WILL Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo take early retirement to wiggle out of the impeachment case against him?

A well-placed source who requested anonymity said  he has been informed of the on-going talks on Del Castillo’s offer to resign.

“Why impeach Justice Del Castillo when he is offering to retire? I was informed that he has until tomorrow (Monday) to make a decision,” the source said.

An impeachment complaint was filed against Del Castillo over the allegation that he plagiarized a decision to dismiss the case of comfort women against the Japanese government.        

In July 29, 2009, Del Castillo, 62, was appointed to the SC by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a Pampanga congresswoman, following an electoral sabotage case, and has eight more years to serve before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The source said Del Castillo will first inform President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of his plan to retire followed by the House Committee on Justice.

“He will inform the President about his early retirement then the House Committee on Justice,” the source said, adding that the committee is expected to push through with the impeachment if Del Castillo does not go through with is retirement plan.

The panel has scheduled a hearing at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow to determine the sufficiency or insufficiency of the ground for the impeachment of Del Castillo and determine probable cause with four session days left starting today for the committee to dispose of the complaint.