Judicial ethics cases.docx

8/18/2019 Judicial ethics cases.docx

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A.M. No. MTJ-11-1778 June 5, 2013(Formerly OCA IPI No. 08-19-MTJ!

MA"ICO" #. $A"A%O, Complainant,vs.

J&%$' #IA)'T* $&TI'""'-TO""'+, Respondent.

R E S O L U T I O N

I##A"AMA, J"., J.:

Before us is a Veried Complaint!"davit,# led $% &omplainant 'ari&or L. (arado &)ar*in* respondent

+ud*e Lia$et) (utierreTorres, -residin* +ud*e, 'etropolitan Trial Court, Bran&) /, 'andalu%on* Cit%,

0it) violation of t)e Rule 1./2,3 Canon 1 of t)e Code of +udi&ial Condu&t in &onne&tion 0it) Civil Case No.

3/#34 entitled 5'ari&or (arado v. Rose Vir*ie Estor.5

Coml/nn llee e / e l/n/4 /n e ore/6 //l e or um o money n66me. +e oml/n e e / oere6 y e 1991 "e/e6 "ule on +ummryProe6ure n6 only /nole l/m or e ymen o lon moun/n o P50,000 lu/nere n6 l/m or 6me moun/n o P30,000, u e e rem/ne6 unreole6or more n 20 mon rom e /me / : ;le6.

Complainant narrates t)at )er &omplaint a*ainst defendant Rose Vir*ie Estor 0as led on !u*ust 33, 3//2.

!fter respondent 6ud*e denied defendant Estor7s motion to dismiss on +ul% 1, 3//, Estor t)ereafter led an

Ur*ent E8parte 'otion for E8tension of Time 9To :ile Responsive -leadin*; follo0ed $% a se&ond motion to

dismiss on Novem$er #, 3//. Complainant, mean0)ile, led a motion to render 6ud*ment 0it) an

opposition to t)e se&ond motion to dismiss on Novem$er 3 (1! o: ue :y e oul6 no e 6m/n/r/ely n/one6 /n /e: o er reul oum/ er Commen 6e/e e :o 6/re/e, n6 (2! ;le er Commen ://n ;e 6yrom ree/ o no/e, oer:/e, n 6m/n/r/e e :/ll e ;le6 /n er. "eon6en

=u6e ree/e6 oy o e "eolu/on on Ar/l 1, 2008, u /n /nore6 e me.Cone?uenly, e Cour /ue6 noer "eolu/on on July 1@, 2008 /mo/n uon Ju6e

Torre ;ne oP1,000, o e /6 ://n en 6y rom ree/, or /mr/onmen o ;e 6y /e ;ne / no /6 ://n e er/o6 o en 6y. Te July 1@, 2008 "eolu/on lo 6/ree6reon6en =u6e o omly :/ e Cour


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20129, reon6en : en re?u/re6 un6er +e/on o e 1991 "e/e6 "ule on +ummryProe6ure o ren6er =u6men /n C//l Ce No. 20129 ://n 30 6y. +e /le6 o 6o oonrry o e r/onle e/n6 e /6 "ule, :/ : re/ely 6oe6 o romoe moreeEe6//ou n6 /neEen/e 6eerm/n/on o e, n6 o enore e on/u/onl r/ o l//n o e ee6y 6/o//on o e.#

Se&tion 4, Rule #=/ of t)e Rules of Court, as amended, &lassies undue dela% in renderin* a de&ision and

violation of Supreme Court dire&tives as less serious &)ar*es 0)i&) are punis)a$le 0it) t)e penalt% of

suspension from o"&e 0it)out salar% and ot)er $enets for one mont) to t)ree mont)s, or a neof -#/,/// to -3/,///. (iven t)at respondent )ad $een previousl% dismissed from t)e servi&e in Lu*ares v.

(utierreTorres,#


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A.M. No. "TJ-10-2217 Ar/l 8, 2013

+ONIA C. %'C'NA n6 "' C. %'C'NA, -etitioners,vs.

J&%$' NI#O A. MA#ANAON, "'$IONA# T"IA# CO&"T, )"ANC* 32, IN PI#I, CAMA"IN'++&", Respondent.

E C I S I O N

)'"+AMIN, J.:

A =u6e my no /nole /mel /n ny //y / n e o e r/e r/e o l:.*/ ene o n o/nmen o e )en /n// /m rom en/n /n e r/er/e o l:, rer6le o e ene;/ry o e //y e/n memer o / /mme6/em/ly. *e / u/ly o on6u uneom/n o =u6e oer:/e.

!nte&edents

T)e &omplainants )ave lod*ed an administrative &omplaint for &ondu&t un$e&omin* a 6ud*e a*ainst Don.

Nilo !. 'alan%aon, t)e -residin* +ud*e of t)e Re*ional Trial Court, Bran&) 13, in -ili, Camarines Sur. #

In t)eir 6oint &omplainta"davit dated !pril #/, 3//uired to produ&e )is -TR num$er.

