Several school deans and prominent lawyers took the cudgels for the Supreme Court as they called for sobriety on the alleged plagiarism issue while waiting for the result of the investigation of the High Court Ethics Committee.

In a statement, Ateneo Law School Dean Cesar L. Villanueva said that the SC’s Ethics Committee has assumed proper jurisdiction over the matter and that the public “should abide by the findings and its recommendations to the Supreme Court en banc.”

“Any call or demand for the resignation of Mr. Justice Del Castillo at this time when the committee has just begun its work is not fair, and prejudges the case against a Justice of the Republic even before he has been given the constitutional right to defend himself. It also undermines in the public’s mind the results, findings, and recommendations of the committee,” Dean Villanueva said.

In his Facebook account, Fr. Joaquin Bernas said that: “There is a call from quarters for Justice Mariano del Castillo to resign because of a charge of plagiarism. But the case is with the Supreme Court now.”

Fr. Bernas appealed to wait for the verdict of the Court and said like everyone else, Justice Del Castillo is entitled to due process.”

Former Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Law Dean Ernesto L. Pineda described as “premature” the call of UP Professors led by Dean Marvic Leonen of the UP College of Law for the resignation of Justice Mariano del Castillo.

“It is improper to put pressure upon the Committee in the performance of its duties. The situation is akin to a sub judice matter. The committee resolution must first be waited which we understand, would be submitted to the Supreme Court en banc for appropriate action….The Committee is in the best position to evaluate the issue of whether or not there is plagiarism. The concurrence of the members of the Committee to the Vinuya decision is not material because plagiarism was not an issue when it decided the case. Expectedly, the committee will limit itself to the issue of plagiarism without touching on the merits of the case regarding the pending motion for reconsideration in the case,” Dean Pineda said.