Politics · Philippines Bureau
Sandiganbayan upholds bribery case against Pasay judge
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has rejected a motion to dismiss graft charges against a Pasay City judge and court interpreter accused of accepting millions in bribes. The ruling allows the case to proceed to trial.
LSN Philippines ·
The anti-graft court's decision on Monday affirmed its earlier ruling denying the bid by Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 108 Judge Alberto Cansino to have the charges dropped. The ruling clears the way for the case to advance through the judicial system.
Cansino and court interpreter Mariejoy Pangan Lagman face allegations of accepting P6 million in exchange for favorable rulings. Both officials have been charged with graft and corruption-related offenses stemming from the scheme.
The Sandiganbayan, which has jurisdiction over cases involving public officials accused of graft, found sufficient grounds to maintain the charges against the two respondents. Cansino's motion to quash the charges had argued that the evidence was insufficient to proceed to trial.
The case marks another in a series of corruption allegations targeting members of the judiciary in recent years. Both Cansino and Lagman remain subject to the court's continuing proceedings as the trial phase begins.