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By Sammy Martin, Reporter
Rep. Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya over the
weekend categorically denied the claims of Judge Cecilia Austria of
Batangas that the administrative and criminal cases filed against
her are politically motivated.
Austria is being investigated by the House of
Representatives in connection with her controversial ruling in the
rehabilitation case of the Steel Corporation of the Philippines.
In an interview, Padilla said that by claiming
that certain political figures have shown interest in the Steel
Corp. case, Austria is “attempting to becloud the valid issues
raised against her.”
“And just what are these issues? First, her
appointment of a rehabilitation receiver who has numerous conflicts
of interests against the company, with a fee of P43 million for the
entire rehabilitation period; Second, her unjustified refusal to
disqualify the receiver despite such conflicts of interest having
been clearly brought to her attention; Third, her approval of a
rehabilitation plan which is, for all intents and purposes, a
hostile takeover of the company,” the lawmaker said.
The Nueva Viscaya solon stressed the real issue
in the case against Austria, are “her grave and deliberate abuse
of judicial discretion, corruption and conduct unbecoming of a
judge.”
He added that instead of evading the issues,
Austria should address squarely how the flaws or loopholes in the
country’s corporate rehabilitation laws make it easy for a judge
“to manipulate in connivance with unscrupulous parties who may
have ulterior motives.”
Padilla also challenged Austria to enumerate the
persons she avers are interested in the outcome of the case or more
specifically, trying to influence her in the Steel Corp. case.
“Otherwise, she should stop these pathetic
efforts to inject irrelevant side issues by making such general and
sweeping accusations,” said Padilla. “In other words, Judge
Austria must put up or shut up.”
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