=. )en our prin&ipal &ounsel, !tt%. Jamora, arrived and tooG over from !tt%. Loria, s)e in>uired re*ardin*

t)e personalit% of +ud*e 'alan%aon, $ein* seated at t)e la0%er7s $en&) $eside !tt%. 'alan%aon, Ju6eMlnyon en rou6ly /nro6ue6 /mel n6 mn/ee6 e : e Dounel o ereon6en


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!tt%. Jamora A Mour Donor, Mour Donor, 0e all do not Gno0 ea&) ot)er, and 0it) due respe&t to t)e 6ud*e,

t)ere is also a )earin* o"&er )ere Mour Donor, and I t)inG Mour Donor t)e Dearin* O"&er )ere deserves

due respe&t. I mean, t)e 0ord 5So 0)atK5, I don7t t)inG t)at 0ould $e proper Mour Donor in t)is Court.

+ud*e 'alan%aon A I am sorr% %our Donor, $e&ause t)e is out of turn, out of turn.

!tt%. Nieves A T)is is not ne&essar%, a&tuall%, t)is is not ne&essar%. So 0e mi*)t as 0ell pro&eed 0it) our

)earin* toda%. I7ve alread% made a rulin* re*ardin* t)e, t)e >uer% re*ardin* -TR. OGa%, at t)is sta*e it is

not proper &onsiderin* t)at !tt%. Loria onl% entered )is appearan&e durin* t)e start of t)e )earin*. OGa%.So, 0e )ave to pro&eed no0.

!tt%. Jamora A I am a&&eptin* Mour Donor t)e dele*ation a*ain of !tt%. Loria. I am enterin* m% appearan&e

as t)e lead &ounsel for t)is &ase, Mour Donor, as &ounsel for t)e &omplainant.

!tt%. Nieves A OGa%.

!tt%. Jamora A !nd ma% I $e &lear t)at t)e 6ud*e 0ill $e t)e &olla$oratin* &ounsel for t)e respondent or t)e

&ounsel of re&ord of t)e respondentK

!tt%. Nieves A of t)e 6ud*e is I7m sorr%K

!tt%. Jamora A De manifested Mour Donor t)at )e is t)e &ounsel of t)e respondent.

!tt%. 'alan%aon A No, t)e &ounsel of t)e &ounsel of t)e respondent.

!tt%. Nieves A De )as not, )e )as not entered )is appearan&e in t)is &ase.

!tt%. Jamora A ould t)at $e proper for )im Mour Donor, &onsiderin* t)at )e is a 6ud*e Mour DonorK ould

t)at, a), t)ere 0ill $e undue inuen&e, or 0)atever, Mour DonorK e are 6ust tr%in* to avoid an% $ias or

undue inuen&e in t)is &ourt, Mour Donor.

!tt%. Nieves A OGa%, it 0ill not, &onsiderin* t)e fa&t t)at )e )as not entered )is appearan&e for t)e

respondent.

+ud*e 'alan%aon A If Mour Donor, please, t)e respondent is m% 0ife. Counsel for t)e respondent is m%

dau*)ter. S)e 6ust passed t)e $ar I7m assistin* )er. Is it not m% ri*)t, m% dut% to assist m% dau*)terK !nd

to assist m% 0ife defend )erselfK I am onl% sittin* 0it) m% dau*)ter I7m not a&tin* for t)e respondent

!tt%. Jamora A I don7t t)inG Mour Donor under t)e rule, t)e &ounsel needs a &ounsel. Onl% t)e one &)ar*ed

or t)e one $ein* &)ar*ed needs a &ounsel.

!tt%. Nieves A OGa%, let7s settle t)is no0. +ud*e 'alan%aon )as not entered )is appearan&e. It 0ill not in an%

0a%

8 8 8 8

T)e &omplainants averred t)at t)e a&tuations of +ud*e 'alan%aon durin* t)e )earin* of )is 0ife7s

administrative &ase in t)e Civil Servi&e Commission &onstituted violations of t)e Ne0 Code of +udi&ial

Condu&t for t)e -)ilippines +udi&iar%.

On +une 3#, 3//uired +ud*e 'alan%aon to &omment on

t)e &omplaint.1

On +ul% #2, 3//


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1. It is true I snapped at !tt%. Jamora, 0)en s)e asGed a$out m% personalit% P $ut s)e 0as speaGin* out of

turn as all I 0as doin* 0as sittin* $eside m% dau*)ter 0)en s)e &ame as t)e trans&ript 0ill s)o0, I

apolo*ied to t)e )earin* o"&er, 0)o *ra&iousl% let t)e matter pass?

