Santo Domingo.- Supreme Court president Jorge Subero today called freedom of the press essential for the country, “It has been an excellent collaborator,” in response to the WikiLeak cable allegedly sent to Washington by the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, but didn’t deny that the controversial conversation with the American diplomats took place.

He defended the Presidency’s Antinarcotics adviser Marino Vinicio Castillo “Vincho” and called the high Court’s vice president Rafael Luciano Pichardo a gentleman, with a friendship of over 40 years. “In more than one occasion I called him (Pichardo) the most prodigious mind of the judiciary.”

Subero, after affirming that his relation with Pichardo has been in equal standing, said his loyalty for his colleague is unwavering.

“Every time there’s a problem, one of us has yielded, in almost 50 percent of the times in equal standing. Justice Pichardo is a serious man, of valor, of integrity in his professional exercise. Magistrate Pichardo deserves the respect of the entire society, but above all, loyalty, which I today reiterate,” he said in an unannounced press conference in teh Supreme Court.

“I wish to convey that I totally reject the imputations of the information which has been divulged,” added the Chief Justice in reference to the alleged talks with former U.S. ambassadors Hans Hertell and Roland Bullen.

When asked if the leaked conversation in fact took place, Subero said “maybe 10, 20 or 100 conversations with the U.S. ambassadors, I can’t distinguish one from some many with American and international diplomats.”

Justice Pichardo

For his part, Pichardo also stressed his friendship for Subero, but noted that he didn’t want to enter into areas of subjectivity. “I want to categorically state that in these 50 years since graduating in Law, I’ve never committed a dishonorable action, and I challenge the entire country to denounce any incorrect act on my part. The press says I received 40,000 dollars, but doesn’t say from whom.”

He said the day he leaves the Court, “which will be soon,” he’ll depart with his honor intact. He said if he had remained in private practice, “I would’ve been a very rich man today.”

The vice president of the Supreme Court noted that a possible reason for the allegation is the fact that some media have reported that Fernandez favors him as the new Chief Justice, to replace Subero. “I’ve sacrificed myself during these last 10 years in the Supreme Court.”