Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte filed an affidavit opposing the bid of lawyer Midas Marquez to meddle on her disbarment case pending in the Supreme Court.
In an affidavit obtained by Manila Standard, Mayor Duterte filed the affidavit on Sept. 21 which contained the exchanges of messages between her and Bruce Rivera, who is allegedly close to a certain Gemma Sotto, whose son, in turn, works for Marquez.
The affidavit states that Sotto has been trying to reach Mayor Duterte during the first week of September but did not get any reply from the mayor. Sotto then told Rivera to inform Mayor Duterte that she wants to hand her a Supreme Court document, which is apparently pertains to the mayor’s pending disbarment case.
“I have consistently refused to meet with Gemma Sotto. However, she was able to contact and meet my chief of staff, Atty. Raul Nadela, Jr. on 13 September 2018. During the said meeting, Ms. Sotto informed Atty. Nadela that she and Atty. Marquez worked together to push Sheriff Abe Andres to execute an affidavit about my case and require the complainants to file a Motion to Withdraw their complaint based on the said affidavit,” the affidavit reads.
Mayor Duterte said that she felt humiliated by the actions of Sotto and Marquez especially since it might have a wrong impression to the public that she was trying to manipulate people to resolve her disbarment case.
“My reputation and honor are very important to me and to cast doubt in it is truly unacceptable. I have patiently waited for the decision of the Supreme Court as I have always maintained from the beginning that I will face the consequences of my actions which have been the subject of the said case,” the affidavit reads.
Additionally, Mayor Duterte said on her affidavit that while the participation of Marquez is only through the words of Sotto, she does not doubt about their connection to each other.
She said that on Aug. 6, Sotto approached her in Malita, Davao Occidental if she has any disagreements or objections with Marquez’s bid for the post of Associate Justice.
After she said no, Mayor Duterte found out that Sotto has been going around and lobbying with friends of President Duterte for the appointment of Marquez.
“I believe that the actions of Atty. Marquez in using his influence and authority to meddle with my disbarment case, asking complainants to withdraw their complaints, divulging details of a confidential case to a third party, and damaging my reputation and causing damage and prejudice to me in the process, shows that he lacks integrity and probity required for the position of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Applicants to the said position should show a record and reputation for honesty, integrity, probity, incorruptibility, irreproachable conduct and fidelity to sound moral and ethical standards. Clearly, the acts of Atty. Marquez do not live up to these standards,” the affidavit further states.
During the Judicial and Bar Council interview, Marquez clarified that he only spoke to the sheriffs confederation five months after they withdrew their disbarment complaint against Mayor Duterte.
The disbarment case was filed on 2011 following an incident where Mayor Duterte punched Andres during the attempt to demolish shanties in Agdao this City.