=. '% dau*)ter is a ne0 pra&titioner? )er la0 partner and lead &ounsel &ould not maGe it on time, and as

)er &onsultant, I did not speaG, nor enter m% appearan&e for m% 0ife P to lend a )elpin* )and to a

neop)%te la0%er, defendin* )er mot)er in an administrative &ase, is not unet)i&al, nor does it &onstitute

t)e pros&ri$ed pra&ti&e of la0?

2. It is pett% for m% sisterinla0 and for m% nep)e0 to &omplain of m% presen&e durin* t)e )earin*? it is

m% lial dut% to lend m% 0ife and dau*)ter, moral and le*al support in t)eir time of need? indeed, it is

stran*e for &omplainants to taGe oFense at m% presen&e and a&&use me of pra&ti&in* la0 durin* m% stint

as a 6ud*e 0)en $efore t)e $ad $lood $et0een m% 0ife and )er si$lin* and nep)e0 erupted, I )elped t)em

out 0it) t)eir le*al pro$lems *ratis et amore and t)e% did not &omplain of m% pra&ti&in* la0 on t)eir

$e)alf, indeed, one of t)e &rosses a 6ud*e must &arr% is t)e &ross of $ase in*ratitude. =

On 'ar&) 3uired t)e parties to manifest 0it)in #/ da%s from noti&e if t)e% 0ere

0illin* to su$mit t)e &ase for resolution on t)e $asis of t)e re&ords or pleadin*s led.

T)e &omplainants &omplied on Novem$er #1, 3//4, statin* t)eir 0illin*ness to su$mit t)e &ase for

resolution after a formal investi*ation or )earin* 0as &ondu&ted, and after t)e% 0ere *iven time to le

t)eir respe&tive position papers or memoranda.<

On +anuar% ##, 3/#/, t)e Court resolvedA 9a; to redo&Get t)e administrative &ase as a re*ular

administrative matter? 9$; to a0ait +ud*e 'alan%aon7s &omplian&e 0it) t)e Septem$er #, 3//4 resolution?

and 9&; to refer t)e administrative matter to t)e OC! for evaluation, report and re&ommendation.@

!fter +ud*e 'alan%aon did not su$mit an% &omplian&e 0it) t)e Septem$er #, 3//4 resolution, t)e Courtordered )im on :e$ruar% #/, 3/#/ to s)o0 &ause 0)% )e s)ould not $e dis&iplinaril% dealt 0it) or )eld in

&ontempt for su&) failure, and furt)er dire&ted )im to still &ompl% 0it) t)e resolution.4

On Ferury 15, 2010, Ju6e Mlnyonuired +ud*e 'alan%aon to su$mit a

medi&al &erti&ate.##

+ud*e 'alan%aon su$mitted a medi&al &erti&ate dated 'a% 3


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)imself di"&ult, if ne&essar%. !lt)ou*) )e is independent on am$ulation, )e re>uires assistan&e even in

$asi& a&tivities of dail% livin*.#2

T)e Court re>uired t)e &omplainants to &omment on +ud*e 'alan%aon7s medi&al &erti&ation dated

O&to$er 2, 3/#/.

On +ul% #@, 3/##, )o0ever, r. !melita su$mitted a manifestation and ur*ent motion to dismiss, seeGin*

t)e dismissal of t)e administrative &ase a*ainst +ud*e 'alan%aon upon t)e follo0in* *rounds, to 0itA

8 8 8 8

3. Unfortunatel%, in a 5'edi&al Certi&ation5 dated +une #2, 3/## t)e ori*inal of 0)i&) is atta&)ed )ereto

as !nne8 5#5, t)e attendin* neurolo*ist of m% )us$and )as pronoun&ed )im permanentl% mentall%

impaired. 8 8 8.

8 8 8 8

1. !s a &onse>uen&e, m% )us$and )as permanentl% lost t)e &apa&it% to understand t)e nature and o$6e&t

of t)e administrative pro&eedin*s a*ainst )im. De &annot intelli*entl% appoint )is &ounsel or &ommuni&ate

&o)erentl% 0it) )im. De &annot testif% in )is o0n $e)alf, and &onfront and &rosse8amine opposin*

0itnesses. Indeed, )e &annot properl% avail )imself of )is ri*)ts in an adversarial administrative

investi*ation?

=. (iven t)e pro*ressive mental impairment ai&tin* m% )us$and, )e )as permanentl% lost t)e &apa&it% to

defend )imself. T)us, to &ontinue t)e administrative investi*ation a*ainst m% )us$and 0)o is no lon*er in

an% position to defend )imself 0ould &onstitute a denial of )is ri*)t to $e )eard 9BaiGon* !Gan* Camsa vs.

+ud*e !urelio Rendon, !.'. No. 'T+/3#142 dated #4 :e$ruar% 3//3;.#

Even so, on Septem$er 3, 3/##, 0e re>uired t)e &omplainants to &omment on t)e manifestation and

motion of r. !melita.#<

Su$se>uentl%, r. !melita su$mitted anot)er motion dated +anuar% 31, 3/#3, #@ pra%in* for t)e dismissal oft)e &ase a*ainst +ud*e 'alan%aon.

