‘Death threats’ prompt 2 judges to inhibit

CEBU, Philippines —  Two Cebu judges handling the multi-million estafa cases filed by Cebuano businessman Kaiser Tan of Greentech Development Corporation against businesswoman Michelle Go-Chu and her alleged business partners had voluntarily inhibit from further hearing the cases due to alleged threats to their lives and personal attacks on social media.

Lawyer Estrella Elamparo, Go-Chu’s legal counsel, revealed this yesterday as they condemned the people behind the alleged death threats to Judge Judilyn Hugo Tapia-Menchavez of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 59 in Toledo City and Judge Ronald Caramba Tolentino of RTC Lapu Lapu City.

Both judges believed that the threats and online attacks they have been receiving are connected to the cases Tan filed against Go-Chu and couple Lorenzo, Jr. and Jerlyn Joyce Baltonado.  The two judges had already sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Judge Tapia-Menchavez earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Go-Chu and the Baltonado couple.  The warrant was later recalled after Go-Chu filed an omnibus motion for the suspension of the proceedings against her, a recall of the warrant of arrest and suspension of its implementation, and the filing of an ex-parte motion for the issuance of hold departure order against her.

Out of her desire to prevent possible miscarriage of justice, Judge Tapia-Menchavez decided to voluntarily inhibit from the case. Judge Tolentino also begged off from further probing a similar case before his court.

“This matter needs to be taken seriously especially since a lot of judges have already been killed while performing their sworn duties. Since 2016, at least 66 judges, prosecutors, and lawyers have been killed so we are asking the SC to step in and probe into these death threats being received by the Cebu judges and help shed light on the perpetrators,” said Elamparo.

Elamparo said the development has constrained them to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention by asking for the transfer of the venue of the trial to anywhere in the National Capital Region.

“Considering the sequence of events, to avoid potential bloodshed and any miscarriage of justice, it is but just to order the transfer of venue from the province of Cebu to any court within the National Capital Region which the SC may deem proper,” she said.

“A transfer of venue will be beneficial to everyone working on the case. It will secure the safety of the accused, the presiding judges, and their immediate family against threats to their life and other acts of intimidation. Additionally, it will avoid trial by publicity and undue local pressure, which will promote orderly administration of justice and guarantee public confidence in the judiciary,” Elamparo added.

She said that transferring the venue of the case will guarantee the accused Go-Chu’s right to a speedy trial and a speedy disposition of cases. — FPL (FREEMAN)