A legal counsel of former Senator Leila de Lima debunked former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the judge, who granted the latter's bail petition, was her favorite student when she was a practitioner in a law school.
Roque was pertaining to Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 presiding judge Gener M. Gito, who issued the decision granting the former senator's petition for provisionary freedom last Nov. 13.
In an official Facebook post on Wednesday, Nov. 22, legal counsel Dino Singson de Leon regarded the former presidential spokesperson's claim as the "latest attempt to peddle lies" as he pointed out that de Lima does not remember Gener given that she had "taught hundreds of students" and "spoke before many forums and gatherings."
"Assuming that Judge Gito was a student, former Senator Leila De Lima does not remember him. Regardless, such a relationship is not even a ground for inhibition under the Rules," he said, adding that meeting inside a court is "normal for teachers and students."
The legal counsel said Roque's casting of "aspersions on the integrity and independence of a presiding judge without substantiation" was "unethical."
"He should substantiate his claims that Judge Gito is a "favorite student" of Leila De Lima. Otherwise, he is spreading intrigue and gossip against a member of the judiciary, and that is actionable and a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility governing the conduct of lawyers," de Leon added.
Last Monday, Nov. 20, Roque uploaded an episode for his The Spox Hour series on his social media pages wherein he alleged that Gener was the favorite student of de Lima when she was teaching Persons and Family Relations subject at San Beda University's College of Law.
"Ang tanong ko, isinapubliko ba ni Judge Gito iyong nakaraan niyang kasaysayan na siya ay naging paboritong estudyante ni Leila de Lima sa San Beda College of Law?," he asked.
The former presidential spokesperson then recalled the situation of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 Judge Romeo Buenaventura, who inhibited himself from hearing de Lima's last case due to the question of impartiality.
"Hindi pinag-alam na ang kapatid niya pala ay naging abogado ni Rony Dayan. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na siguro pumanig itong judge na ito, pero in fairness, dapat binigyan alam niya yung mga prosecutors dun sa special ties niya ni Leila de Lima," Roque said.