On :e$ruar% , 3/#3, Court !dministrator +ose 'idas -. 'ar>ue reiterated t)e re&ommendation made on

'ar&) 3uired on Septem$er 3, 3/##.3#

On Septem$er =, 3/#3, t)e Court re&eived from r. !melita an ur*ent e8 parte motion for immediate

resolution, pra%in* t)at t)e motion to dismiss dated +ul% #@, 3/## $e alread% resolved.33

Issues

:or &onsideration and resolution are t)e follo0in* issues, namel%A 9a; 0)et)er or not +ud*e 'alan%aon

0ould $e denied due pro&ess if t)e administrative &ase 0as not dismissed? 9$; :eer e u/ono Ju6e Mlnyon oml/ne6 o on/ue6 on6u uneom/n o =u6e? and 9&; if +ud*e'alan%aon 0as *uilt% of &ondu&t un$e&omin* of a 6ud*e, 0)at s)ould $e t)e &orre&t san&tion.

Rulin*

e no0 dis&uss and resolve t)e issues a&&ordin*l%.

#.

Respondent7s ri*)t to due pro&ess

is not violated $% resolution of t)e &ase

http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt15http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt16http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt18http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt19http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt20http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt21http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt22http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt15http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt16http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt18http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt19http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt20http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt21http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/am_rtj-10-2217_2013.html#fnt22


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In )er manifestation 0it) ur*ent motion to dismiss,31 r. !melita stressed t)at pro&eedin* a*ainst +ud*e

'alan%aon despite )is present medi&al state 0ould violate )is ri*)t to due pro&ess. S)e statedA

1. !s a &onse>uen&e, m% )us$and )as permanentl% lost t)e &apa&it% to understand t)e nature and o$6e&t

of t)e administrative pro&eedin*s a*ainst )im. De &annot intelli*entl% appoint )is &ounsel or &ommuni&ate

&o)erentl% 0it) )im. De &annot testif% in )is o0n $e)alf, and &onfront and &rosse8amine opposin*

0itnesses. Indeed, )e &annot properl% avail )imself of )is ri*)ts in an adversarial administrative

investi*ation.3=

Opposin*, t)e &omplainants ar*ued t)at r. !melita7s &on&ern 0as unfounded &onsiderin* t)at +ud*e

'alan%aon )ad not onl% $een *iven t)e opportunit% to $e )eard, $ut )ad $een a&tuall% )eard on t)eir

&omplaint.

T)e &omplainants7 ar*ument is 0ell taGen.

On !u*ust 1, 3//uirement of due pro&ess is satised 0)enever t)e parties are aForded t)e fair and reasona$le

opportunit% to e8plain t)eir side of t)e &ontrovers%,32 eit)er t)rou*) oral ar*uments or t)rou*)

pleadin*s.3 T)at is 0)at )appened )erein. !&&ordin*l%, r. !melita7s motion 0as $ereft of $asis, and

s)ould $e denied.

3.

!&tuations of +ud*e 'alan%aon

rendered )im *uilt% of

&ondu&t un$e&omin* of a 6ud*e

T)e follo0in* a&tuations of +ud*e 'alan%aon &onstituted &ondu&t un$e&omin* of a 6ud*e.

F/r : Ju6e Mlnyon


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reon o ul/ ol/y, on/6er/n e r/, 6u/e, r//lee n6 un/on o eoe o n orney re /nerenly /nom/le :/ e / o/l un/on, 6u/e,o:er, 6/re/on n6 r//lee o //n =u6e. It also aims to ensure t)at 6ud*es *ive t)eir fulltime and attention to t)eir 6udi&ial duties, prevent t)em from e8tendin* favors to t)eir o0n private

interests, and assure t)e pu$li& of t)eir impartialit% in t)e performan&e of t)eir fun&tions. T)ese o$6e&tives

are di&tated $% a sense of moral de&en&% and desire to promote t)e pu$li& interest. 1#

Tu, n orney :o e n o/nmen o e )en mu e / r/ o

r/e l: memer o e P/l//ne )r / erey uen6e6, n6 / ll on/nue oe o uen6e6 or e en/re er/o6 o / /numeny =u6e. Te erm r/e o l: /no l/m/e6 o e on6u o e /n our or o r///on /n our roee6/n, ueEen6 o e rer/on o le6/n or er /n n///on o l///on, e //n olel 6/e o l/en or eron nee6/n e me, e rer/on o lel /nrumen n6onr y :/ lel r/ re eure6, n6 e rer/on o er /n/6en o /onn6 e/l roee6/n.13

