By Benjamin Pulta/ PNA
MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) said it will act on reports about judges who are on the government’s list of protectors of the illegal drug trade.
In a statement, the SC said Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta has been tasked to communicate and coordinate directly with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the list of judges linked to the illegal drug trade.
“This will pave the way for a formal fact-finding and administrative investigation by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, like in the past, will and shall not tolerate any illegal or corrupt activities within its ranks,” the SC said.
At least 13 judges and 10 prosecutors are supposedly on the narco-list.
Two years ago, the SC initiated a probe on the first batch of judges on the narco-list — Exequil Dagala of the Dapa-Socorro, Surigao Municipal Circuit Trial Court; Adriano Savillo of the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC); Domingo Casiple of the Kalibo, Aklan RTC; and Antonio Reyes of the Baguio City RTC.
Dagala was cleared of allegations of involvement in the illegal drug trade, but he was ordered dismissed by the High Court in September 2017 for immorality and gross misconduct.
Savillo and Casiple were likewise cleared of involvement in illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, the SC ordered in February 2017 the filing of administrative charges against Reyes for corruption for allegedly dismissing a drug case in exchange for a sum of money.
