18 June 2018
HON. ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Acting Chief Justice Acting Ex-Officio Chairman
Judicial and Bar Council 2nd Floor Centennial Bldg. Supreme Court, Padre Faura Manila
Opposition to the Candidacy of Hon. Samuel R. Martires for Ombudsman
We,concernedCatholicpriests,Evangelicalpastors,andtheologicalteacherswritetotheHonorable JudicialandBarCouncilthroughitsActing
Ex-Officio
Chairmantoconveyouroppositiontothe candidacyofHon.SamuelR.MartiresforthepositionofOmbudsman.TheConstitutionprovides thattheOmbudsmanshouldhaverecognizedprobity.WerespectfullysubmitthattheHon.Samuel
1
R. Martires has failed to meet this standard. Probityisahighstandard;infact,itisadherencetothehighestprinciplesandideals.Probityis
2
having strong moral principles, honesty, and decency.
3
JusticeMartires’refusaltoinhibithimselffromthe
QuoWarranto
casedespitethecleardirectivein theNewCodeofJudicialConductthatrequiresajudgetodisqualifyhimselfmandatorilywhen thereisbiasandpartialityasshownbyhavingpersonalknowledgeonfactsbeingdisputedduringa trialshowshislackofprobity.Hisbiasandpartialityisalsoshownbythefactthatheraisedas
4
issuesthosewhicharenotcoveredbythecaseagainstChiefJusticeMa.LourdesA.Sereno.His patentlybiasedlineofquestioningduringtheoralargumentsontheconnectionbetween“mental illness”and‘invokingGodasthesourceofpersonalstrength’,‘Godasthesourceofinspiration’, ‘Godasthesourceofhappiness’,and‘Godasthesourceofeverythinginlife’alsobetraysablatant
1
§8, Art. XI of the Constitution.
2
Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
3
Oxford Living Dictionary.
4
§5.Judgesshalldisqualifythemselvesfromparticipatinginanyproceedingsinwhichtheyareunabletodecidethematterimpartiallyor inwhichitmayappeartoareasonableobserverthattheyareunabletodecidethematterimpartially.Suchproceedingsinclude,butare not limited to, instances where (a)Thejudgehasactualbiasorprejudiceconcerningapartyorpersonalknowledgeofdisputedevidentiaryfactsconcerningthe proceedings;
1
lackofrespectforfaith-basedcommunitiesdespitetheclearConstitutionalguaranteemandating respect for religious freedom which as a Justice of the Supreme Court he is bound to observe. TheinterrogatoriesraisedbytheHon.JusticeMartirescauseoffensebecauseonecannotmake generalizationsoftheoverallmentalhealthofapersonbasedonone'sreligiousbeliefandpractice. ToimplythatChiefJusticeSereno'sreligiosityisanindicationofmentalillnessisnotbasedon reasonedrhetoricnorjudicialexaminationbecauseanexpertonthematterhastolookatother indicatorssuchashowthesubjectpersoncarriesherselfandhowshebehavesunderstress—facts whicharenotatissueinthe
quowarranto
proceeding.Itmustalsobenotedatthisjuncturethat recent research indicates that higher levels of spirituality are associated with better mental health.
5
Similarly,theinterrogatoriesraisedbytheHon.JusticeMartiresduringthe
quowarranto
petition oralargumentsshouldnotbeinterpretedasisolatedincidents.Thesequestionsareseeninthe contextofJusticeMartires’testimonyagainsttheChiefJusticebeforetheHouseofRepresentatives
6
andalsoinJusticeMartires’subsequentstatementsascontainedinhisseparateopinionwherehe denies“faith-shaming”’.However,weviewJusticeMartires’denialsasself-serving,especiallyina
7
context where mandatory recusal is demanded by law. Weexpectcoldneutralityandimpartialityfromjudgesbecausethesearethestandardsimposed uponthembytherulestheyshouldcomplywith.Infact,judgesmustnotonlybeimpartial,they
8
mustalso
appear
tobeimpartial.ThisruleisnotonlyenshrinedintheNewCodeofJudicial
9
ConductbutwasenunciatedbytheSupremeCourtnolessthanamere66daysbeforeremovingthe ChiefJustice--withallJusticeswhoappearedbeforetheHouseofRepresentativestotestifyagainst hernotrecusingthemselves,includingtheHon.JusticeMartires,whoisatpresentacandidatefor the Office of the Ombudsman. Asleadersofthefaithcommunity,wetrytobereasonableobserversofthe
quowarranto
trial againsttheHon.ChiefJusticeMariaLourdesP.A.Sereno.Weseethedutyofbeingcautiousand diligentobserversofthetrialasamoralandethicalobligationonourpartasleadersofthe communityoffaith.Weviewwithdismaythefactthatduringthe
quowarranto
petitionoral argumentsagainsttheChiefJustice,candidateHon.JusticeMartiresthroughhisinterrogatories madetheunwarrantedjuxtapositionoftheChristianfaithoftheChiefJusticeagainstsymptomsof mentalorpsychologicalillness—this,despitethe
quowarranto
petitionbeingconcernedsolely
5
Koenig, H.G. “
Research on Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Health: A Review
”. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Volume: 54 issue: 5, page(s): 283-291. (01 May 2009)
6
De Jesus, J.L. “Blowout’ joke among SC Associate Justices a breather in House impeach hearing” Philippine Daily Inquirer. (15 January 2018) Available from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/960371/blowout-joke-among-sc-associate-justices-a-breather-in-house-impeach-hearing#ixzz5Gmi9Rz58 (Accessed 25 May 2018)
7
Republic v. Sereno
, G.R. No. 237428. (11 May 2018), Separate Opinion by Justice Martires.
