Administrative complaint readied vs judge in Vizconde massacre

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:53:00 12/15/2010

MANILA, Philippines – An administrative complaint is being readied against the judge that convicted Hubert Webb and 6 others in connection with the Vizconde massacre case, a lawyer said.

Jose Flaminiano, counsel for Hospicio “Pyke” Fernandez and recently Gerardo Biong, said Paranaque regional trial court Judge now Court of Appeals Associate Justice Amelita Tolentino should be held administratively liable for plagiarism.

“If you will compare her decision with that of the memorandum submitted by the prosecution, clearly, it was plagiarized. No proper attribution,” Flaminiano said.

He explained that while judges would use as basis the memorandum submitted by the parties in crafting out its decision, the same should be indicated in the decision.

“We have already raised that years ago but no action was taken,” Flaminiano said.

“Did she made her own evaluation of the evidence presented then? There was massive plagiarism committed on her decision. We cannot let this pass. She does not deserve to be a Court of Appeals Justice,” Flaminiano said.

Flaminiano said he and counsels of the others recently acquitted by the high court would meet Saturday to finalize their steps.

They are also considering filing criminal case against star witness Jessica Alfaro as well as the National Bureau of Investigation, private and public prosecutors.

"Our priority is the case against Alfaro and Justice Tolentino," Flaminiano said.

Tolentino is the judge who handed down the verdict against Webb and 6 others

Tolentino is currently on leave.


Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20101215-309131/Administrative-complaint-readied-vs-judge-in-Vizconde-massacre