Ano ba naman itong si Judge Leody M. Olpolinto ng MTC 3, Baguio City, sa aking palagay ay isa itong urong-sulong na Judge at posibleng mayroong itinatago na ayaw niya na aming mapatunayan sa pamamagitan ng pag-disclose ng kanyang SALN, sapagkat ang inyong lingkod na isang hamak na kolumnista ay siya rin ang Director for Anti Graft & Corrupt Practices ng Linis Gobyerno. Ano ang ibig kong sabihin? Nuong January 23, 2016 ay sumulat kami sa tanggapan ng Court Administrator ng SC at ang aming request ay ma-bigyan ng mga kopya ng SALN ni Judge Opolinto para sa mga taong 2012- 2014 sapagkat mayroon kaming bineberipika dala ng isang impormasyon na ipinarating sa amin nuong November 2015 hinggil sa diumano ay ill gotten wealth (o tago na yaman) nitong si Judge Opolinto. Base na rin sa aming karanasan kapag nag-request tayo sa Court Administrator ay pwedeng abutin ng siyam-siyam ang ating request (bakit kaya babagal-bagal ang Court Administrator, sadya kaya???) kaya minabuti natin na mismong si Judge Opolinto na lang ang ating rektahin na sulatan para sa aming request for his SALN. Kaya nung January 30, 2016 ay sinulatan natin mismo si Judge Opolinto at kinabukasan mismo ay nakatanggap ang ating opisina ng tawag galing sa kang Clerk Of Court. Ayon sa Clerk of Court ibibigay ni Judge Opolinto ang ating request for his SALN provided na ako mismo ang kukuha ng SALN (aba may kondisyones pa na ako mismo ang kukuha, ANO YUN ?!?!) Ok lang sana ang kondisyones ni Judge na yun na alam ko naman na walang ligal na basehan. Ang problema nga lang ay naka base po tayo sa Manila from Monday to Friday at weekends lang tayo na sa Baguio, kaya ang aking ginawa ay gumawa ako ng isang authorization letter (notarized at that) para sa aking representative na siya na lang ang mag-pickup for and in my behalf. Aba, eh, pag punta ng aming representante ay ipinaiwan lang daw ang letter authorization at nag-bago daw ata ng isip si Judge. Aba, ibang klase itong Judge na ito na tunay na MAKAPANGYARIHAN at marahil ay ABOVE THE LAW ANG JUDGE NA ITO!???
Later this week ay nakatanggap uli ng tawag ang ating opisina from the Clerk of Court kung saan sinabi sa aming representative na may proseso para sa pag request ng SALN at yuon ay nakasaad sa AM No. 98-8-6-SC dated June 13, 2012. Nais ko lang i-share ang ilang mga relevant points ng sinasabing guidelines:
Page 6 (2nd par.) – “In essence, it is the consensus of the Justices of the above-mentioned courts and the various judges associations that while the Constitution holds dear the right of the people to have access to matters of concern, the Constitution also holds sacred the independence of the Judiciary. Thus, although no direct opposition to the disclosure of SALN and other personal documents is being expressed, it is the uniform position of the said magistrates and the various judges associations that the disclosure must be made in accord with the guidelines set by the Court and under such circumstances that would not undermine the independence of the Judiciary. ”
Page 15-17 – “1. All requests shall be filed with the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Tax Appeals; for the lower courts, with the Office of the Court Administrator; and for attached agencies, with their respective heads of offices.
2. Requests shall cover only copies of the latest SALN, PDS and CV of the members, officials and employees of the Judiciary, and may cover only previous records if so specifically requested and considered as justified, as determined by the officials mentioned in par. 1 above, under the terms of these guidelines and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 6713.
3. In the case of requests for copies of SALN of the Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals, the authority to disclose shall be made by the Court En Banc.
4. Every request shall explain the requesting partys specific purpose and their individual interests sought to be served; shall state the commitment that the request shall only be for the stated purpose; and shall be submitted in a duly accomplished request form secured from the SC website. The use of the information secured shall only be for the stated purpose.
5. In the case of requesting individuals other than members of the media, their interests should go beyond pure or mere curiosity.
6. In the case of the members of the media, the request shall additionally be supported by proof under oath of their media affiliation and by a similar certification of the accreditation of their respective organizations as legitimate media practitioners.
7. The requesting party, whether as individuals or as members of the media, must have no derogatory record of having misused any requested information previously furnished to them.
The requesting parties shall complete their requests in accordance with these guidelines. The custodians of these documents[59] (the respective Clerks of Court of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals for the Justices; and the Court Administrator for the Judges of various trial courts) shall preliminarily determine if the requests are not covered by the limitations and prohibitions provided in R.A. No.6713 and its implementing rules and regulations, and in accordance with the aforecited guidelines. Thereafter, the Clerk of Court shall refer the matter pertaining to Justices to the Court En Banc for final determination. SO ORDERED.”
Nais ko ring ipaalam sa publiko na wala naman akong kaso na pending sa korte ni Judge at sa aking pagkakaalam ay wala rin akong kamag-anak na may kaso sa nasabing korte.
Eto ngayon ang nakakatawa na para bagang, above the law ang mga Judges na kung pahihirapan pa ang publiko sa pag-bigay ng kanilang SALN samantalang mismo ang Pangulo ng Plipinas, mga Senador at Congressman ay napakadaling kumuha ng kanilang SALN at pati na rin sa ibang mga officials na ating nakukuha ang kanilang SALN sa opisina ng Ombudsman.
Sa aking pagkakalam ay dapat lang naman na tanggaling ang sensitive information which is usually the address of the official na ito ay binubura sa SALN na ibinigbigay.
Ngayon, sa aking pananaw, ang isang opisyal na maraming dahilan at pinapahirapan ang pag access o pag-disclose ng kanyang SAL N ay posibleng may sabit at kanya itong itinatago sa dahilang baka siya ay mabukulan o mabutasan. Kung sabagay wala naman sigurong itinatago na ill gotten wealth itong si Judge Opolinto.
Siyanga pala Judge , kung nais mong mag-komento o mag-react hinggil sa aking kolum, feel free to send over your reaction at aking titiyakin na ilalabas ko ito sa aking column space at baka ipakiusap ko pa sa pahayagang ito na gawing isang full blown story ang hinggil sa isyu na ito.