Hotel workers want ex-justice disbarred

THE officers of a hotel workers’ union have filed a disbarment case against retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruben Reyes, claiming the controversial former justice participated in the resolution of a labor dispute more than a month after he had retired.

“No less than the clerk of court witnessed the fact that on 9 February, 2009, respondent Ruben Reyes participated in the resolution denying the union’s motion for reconsideration,” the officers of the National Union of Workers in Hotel Restaurant and Allied Industries-Dusit Hotel Nikko Chapter said.

The workers sought Reyes’ disbarment for alleged gross serious misconduct, and engaging in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct and doing falsehood in court when he “usurped the judicial functions of a Supreme Court justice.”

The complainants—the union’s Dusit Hotel Nikko Chapter’s Reynaldo Rasing, Lauro Javier, Norzamia Intal, Inisusan de Velez, Catalina Orduna, Leo Antonio Atutubo, Jesus Nonan, Loretta Divina de Luna, Evangeline Reyes and Ofelia Llaban, said Reyes had reached the mandatory retirement age on Jan. 3, and was replaced by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta on Jan. 14.

But the complainants said their counsel, Solon Garcia, received on March 11 by registered mail the minute resolution of the Second Division dated Feb. 9, which denied with finality their motion for reconsideration in the case they filed against Philippine Hoteliers Inc. (Dusit Hotel Nikko).

Participating in the resolution were Senior Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, and Associate Justices Conchita Carpio Morales, Teresita de Castro and Presbitero Velasco Jr. as well as Reyes.

Earlier, the court found Reyes guilty of grave misconduct for leaking his draft decision on the petitions seeking the disqualification of Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong.

Reyes was also ordered by the court to pay a fine in the amount of P500,000 to be charged against his retirement benefits and disqualified him from holding any office or employment in any branch of the government, including government-owned and -controled corporations. –Rey E. Requejo, Manila Standard Today