To t)e Court, t)en, +ud*e 'alan%aon en*a*ed in t)e private pra&ti&e of la0 $% assistin* )is dau*)ter at )is

0ife7s administrative &ase, &oa&)in* )is dau*)ter in maGin* manifestations or posin* motions to t)e

)earin* o"&er, and preparin* t)e >uestions t)at )e prompted to )is dau*)ter in order to demand t)at

!tt%. Eduardo Loria, &olla$oratin* &ounsel of t)e &omplainants7 prin&ipal &ounsel, s)ould produ&e )is

privile*e ta8 re&eipt. +ud*e 'alan%aon did so voluntaril% and Gno0in*l%, in li*)t of )is un)esitatin*

announ&ement durin* t)e )earin* t)at )e 0as t)e &ounsel for !tt%. atrina 'alan%aon, t)e &ounsel of t)e

respondent, as )is response to t)e >uer% $% t)e opposin* &ounsel 0)% )e 0as seated ne8t to !tt%.

'alan%aon t)ereat.

T)ird 0as +ud*e 'alan%aon7s admission t)at )e )ad alread% en*a*ed in t)e private pra&ti&e of la0 even

$efore t)e in&ident no0 t)e su$6e&t of t)is &ase $% )is statement in )is &omment t)at 5it is stran*e for

&omplainants to taGe oFense at m% presen&e and a&&use me of pra&ti&in* la0 durin* m% stint as a 6ud*e

0)en $efore t)e $ad $lood $et0een m% 0ife and )er si$lin* and nep)e0 erupted, I )elped t)em out 0it)

t)eir le*al pro$lems *ratis et amore and t)e% did not &omplain of m% pra&ti&in* la0 on t)eir $e)alf.5 11 De

t)ere$% manifested )is tenden&ies to disre*ard t)e pro)i$ition a*ainst t)e private pra&ti&e of la0 durin*

)is in&um$en&% on t)e Ben&).

!n% propensit% on t)e part of a ma*istrate to i*nore t)e et)i&al in6un&tion to &ondu&t )imself in a manner

t)at 0ould *ive no *round for reproa&) is al0a%s 0ort)% of &ondemnation.1= e s)ould a$)or an%

impropriet% on t)e part of 6ud*es, 0)et)er &ommitted in or out of t)eir &ourt)ouses, for t)e% are not

6ud*es onl% o&&asionall%. T)e Court )as ttin*l% emp)asied in Castillo v. Calano*, +r.A12

T)e Code of +udi&ial Et)i&s mandates t)at t)e &ondu&t of a 6ud*e must $e free of a 0)iF of impropriet% not

onl% 0it) respe&t to )is performan&e of )is 6udi&ial duties, $ut also to )is $e)avior outside )is sala and as a

private individual. T)ere is no di&)otom% of moralit%? a pu$li& o"&ial is also 6ud*ed $% )is private morals.

T)e Code di&tates t)at a 6ud*e, in order to promote pu$li& &onden&e in t)e inte*rit% and impartialit% of

t)e 6udi&iar%, must $e)ave 0it) propriet% at all times. !s 0e )ave ver% re&entl% e8plained, a 6ud*e7s o"&iallife &annot simpl% $e deta&)ed or separated from )is personal e8isten&e. T)usA

Bein* a su$6e&t of &onstant pu$li& s&rutin%, a 6ud*e s)ould freel% and 0illin*l% a&&ept restri&tions on

&ondu&t t)at mi*)t $e vie0ed as $urdensome $% t)e ordinar% &itien.

! 6ud*e s)ould personif% 6udi&ial inte*rit% and e8emplif% )onest pu$li& servi&e. T)e personal $e)avior of a

6ud*e, $ot) in t)e performan&e of o"&ial duties and in private life s)ould $e a$ove suspi&ion.

:ourt) 0as +ud*e 'alan%aon7s displa% of arro*an&e durin* t)e )earin*, as ree&ted $% )is rea&tion to t)e

opposin* &ounsel7s >uer% on )is personalit% to sit at t)e &ounsel ta$le at t)e )earin*, to 0itA

I am t)e &ounsel of t)e &omplainant, a), of t)e respondent7s &ounsel, I am +ud*e 'alan%aon. I am assistin*

)er. !nd so 0)atK

+ud*e 'alan%aon7s utterin* 5!nd so 0)atK5 to0ards t)e opposin* &ounsel evin&ed )is instant resentment

to0ards t)e adverse parties7 &ounsel for ri*)tl% &)allen*in* )is ri*)t to $e sittin* on a pla&e reserved for

&ounsel of t)e parties. T)e utteran&e, for $ein* made in an arro*ant tone 6ust after )e )ad introdu&ed

