What happened to the complaint vs. 7 CA justices? Ombudsman asks SC

National

A YEAR-OLD complaint against seven Court of Appeals (CA) justices is back in focus, with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla seeking an update from the Supreme Court (SC) on whether the case has been acted upon.

Remulla raised the matter Saturday during the “Executive Session” program on dzRH, citing an ABS-CBN News report on an administrative complaint filed by his predecessor, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

The complaint accused seven CA associate justices of gross ignorance of the law and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service over their issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and rulings against the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension orders involving Antique officials.

“To date, there appears to be no record of the Judicial Integrity Board or the Supreme Court having acted on or resolved that complaint,” according to Remulla, as quoted by Philstar.

A March 2025 report by Pilipino Star Ngayon identified the respondents as CA Associate Justices Louis Acosta, Marlene Gonzales-Sison, Rex Bernardo Pascual, Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura, Roberto Quiroz, Rafael Antonio Santos and Ferdinand Baylon. Sison and Santos are no longer listed among the CA’s incumbent justices.

Martires alleged that the justices issued a TRO against the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension order despite the submission of photocopies instead of certified true copies. He also questioned the enforcement of the TRO after the suspension had already lapsed.

The complaint further alleged that a petitioner was granted a TRO without first seeking reconsideration from the Ombudsman.

Remulla said the Ombudsman has been keeping track of cases in which its decisions were overturned by the Court of Appeals. He questioned whether an appellate reversal of the Ombudsman’s factual findings effectively amounts to a new finding of fact and raises a legal issue.

He made these remarks after the SC called on Remulla and other parties to file formal complaints against erring judges and justices, along with supporting evidence.

The SC said it “takes seriously” accusations against members of the judiciary but cannot act on broad allegations against an entire appellate court based on public statements.

Remulla earlier urged the judiciary to “do some soul-searching” during Senate budget deliberations for the Office of the Ombudsman and said his office would inform the public about alleged institutional issues affecting the judiciary’s credibility.(MyTVCebu)