Ong appeals dismissal order

MANILA, Philippines - Dismissed Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong yesterday appealed the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) last month dismissing him from the judicial service over links with alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Ong filed a motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the SC’s findings that he was guilty of gross misconduct, dishonesty and impropriety.

The high court did not release the pleading to the media since administrative cases are supposed to be covered by the confidentiality rule.

But an insider bared that Ong has insisted on his innocence on the charges in his pleading.

The well-placed source said Ong reiterated that he did not violate the New Code of Judicial Conduct in acquitting Napoles in a malversation through falsification of public documents case involving the sale in 1998 of 500 Kevlar helmets to the Philippine Marines. He explained that the case was dismissed by members of the court division that acted as a collegial body.

Ong admitted meeting Napoles, but said it was after her acquittal in the criminal case.

Napoles claimed that Ong approached her to ask for access to Monsignor Josefino Ramirez, former Quiapo Church rector, because he wanted to touch the clothes of the Black Nazarene.

Ong also asked the high court to consider his long service in government in taking a second look at his case.

In its ruling promulgated last Sept. 23, the SC imposed the maximum penalty of dismissal on Ong for violating the New Code of Judicial Conduct by meeting with Napoles on two occasions after acquitting her in the Kevlar case.

The high tribunal also ordered forfeiture of his retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service.

While the ruling was immediately executory, Ong was given 15 days from receipt of notice to file an appeal.

A majority of eight magistrates approved the ruling: Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Mariano del Castillo, Martin Villarama Jr., Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Marvic Leonen and Francis Jardeleza.

Five other members of the high court dissented: Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza and Bienvenido Reyes. They wanted a lighter penalty of three-month suspension for Ong and believed he was guilty only of simple misconduct.

Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Diosdado Peralta took no part in the voting since they were both colleagues of Ong in the Sandiganbayan prior to their appointment to the SC.

Ong was the first justice of the Sandiganbayan, which handles cases against corrupt and erring government officials, to be dismissed.