8
Dacera v. Judge Dizon,
A.M. No. RTJ-00-1573. (02 August 2000)
9
OCA v. Judge Dumayas
. A.M. No. RTJ-15-2435. (06 March 2018)
2
withtheissueoftheallegednon-submissionofStatementofAssets,Liabilities,andNetWorth (SALN) by the Chief Justice.
10
Weliveinaworldofcontexts.Words,events,andactionsshouldnotbeseenindependentlyfrom eachotherbutrathershouldbesynthesizedsoastodistillthemeaningsofstatementsand motivationsofindividuals.Rhetoricusedbypeoplearisefromdeepseatedconvictionsanddonot merelyappearthroughchance.ThepatternofinterrogatoriesrevealsbiasonthepartofHon. JusticeMartires,especiallysincetheseshouldbeprohibitedandpreventedfrominfluencingthe decision-making process during the
quo warranto
proceedings. Alloftheseunacceptableactsappearevenmoreoutrageous,inourperspective,sinceitis respectfullysubmittedthattheHon.JusticeMartiresmayhaveonlyeludedadministrativeliability fornon-recusalmerelybecauseheisasittingmemberoftheSupremeCourt,theverysame institutionwhichhasthepowertoreprimandanddisciplinesuchbehavior.Thisispatentabuseof powerandauthority,whichthisHonorableJudicialandBarCouncilcanaddressandrectifyasan independent Constitutional body. Similarly,weexpressourdeepconsternationthatajudgewhowasthesubjectofatleastthree administrativecases—oneofwhichresultedinHon.JusticeMartiresbeingadmonishedbythe SupremeCourt—isnowbeingconsideredfortheOfficeoftheOmbudsman.InJanuary2013,the
11
SCadmonishedandsternlywarnedMartiresandtwootherSandiganbayanjusticesforfailingto immediatelyimplementthearrestoftheformermayorofBacarra,IlocosNorte,PacificoVelasco.In itsdecision,theSCadmonishedthe3justicestobe"morecircumspectandprudentinobservingthe properrulesandproceduresfortheexecutionofjudgmentsofconvictionintheabsenceof restrainingordersorinjunctivewritsfromtheCourt."JusticeMartireswasalso“sternlywarned thatrepetitionofthesameorsimilaractswillbedealtwithmoreseverely.”Thehighstandardof probityiscertainlynotmetwhenthecandidateforOmbudsmanissomeonewhohasbeen admonished for misconduct and found administratively liable by the Supreme Court. JusticeMartires’lackofprobityisalsoshownbyhisApril2013Sandiganbayanresolutionthat upheldthepleabargainagreemententeredintobyformermilitarycomptrollerMajorGeneral CarlosGarciaandtheformerOmbudsmanMerceditasGutierrez.HeallowedGarciatopleadguilty
12
tolesserbailableoffensesofindirectbriberyandfacilitatingmoneylaundering,insteadofplunder. Underthedeal,GarciawastoreturnP135millionworthofproperties,stocksandbankdeposits– lessthanhalfoftheP303millionthatheallegedlyacquiredillegally.WhiletheSupremeCourt eventuallystoppedthepleabargaindealandbailthatGarciawasallowedtopost,andthe
13
Sandiganbayanalsorecalledits2010resolutionthatallowedtheformercomptrollertopostbail,
14
10
Petition of the Solicitor General in
Republic v. Sereno
. Available from: https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/03/06/osg-petition-for-quo-warranto-republic-v-sereno.pdf (Accessed 25 May 2018)
11
Judge Pangan v. Judge Ganay and Judge Martires
. A.M. No. RTJ-04-1887. (09 December 2004);
Re: Complaint of Mr. Antonio Baltazar.
A.M. OCA IPI No. 11-27-SB-J (2011);
Re: Complaint of Leonardo Velasco
. A.M. OCA IPI No. 10-25-SB-J. (15 January 2013)
12
Sandiganbayan Second Division. Resolution.
People v. Garcia, et.al.
Criminal Case Nos. 28107 & SB-09-CRM-0194 (10 April 2013)
13
Supreme Court Spokesperson Atty. Theodore O. Te.
Statement on the Issuance of TRO by SC Third Division
. (03 July 2013)
14
Sandiganbayan Second Division.
Order
.
People v. Garcia, et.al.
Criminal Case Nos. 28107 & SB-09-CRM-0194 (09 July 2013)
3