SC to Ombudsman: Charge erring judges

The Supreme Court has directed the Ombudsman to file charges against judges if there is proof of their misconduct. This comes after a rare statement from the high court following Ombudsman Crispin Remulla's call for a "soul searching" within the judiciary. During a budget hearing at the Senate, Remulla questioned why some cases dismissed by his office were revived by the appellate court, leading to his broad observation about the judiciary's "issues." The high court stated, "The Court takes allegations of partiality, misconduct and corruption seriously. It acts on such allegations when proper complaints are filed, evidence is presented and the judges or justices concerned are given the opportunity to respond." It added, "This will allow the court to determine the facts and, when warranted, exercise its disciplinary authority." Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Allan Panolong also issued a statement saying it is "easy to paint corruption against our courts, but it needs to be substantiated." He emphasized that formal complaints should be filed before the Supreme Court against judges or justices allegedly involved in corrupt acts related to pending cases, ensuring proper investigation and accountability. Remulla had earlier urged the high court to "police the judiciary" for being too lenient on respondents accused of graft. He also expressed frustration over court rules that allowed bail, at the court's discretion, even after conviction. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo