A PARTY-LIST group yesterday strongly urged the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Supreme Court (SC) administrator and spokesman Midas Marquez on alleged possible issues of corruption and abuse of his office.

In a letter, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate Marquez for being an acting unofficial defense counsel of Chief Justice Renato Corona at public expense and purported irregularities in the implementation and management of the Judicial Reform Support Project.

“Hindi lang si Chief Justice Corona ang kailangang managot sa taumbayan,” said Bello. “To restore the integrity to the Supreme Court, it is imperative that we also make Corona’s henchmen accountable for their transgression, una na sa lahat ang kanang kamay ni Corona na si Atty. Midas Marquez.”

Bello said Marquez has “squandered the unique opportunity to stand for wisdom, integrity, fairness and the zeal for serving the people.”

“All the while that the Filipino people were demanding that Corona be made accountable for his blatant disregard of the people’s interest, Marquez took it upon himself to defend the Chief Justice. He was not speaking for the integrity of the High Court, he was very partisan to the interests of Corona,” Bello explained.

“Nakapagpa-court holiday pa nga siya para ipagtanggol si Corona laban sa impeachment, samantalang ayon sa batas, bawal gumamit ng tauhan, opisina at iba pang resources ng gobyerno para depensahan ang isang opisyales na nahaharap sa impeachment,” Bello added.

The lawmaker emphasized that through these actions, Marquez consumed the court’s facilities and resources, which included public funds, which lead to waste, inefficiency and delay in the administration of justice.

Akbayan also raised the issue on Marquez’s participation in the mismanagement of the Judicial Reform Support Project that the World Bank funded.  

The report of the World Bank pointed to how Marquez’ designation as court administrator, head of the Public Information Office and chair of the Bids and Awards Committee led to alleged “breakdown in internal controls” and ineligible expenditures worth $199,000.00 or P8.6 million.