SC fines Acosta for indirect contempt of court

MANILA, Philippines: The Supreme Court en banc unanimously voted to fine Public Attorney's Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta for indirect contempt of court and for Grossly Undignified Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice.

The move came as a result of Acosta's actions in connection with her opposition to the proposed new conflict of interest rule for the PAO, which eventually became Section 22, Canon III of the CPRA.

It was determined that Acosta's statements and innuendos on her Facebook page, which was accessible to the public, attributed ill intent and malice to the Court.

The high tribunal also found that by launching a public campaign against the new conflict of interest rule for the PAO using public attorneys and the PAO's staff and clients and publicizing the contents of the PAO's letters to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo requesting the deletion of the same rule, Acosta tried to sway public opinion to pressure the Court into yielding to her position.

The Court ruled that, aside from constituting indirect contempt, Acosta's acts amounted to Grossly Undignified Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice as her actions also undermined the public's confidence in the Court and, consequently, the orderly administration of justice.