Lawyer opposes DILG exec’s bid for top Sandigan post

MANILA, Philippines - A law professor is dissuading President Aquino from naming Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rafael Santos as presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan.

In a letter to Aquino, Roderick Vera, a law professor at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, said the appointment of Santos would destroy the integrity and independence of the   court tasked to hold public officials accountable to the people.

Vera gave four reasons in opposing the appointment of Santos: 

• Santos is facing charges in connection with his alleged unjustifiable refusal to release the P11.8-million retention fee of Berlyn Enterprises, a lighthouse equipment and spare parts supplier in 2011;

• The $30-million MRT extortion attempt on a Czech firm occurred when Santos was at the Department of Transportation and Communication;

• Santos was a senior partner in The Firm, or the Villaraza Cruz Angangco law offices, which has represented, is representing and/or has close ties with several political dynasties and public/government officials with cases pending before the Sandiganbayan; and

Santos had shown partiality in declaring under oath that he first sought the blessings of then Transportation and Communication Secretary Manuel Roxas II before applying for the position in the Sandiganbayan.

Santos is among the five final candidates included in the Judicial and Bar Council  shortlist received by President Aquino last month.

Santos, along with Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas, topped the JBC shortlist with six votes each from the seven members of the JBC.

Sandiganbayan Justices Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Efren dela Cruz also made it to the list with five votes each.

Associate Justice Gregory Ong, officer-in-charge of the anti-graft court, completed the shortlist with four votes.

Aquino has until the end of the month to appoint the new Sandigabanyan presiding justice to replace Francisco Villaruz Jr., who retired last June.