)imself as a 6ud*e, 0as un$e&omin* of t)e 6ud*e t)at )e 0as, and tainted t)e *ood ima*e of t)e +udi&iar%

t)at )e s)ould up)old at all times.1 It is true t)at t)e &)allen*e of t)e opposin* &ounsel mi*)t )ave

sli*)ted )im, $ut t)at 0as not enou*) to &ause )im to for*et t)at )e 0as still a 6ud*e e8pe&ted to a&t 0it)

utmost so$riet% and to speaG 0it) selfrestraint. De t)ere$% i*nored t)e presen&e of t)e )earin* o"&er,

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appearin* to pro6e&t t)at )e &ould forsaGe t)e de&orum t)at t)e time and t)e o&&asion ri*)tl% &alled for

from )im and t)e ot)ers 6ust $e&ause )e 0as a 6ud*e and t)e ot)er side 0as not. De s)ould not for*et t)at

a 6ud*e liGe )imself s)ould $e t)e last person to $e per&eived $% ot)ers as a pett% and s)arpton*ued

t%rant.

+ud*e 'alan%aon )as insisted t)at )is a&tuations 0ere e8&used $% )is lial o$li*ation to assist )is

dau*)ter, t)en onl% a neop)%te in t)e Le*al -rofession. e 0ould easil% understand )is insisten&e in t)e

li*)t of our &ulture to $e al0a%s soli&itous of t)e 0ell$ein* of our famil% mem$ers and ot)er &lose Gin, even

risGin* our o0n safet% and lives in t)eir defense. But t)e situation of +ud*e 'alan%aon 0as diFerent, for )e0as a 6udi&ial o"&er 0)o &ame under t)e stri&ture t)at uniforml% applied to all 6ud*es of all levels of t)e

6udi&ial )ierar&)%, for$iddin* )im from en*a*in* in t)e private pra&ti&e of la0 durin* )is in&um$en&%,

re*ardless of 0)et)er t)e $ene&iar% 0as )is 0ife or dau*)ter or ot)er mem$ers of )is o0n famil%.

1.

)at is t)e proper penalt%K

+ud*e 'alan%aon )ad $een previousl% san&tioned $% t)e Court on t)e follo0in* t)ree o&&asions, namel%A

9a; !.'. No. RT+41#/4/, 0it) admonition for *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 and unreasona$le dela% in

resolvin* motions?1


11/61

A.M. No. MTJ-07-191 Ar/l 2, 2013(Formerly A.M. No. 07-7-0@-+C!

OFFIC' OF T*' CO&"T A%MINI+T"ATO", -etitioner,vs.

J&%$' ANATA#IO +. N'C'++A"IO, )rn 2 J&%$' $I# ". ACO+TA, )rn 3 J&%$' "O+A)'##AM. TO"MI+, )rn @ n6 J&%$' '%$'M'#O C. "O+A#'+, )rn 8 ll o MTCC-Ceu C/yC'#'+T' P. "'T&A, ClerH III, MTCC )rn , Ceu C/y CO"AON P. "'T&A, Cour

+enorer, MTCC, )rn , Ceu C/y "*ONA F. "O%"I$&', A6m/n/r/e Oer I,Oe o e ClerH o Cour, "e/onl Tr/l Cour ("TC! Ceu C/y 'MMA %. A#'NCIA, Cour+enorer III, "TC, )rn 18, Ceu C/y MA"I#O& CA)AN', Cour +enorer, MTCC,)rn @, Ceu C/y %'+I%'"IO +. A"ANA+, Proe +erer, MTCC, )rn 3, Ceu C/y"')'CCA A#'+NA, Cour Inerreer, MTCC, )rn 1, Ceu C/y n6 *'#'N MON$$AA, Cour+enorer, MTCC, )rn @, Ceu C/y. Respondents.

-ERL!SBERN!BE

E C I S I O N

PER CURIAM:

T)is Court )as lon* )eld t)at 5t)e administration of 6usti&e is &ir&ums&ri$ed 0it) a )eav% $urden ofresponsi$ilit%. It re>uires t)at ever%one involved in its dispensation from t)e presidin* 6ud*e to t)elo0liest &lerG live up to t)e stri&test standards of &ompeten&e, )onest%, and inte*rit% in t)e pu$li&servi&e.5#

TDE C!SE

T)is is an administrative &ase t)at stemmed from t)e +ul% 3//< 'emorandum of t)e O"&e of t)e Court!dministrator 9OC!;.3 T)e 6udi&ial audit team &reated $% t)e OC! reported alle*ed irre*ularities in t)esolemniation of marria*es in several $ran&)es of t)e 'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities 9'TCC; and Re*ional

Trial Court 9RTC; in Ce$u Cit%.1 Certain pa&Ga*e fees 0ere oFered to interested parties $% 58ers5 or5fa&ilitators5 for instant marria*es.=

TDE :!CTS

On 1 +ul% 3//uire a$out t)e marria*e appli&ation pro&ess. Inside Bran&) =, a0oman named Delen approa&)ed and assisted t)e female la0%er. )en t)e female la0%er asGed if t)emarria*e pro&ess &ould $e rus)ed, Delen assured t)e la0%er t)at t)e marria*e &ould $e solemnied t)ene8t da%, $ut t)e marria*e &erti&ate 0ould onl% $e dated t)e da% t)e marria*e li&ense $e&omes

availa$le. Delen also *uaranteed t)e re*ularit% of t)e pro&ess for a fee of t)ree t)ousand pesos 9-1,///;onl%.

