In June 0f 2008, the Manila Times reported that, due to the scheduled mandatory June 27 retirement of Associate Justice Agustin Dizon, the reviewing justice of the Court of Appeals 16th Division, which is handling the rape case, the hearings may have to start from the beginning after a replacement reviewing justice is assigned. Quoting sources at the court, the Times said, "'The new reviewing justice can’t just take over the notes and draft report of the case. He or she will have to start from scratch,' the source explained.". The Times explained, "hearings may have to start from the beginning to avoid possible accusations of partiality by the new justice assigned."