Conspiracy at Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court Tuesday vehemently denied the accusation the SC, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Judicial and Bar Council have conspired to disqualify Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima and excluded her from the shortlist of nominees for the next Chief Justice.

SC Acting Public Information Office Chief and Spokesperson Atty. Maria Victoria Gleoresty Guerra said the SC, the IBP and the JBC are just following the rules.

Guerra added there's no truth to the accusation against them by De Lima.

However, Guerra refused to comment whether the statement of De Lima against the SC can be considered as "contemptuous."

Guerra pointed out she would not want to pre-empt the SC if ever someone files contempt charges against De Lima in connection with her statement.

American Wanted in the Philippines

An American national wanted for rape was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently and is awaiting deportation.

Robert Joseph Manship, 58, who was apprehended in Maasin City, Leyte last Aug. 1, will be deported as soon as the BI board of commissioners issue the order for his summary deportation.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the foreigner is wanted by authorities in New Hampshire, USA for the crime of aggravated felonious sexual assault after a Hillsborough County superior court issued an arrest warrant on May 14.

"He (Manship) will be deported for being an undocumented alien as his US passport already expired four years ago," David said.

According to Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, the American has been hiding in the Philippines since January 2008 when he arrived as a tourist.

She added that Manship last applied for an extension of his stay on March that year, thus has been overstaying here for more than three years.