In its #/ +ul% 3//< Resolution, t)is Court treated t)e 'emorandum dated +ul% 3//< of t)e 6udi&ial auditteam as a formal administrative &omplaint and dire&ted +ud*e !natalio S. Ne&essario, +ud*e (il R. !&osta,

+ud*e Rosa$ella '. Tormis, and +ud*e Ed*emelo C. Rosales to su$mit t)eir respe&tive &omments.


12/61

3; Coraon -. Retu%a referred &ouples 0)o 0anted to *et married to +ud*e Ne&essario. T)ere 0ere also5assistants5 0)o 0ould *o over t)e &ouples7 do&uments $efore t)ese &ouples 0ould $e referred to +ud*eNe&essario. Retu%a also narrated several anomalies involvin* forei*n nationals and t)eir a&>uisition ofmarria*e li&enses from t)e lo&al &ivil re*istrar of Barili, Ce$u despite t)e fa&t t)at parties 0ere notresidents of Barili. T)ose anomalous marria*es 0ere solemnied $% +ud*e Tormis?3/

1; R)ona :. Rodri*ue assisted &ouples and referred t)em to an% of t)e availa$le 6ud*es. S)e admitted t)atafter t)e pa%ment of t)e solemniation fee of t)ree )undred pesos 9-1//;, a diFerent amount, as a*reedupon $% t)e parties and t)e 6ud*e, 0as paid to t)e latter.3# S)e admitted t)at s)e a&&epted four t)ousand

pesos 9-=,///; for fa&ilitatin* t)e irre*ular marria*e of 'oreil Baran**an Se$ial and 'ari&el !l$ateralt)ou*) s)e *ave t)e pa%ment to a &ertain 5'an* Bo%5?33

=; Emma . Valen&ia admitted t)at s)e assisted &ouples seeGin* to *et married and t)at most of t)emarria*e li&enses 0ere o$tained from t)e lo&al &ivil re*istrar of Barili and Liloan, Ce$u $e&ause t)ere*istrars in t)ose to0ns 0ere not stri&t a$out &ouples7 attendan&e in t)e famil% plannin* seminar. S)ealso admitted t)at &ouples *ave )er food 0)ile t)e 6ud*e re&eived ve )undred pesos 9-2//; if t)emarria*e 0as solemnied inside t)e &)am$ers. :orei*ners 0ere said to )ave *iven t0i&e t)e said amount.

T)e 6ud*e a&&epted one t)ousand ve )undred pesos 9-#,2//; for *asoline e8penses if t)e marria*e 0as&ele$rated outside t)e &)am$ers?31

2; 'arilou Ca$aQe admitted t)at s)e assisted &ouples and referred t)em to +ud*es Tormis, Ne&essario, orRosales. Do0ever, s)e denied re&eivin* an% amount from t)ese &ouples. S)e told t)e audit team t)at

durin* t)e @t), #@t), and 3@t) of t)e mont), seven 9ui Lou Ba*uio'anera 0as a resident of -ana*dait, 'a$olo, Ce$u and on 3# 'a% 3//


13/61

respe&tivel%, of Ce$u Cit%, to &omment on t)e ndin*s of t)e #= !u*ust 3//< Supplemental Report of t)eOC!, 0it)in fteen 9#2; da%s from noti&e? $; dire&tin* t)e -ro&ess Servi&in* Unit to furnis) t)e 6ud*es 0it)a &op% of t)e Supplemental Report? &; re>uirin* t)e &ourt personnel listed $elo0 to s)o0 &ause 0it)infteen 9#2; da%s from noti&e 0)% no dis&iplinar% a&tion s)ould $e taGen a*ainst t)em for t)eir alle*ed*rave mis&ondu&t and dis)onest% and impleadin* t)em in t)is administrative matterA

#; Celeste -. Retu%a, ClerG III, 'TCC, Bran&) , Ce$u Cit%?

3; Coraon -. Retu%a, Court Steno*rap)er, 'TCC, Bran&) , Ce$u Cit%?

1; R)ona :. Rodri*ue, !dministrative O"&er I, O"&e of t)e ClerG of Court, RTC, Ce$u Cit%?

=; Emma . Valen&ia, Court Steno*rap)er III, RTC, Bran&) #@, Ce$u Cit%?

2; 'arilou Ca$aQe, Court Steno*rap)er, 'TCC, Bran&) =, Ce$u Cit%?

