MANILA, Philippines — The week-long “wellness leave” of embattled Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo is a “prelude” to his move to bid goodbye to the judiciary to spare himself from being impeached over accusation of plagiarism, a reliable source disclosed Wednesday.

The 62-year-old Supreme Court magistrate, who is likely to face the Senate impeachment court after the House Committee on Justice declared the ouster complaint lodged against him as having “sufficient grounds,” is bent to retire to avoid the difficulties of facing the Senate impeachment court, the source said, adding that “del Castillo will take a leave of absence next week due to health reasons, but it is a prelude to his early retirement. “

Del Castillo was earlier mulling over to resign so as not to experience the same fate of his close friend, Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, who is being tried in the Senate since Jan. 16 due to charges of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of Constitution, and graft and corruption charges, among others.

“If he would not retire next week, he would do it before the Senate trial begins just like former Ombudsman Merci Gutierrez who resigned,” the source said.

Ten days before the Senate impeachment trial, Gutierrez resigned from her post.

The source expressed concern about del Castillo’s health condition, saying that he has “serious heart problem.”

“Del Castillo has been through a lot of hardships. He has a daughter who committed suicide out of pressure from her academic studies,” according to the source.

Another source also aired the same view, saying that Del Castillo, who “has been sick,” “might not bear the impending trial due to his health problem and other ailments.”

Del Castillo or his representative is set to appear next week before the House Committee on Justice to “defend himself.”

When reached for comment, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Justice said, “resignation or early retirement is voluntary. If it happens during the impeachment proceedings, then the proceedings become moot and academic.”

Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez warned del Castillo against submitting his resignation letter, saying that it will be interpreted as a “sign of guilt.”

“Retiring early is an acceptance that he is guilty,” he told reporters in a weekly conference.

Deputy Minority Leader and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said she would understand if Del Castillo would opt to retire to get rid of stress and to spare his family from any embarrassment.

“You don’t need a stress in your life and of course, he has to consider his family,” she said in the same news forum.

Tupas reiterated that del Castillo has the option “to attend committee hearings personally or may send his representative” on February 14, a day after the complainants, including Isabelita Vinuya and 70 other elderly women who belong to the Malaya Lolas Organization and the 11 lawmakers who acted as complainant-endorsers will be heard by the panel.

Tupas said they are seeking to vote on probable cause next week and to transmit the complaint to the plenary before the end of the remaining five session days.

Voting 27-4-1, the Tupas panel found sufficient grounds to impeach Del Castillo. The impeachment complaint was filed on Dec. 14, 2011. A day later, Del Castillo called for its dismissal in his 30-page reply to the Tupas committee.