SC extends suspension of Pasay judge

THE Supreme Court (SC) has extended the 90-day preventive suspension it earlier issued against a Pasay city regional trial court judge and an acting clerk of court who have been accused of accepting a P6 million bribe in exchange for a favorable judgment on a civil case.

SC spokesperson Camille Sue Ting said the decision to extend the preventive suspension of RTC Branch 108 Presiding Judge Albert Cansino and acting Branch Clerk of Court Mariejoy Lagman was reached during the regular en banc session on Tuesday.

“The Court adopted the recommendation of the Judicial Integrity Board and extended their preventive suspension while the investigation is pending,” the SC briefer said.

Government prosecutors have recommended the filing of a criminal case against Lagman, while Cansino’s role in the alleged bribery is still being investigated.

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended Lagman in an entrapment operation last May after the SC sought the agency’s help regarding allegations that a court in Pasay City was allegedly extorting money from parties involved in a pending case.

The request stemmed from an anonymous complaint sent to the Judicial Integrity Board.

During the entrapment operation, NBI operatives also confiscated a copy of the order bearing the judge’s signature on the civil case.

On May 28, the SC issued a 90-day preventive suspension on Cansino and Lagman while the probe is underway.