio City after President Duterte implicated them to illegal drugs trade.
Meanwhile, Sereno said she will discuss again with the leadership of the Philippine National Police on how to fast-track the enforcement of writs of kalikasan issued by the courts.
Sereno expressed concern about the slow enforcement of such writs.
While the Chief magistrate already discussed the matter with the PNP during the previous leadership, she would again be willing to do the same with the present leadership.
“I have tried that with the previous leadership so that we can have an understanding the moment these issuances are served on them. They have to act forthwith,” Sereno said.
Aside from the PNP, Sereno said she would also discuss the matter with the local government units and other executive agencies of the government.
“I would really try to find out if the court processes are promptly being respected and complied with in this country. We have to find out what more we can do to ensure that court processes are immediately acted upon and I hope to engage the PNP leadership on this,” Sereno said.
The chief justice also said there is a need to do an audit on the implementation of the writs.
Sereno said the enforcement of the writs is just one of the challenges faced by courts when it came to issues or cases about environmental protection.
The SC has acted on several petitions on the issuance of writs of kalikasan including last June when it issued the writ and a temporary environmental protection order against five mining firms-Benguet Corporation Nickel Mines Inc. (BNMI), Eramen Minerals Inc. (EMI), LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. (LAMI), Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation (ZDMC), and Shangfil Mining and Trading Corporation (SMTC)-operating in the province of Zambales.
A writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy that provides for the protection of one’s right to “a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature,” as provided for in Section 16, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.