Camello trashes motion: ‘My conscience is clear’

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

COURT of Appeals Associate Justice Edgardo Camello on Tuesday trashed former Taglimao barangay chairman William Guialani’s motion to make him inhibit from the case filed by Mayor Oscar Moreno against the dismissal order issued last year by the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a five-page resolution, Camello said there was no reason for him to inhibit as chairman of the CA 22nd Division that granted Moreno’s petition for a writ of preliminary injunction on Monday.

“My conscience is clear. I have not done any act which justified a fair suspicion of partiality in favor of any party or which cast doubt on my probity or the honesty of my actuation. Neither is there any element which would create a likelihood of bias and predudice…” reads part of Camello’s decision.

The associate justice also said he has stood firm and has been faithful to his oath as a judge despite pressures applied by partisan political protesters. “Despite the incessant mob pressure currently being exerted upon me and my colleagues in this court by partisan political protesters, I stand firm on my solemn oath ‘to do what becomes me as a judge.’”

Guialano, for his part, expressed dismay over Camello’s decision.

“Unsa-on pa man paglosot niining akong motion for reconsideration kontra sa injunction ni Moreno nga si Justice Camello pa man gihapon ang moesolve  niini?” Guialani asked rhetorically.

He accused Camello of being “biased,” alleging that the associate justice had personal ties with the Moreno family and city treasurer Glenn Bañez.