'Go ahead make my day,' says Panes on contempt charge
Lawyer-journalist Cornelio "Kune" Panes goes 'Hollywood' on his comment when reached for reaction on the indirect contempt filed against him and a journalist.
An offshoot of the controversial custody case surrounding the children of massacre victims Bobby Tan and Cindy Zayco, complainant was Tan matriarch, Conchita Tan thru counsel, lawyer Bayan Joseph Quiñones of the Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar Law Offices.
In a Petition now pending before Branch 24, 6th RTC, the case for indirect contempt prayed for judgment that would cite Panes and Francis Allan Angelo.
"Punish them to the fullest extent of the law," excerpts of the Petition went, with further prayer for Panes to be censured and meted a penalty double than what is to be imposed on Angelo.
"Respondent Panes has not only acted with impropriety as an officer of the Court but he also has shown utter disrespect to the Honorable Court (Branch 30) by disregarding the law and the rules when he divulged to respondent Angelo the contents of the Judicial Affidavits of the minors," the Petition continued. "Respondent Angelo likewise showed disrespect to the Honorable Court when he, as Managing Editor of "The Guardian" and author of the article caused the publication relating to confidential proceedings."
Panes welcomed the complaint while doing a Clint Eastwood and invoking a line from Oscar-awarded movie Brokeback Mountain.
"Go ahead make my day. And to my compañeros at Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar Law Offices, I wish I know when to quit you," Panes said with a smile.
Tan in her Contempt Charge Petition pointed out requests for confidentiality on two Judicial Affidavits executed by her grandchildren.
"Respondent Panes has not only acted with impropriety as an officer of the Court but he also has shown utter disrespect to the Honorable Court (Branch 30) by disregarding the law and the rules when he divulged to respondent Angelo the contents of the Judicial Affidavits of the minors," the Petition continued. "Respondent Angelo likewise showed disrespect to the Honorable Court when he, as Managing Editor of "The Guardian" and author of the article caused the publication relating to confidential proceedings."