Influence-peddler right inside the Supreme Court?

In his Sept. 1 column, “Roxas a wise choice for DILG, but …,” Ramon Tulfo alluded to an “official in the Supreme Court office, which has supervision over all lower courts,” as “meddling in cases” on behalf of his friends. In a subsequent column (“A big shame on the AFP,” Inquirer, 9/4/12), he wrote about being dared to name such official in the wake of reports that no less than trial judges themselves had confirmed such meddling and had complained about the temerity of that official. None of the magistrates, however, would name him in public for obvious reasons. Uncharacteristically, alas, Tulfo himself declined to name him, opting to let a proper probe reveal who that scalawag is.

While it is true that “court whisperers” are nothing new in this jurisdiction, the fact that a Supreme Court official who has “supervision over all lower courts” seems the most notorious of them all should be a real cause for concern—nay, alarm. The sooner that official is exposed and snookered from further making a mockery of justice, the better for a reformed dispensation newly installed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has set out to do.

Tulfo has left everyone guessing as to the Supreme Court official’s identity for the time being, while the entire nation reels under the deleterious effects of the official’s “influence-peddling.” Is he the same official who was seen frequently attending the impeachment trial to show his all-out support for the ousted chief justice? Is he the one who instigated “court holidays” to dramatize such support? Is he the same one who “ordered” trial judges to leave their courtrooms and attend rallies to denounce the impeachment trial? Is he the very one who willingly accommodates “requests” made by some lawyers who were on the impeachment defense team or those egregiously sympathetic with them? Is he the one who sweeps charges against incompetent but “kaalyado” judges under the rug? If the answers to those questions are in the affirmative, this guessing game is really a no-brainer.

Rabid partisanship on the part of those in the judiciary has no place in the administration of justice. As the familiar adage goes, judges should not only be neutral, they must also appear neutral. Given the paramount importance of the office being held by the “shenaniganizer” in question, he should be given the boot with dispatch.

—STEPHEN L. MONSANTO,

Monsanto Law Office,

Loyola Heights, Quezon City,

lexsquare.firm@gmail.com