Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta said the Supreme Court (SC) already has its own system and process in investigating corruption in the judiciary and this has been enhanced recently with the creation of two bodies within the court.
Mobilized by the SC to investigate erring justices, judges and court officials and employees are the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) and the Corruption Prevention and Investigation Office (CPIO).
On the offer of Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guearra, who was recently directed by President Duterte to investigate and prosecute all corrupt government officials and employees, Peralta said through SC Spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka:
“I believe Secretary Guevarra gave that statement and offer of assistance after acknowledging first that the Judiciary already has its own system and process in investigating corruption within its ranks.
“As for the offer of Secretary Guevarra to assist the Judiciary in its campaign against corruption, the same is very much appreciated. Any assistance for the good of the institution and to protect its integrity should not be shunned, but instead welcomed.”
Before the creation and activation of the JIB and CPIO, the investigation of corruption complaints, aside from administrative offenses, against members of the judiciary was undertaken by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) which supervises all lower courts for the SC.
Whenever OCA found probable cause to charge judiciary members and court officials and employees with graft, the cases were filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for those below salary grade 27 and with the Office of the Ombudsman for those with salary grade 27 and above for preliminary investigation.
With the creation of the JIB and CPIO, all investigations will be done by the two offices.
Hosaka said the JIB will act on complaints against erring justices, judges, officers and employees of the judiciary, while the CPIO will conduct investigation on erring justices of the tertiary courts (Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals), and judges and personnel of the lower courts, including the Shari’a courts; and the officials and employees of the Office of the Jurisconsult, Court Administrator, Deputy Court Administrator, Assistant Court Administrators and their personnel.
Hosaka said the creation of the JIB and the CPIO was part of the 10-point program of Chief Justice Peralta when he assumed the highest post in the judiciary on Oct. 23, 2019.
The JIB is headed by retired SC Justice Romeo Callejo Sr. with retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval Gutierrez as vice chairperson. The members are retired Court of Appeals Justices Sesinando Villon, retired Sandiganbayan Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada, and retired Court of Tax Appeals Justice Cielito Mindaro-Grulla.
Members of the CPIO have yet to be appointed by the SC as a full court.