SC gets initial report on ‘Ma’am Arlene’ issue

Supreme Court of the Philippines. Photo by Mike Gonzales courtesy of Wiki Commons.

MANILA — The committee created by the Supreme Court (SC) to investigate the alleged power peddling activities of a certain “Ma’am Arlene” in the Judiciary as well as the controversial elections of the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) last year has submitted its initial report.

The report was submitted by the committee headed by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to the SC En Banc on May 29, 2014.

The En Banc is currently studying the report.

However, the SC has not yet disclosed the contents of the initial report.

Together with Leonen in the committee are retired SC Associate Justices Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez and Romeo Callejo Sr.

It was earlier reported that three “Ma’am Arlenes” are being investigated by the SC for alleged influence peddling in the decision of the judges in the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs).

The “Ma’am Arlene” issue surfaced during the height of the elections for the new set of officials of the PJA in October last year.