THE Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV to appear before it and substantiate his allegations of bribery against two CA associate justices who ruled against the implementation of the suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay Jr.
In a resolution written by Associate Justice Stephen C. Cruz of the CA’s Special Fifth Division, Trillanes was directed to appear in the oral arguments on the petition filed by Binay to cite the senator in contempt “for issuing irresponsible statements” against the CA justices handling Binay’s petition.
The oral arguments will be held on August 14 at the CA Paras Hall.
“Accordingly, let a hearing be set for oral argument on August 14 at 2 p.m. at the Court of Appeals, Paras Hall, Maria Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila, for the aforesaid purpose,” the resolution said.
The CA believes that the allegations of Trillanes against CA Associate Justices Jose C. Reyes Jr. and Francisco P. Acosta shoud not be left unresolved.
“Be that as it may, we believe that there are matters to be clarified, hence, there is a need to set a hearing to allow parties to be heard and for this Court to propound classificatory questions to the parties or their witnesses,” the July 28 resolution said.
Concurring with Cruz were Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando and Maria Luisa Quijano-Padilla. The CA ordered Trillanes to explain why he should not be cited for contempt for making baseless allegations.
In his petition, Binay asked the CA to cite Trillanes in contempt for issuing irresponsible statements against the CA magistrates handling the petition of Binay.
Trillanes claimed that Reyes and Acosta received P25 million to rule against Binay’s suspension.
The CA’s Sixth Division, composed of Reyes, Acosta and Associate Justice Eduardo B. Peralta Jr. issued a temporary restraining order and subsequently a writ of preliminary injunction, which indefinitely barred Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales from implementing Binay’s first suspension order.