THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Thursday backed the Supreme Court’s order requiring the Office of the Executive Secretary to submit a formal complaint against four incumbent judges named by President Rodrigo Duterte as allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade.
The IBP, through its national president and chairman of the board Rosario Setia-Reyes, appealed to Malacañang to respect the separation of powers amidst its all-out war policy against illegal drugs in the country.
The country’s mandatory organization of lawyers said while judges and justices are appointees of the President, it is a basic rule that disciplinary power over them is lodged exclusively in the SC.
“Separation of powers ensures that no branch of government is controlled or subjected to the influence of another,” the IBP said in a statement.
“The principle finds no more cogent application than in the case of our judges who are sworn to be impartial and must resolve cases based only on the facts and the applicable law,” it added.
The IBP stressed that the SC acted well within its powers in ordering Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to submit a formal complaint-affidavits against the four judges within seven days and furnishing the judges with a copy of the complaint.
The group said directive is in line with the rules of administrative due process.
“The IBP thus strongly urges the Executive Branch of Government, including its law enforcement arms, to forward to the Supreme Court the formal complaints or actionable information against erring judges so that the judiciary can perform its duty to police its own ranks whether in an adversarial proceeding or a motu propio investigation,” the lawyers’ group said.
On Tuesday, the SC ordered an investigation on the alleged involvement of four incumbent judges in the country’s illegal drugs trade.
Sereno earlier said only four out of the seven judges in the “war on drugs” list are still active.
They are Judge Exequil Dagala of the MTC, Dapa-Socorro, Surigao, Judge Adriano Savillo, RTC, Branch 30, Iloilo City, Judge Domingo Casiple, RTC, Branch 7, Kalibo, Aklan and Judge Antonio Reyes, RTC, Branch 61, Baguio City, Benguet.
Meanwhile, the Court directed the four judges to submit their answers to the complaint within one way from receipt of the complaint-affidavit.
Associate Justice Roberto Abad was appointed by the Court to conduct the investigation and submit his recommendation to the SC en banc within 30 days.
Sereno also cautioned the judges from surrendering to police authorities without proper warrant of arrest.
This caught the ire of Duterte who castigated Sereno for hindering on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
The President stressed that the judiciary’s slow process in issuing arrest warrants.
The President also warned the Sereno that he would instruct the entire executive department not to “honor” the SC if she would continue meddle in the anti-illegal drug campaign of the government.
Duterte even threatened to declare martial law if the Supreme Court continues to interfere in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.