MANILA, Philippines - Court of Appeals' associate justice Vicente Roxas testified before the Supreme Court's investigating panel that it was the appellate courts presiding judge who had partial interests in the GSIS-Meralco case, a GMA News report said on Tuesday.
Roxas claimed that CA Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez decided in favor of the Government Service Insurance System in its case against the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) because Vasquez has relatives employed by the state pension fund, GMA News' Carlo Lorenzo reported over QTVs Balintanghali.
Roxas told the panel that Vasquez has two sons working with the GSIS with a monthly pay of P80,000 each; a nephew earning P127,000 monthly; and a sibling earning P200,000 monthly.
Vasquez, however, dismissed the accusations by saying that he does not discuss the GSIS-Meralco case with his relatives.
Roxas also reported that the GSIS attempted to influence his decision. He said that GSIS chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo approached him in his private chambers on May 29, 2008.
Elamparo said she will address the allegations once she sits on the witness stand.
Meanwhile, the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption asked for a closed-door meeting with the three-member panel to divulge information on the bribery scandal the CA is embroiled in. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV