SC justice inhibits self in Merci suit By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/02/2010

SC justice inhibits self in Merci suit  
By Benjamin B. Pulta
10/02/2010

At least one senior magistrate will not take part in the deliberation over a suit seeking to stop Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s impeachment.

Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. has inhibited himself from the case filed by the embattled anti-graft official against members of the House of Representatives.

Court Administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said Velasco cited the presence of his son, Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco, as the reason for his decision not to participate in the discussion of Gutierrez’s petition against the House committee on justice.

While the young Velasco is not a member of the committee, whose resolutions finding the two impeachment complaints against Gutierrez sufficient in form and substance are being questioned before the high tribunal, he may eventually get involved in the proceedings once it reaches the plenary.

Marquez said Justice Velasco cited “delicadeza” in his decision to inhibit from the case..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101002hed5.html