The Supreme Court has ordered the conduct of a fact-finding investigation against four incumbent judges identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as involved in narcotics trade.

Treating Duterte’s speech as a complaint, the high court ordered Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea to submit complaint-affidavits against the four judges within seven days while the judges also have seven days to submit their answers.

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Ordered investigated are Judge Exequil Dagala of the Municipal Trial Court (MTC); Dapa-Socorro, Surigao, Iloilo City Regional Trial Court Branch 30 Judge Adriano Savillo, Kalibo; Aklan RTC Branch 7 Judge Domingo Casiple; and Baguio City RTC Branch 61 Judge Antonio Reyes.

“The Court today resolved to treat the speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as a complaint against the four incumbent judges…Direct Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea to submit complaint-affidavits against the four judges within seven days,” the high court’s resolution stated.

Aside from the four judges, Duterte also identified Cavite Judge Lorenda Mupas, Calbayog City Judge Roberto Navidad and Iloilo City Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Rene Gonzales.

However, Mupas has been dismissed in 2007 for gross ignorance of the law while Navidad was murdered in 2008 and Gonzales retired last June.

The high court has designated retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto A. Abad to conduct the investigation.

He was given 30 days to terminate the investigation. CDG/rga

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