; esiderio S. !ranas, -ro&ess Server, 'TCC, Bran&) 1, Ce$u Cit%?

uestions and &laries 0)et)er t)e% understood t)e &ontents of t)e a"davit and t)e le*al &onse>uen&esof its e8e&ution.=# T)e 6ud*e also denies Gno0led*e of t)e pa%ment of solemniation fees in $at&)es.=3 Inaddition, )e ar*ues t)at it 0as a pro&ess server 0)o 0as in&)ar*e of re&ordin* marria*es on t)e lo*$ooG,Geepin* t)e marria*e &erti&ates, and reportin* t)e total num$er of marria*es mont)l%.=1

+ud*e (il R. !&osta ar*ues t)at t)e la0 onl% re>uires a marria*e li&ense and t)at )e is not re>uired to

in>uire 0)et)er t)e li&ense 0as o$tained from a lo&ation 0)ere one of t)e parties is an a&tualresident.== T)e 6ud*e $elieves t)at it is not )is dut% to verif% t)e si*nature on t)e marria*e li&ense todetermine its aut)enti&it% $e&ause )e relies on t)e presumption of re*ularit% of pu$li& do&uments. =2 T)e

6ud*e also outlines )is o0n pro&edure in solemniin* marria*es 0)i&) involvesA rst, t)e determination0)et)er t)e solemniation fee 0as paid? se&ond, t)e presentation of t)e a"davit of &o)a$itation and $irt)&erti&ates to as&ertain identit% and a*e of t)e parties? t)ird, if one of t)e parties is a forei*ner, t)e 6ud*easGs for a &erti&ate of le*al &apa&it% to marr%, passport pi&ture, date of arrival, and divor&e papers 0)ent)e part% is divor&ed? fourt), )e t)en asGs t)e parties and t)eir 0itnesses >uestions re*ardin* &o)a$itationand intervie0s t)e &)ildren of t)e parties, if an%.=

+ud*e Rosa$ella '. Tormis denies t)e &)ar*es $rou*)t $% t)e OC!. S)e &alls t)e a&tions of t)e 6udi&ial auditteam durin* t)e investi*ation an 5entrapment5.=


14/61

$elieves t)ere is not)in* 0ron* 0it) t)e fa&t t)at t)ese are pro forma. De states t)at marria*e &erti&atesare re>uired 0it) t)e marria*e li&ense atta&)ed or t)e a"davit of &o)a$itation onl% and t)e ot)erdo&uments fall under t)e responsi$ilit% of t)e lo&al &ivil re*istrar. De surmises t)at if t)e marria*e&erti&ate did not &ome 0it) t)e marria*e li&ense or a"davit of &o)a$itation, t)e missin* do&ument mi*)t)ave $een inadvertentl% deta&)ed, and it &an $e &)e&Ged 0it) t)e proper lo&al &ivil re*istrar. !s to t)epa%ment of t)e do&Get fee, )e &ontends t)at it s)ould $e paid after t)e solemniation of t)e marria*e andnot $efore $e&ause 6ud*es 0ill $e preempted from as&ertainin* t)e >uali&ations of t)e &ouple. Besides,t)e tasG of &olle&tin* t)e fee $elon*s to t)e ClerG of Court.2uired &erti&ate from )is em$ass%. De is also *uilt%of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 for solemniin* marria*es under !rti&le 1= of t)e :amil% Code 0)erein one or$ot) of t)e &ontra&tin* parties 0ere minors durin* t)e &o)a$itation.

8 8 8

+U(E (IL R. !COST! is *uilt% of *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% for failure to maGe sure t)at t)esolemniation fee )as $een paid. De is also *uilt% of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 for solemniin* marria*esunder !rti&le 1= of t)e :amil% Code 0)erein one or $ot) of t)e &ontra&tin* parties 0ere minors durin* t)e&o)a$itation.

+U(E E(E'ELO C. ROS!LES is *uilt% of *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% for solemniin* marria*es0it) >uestiona$le do&uments, for failure to maGe sure t)at t)e solemniation fee )as $een paid and forsolemniin* marria*es 0)erein one of t)e &ontra&tin* parties is a forei*ner 0)o su$mitted a mere a"davitof )is &apa&it% to marr% in lieu of t)e re>uired &erti&ate from )is em$ass%. De is also *uilt% of *rossi*noran&e of t)e la0 for solemniin* a marria*e 0it)out t)e re>uisite marria*e li&ense.

+U(E ROSEBELL! '. TOR'IS is *uilt% of *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% for solemniin* marria*es0it) >uestiona$le do&uments, for failure to maGe sure t)at t)e solemniation fee )as $een paid, for

solemniin* marria*es 0)erein one of t)e &ontra&tin* parties is a forei*ner 0)o su$mitted a mere a"davitof )is &apa&it% to marr% in lieu of t)e re>uired &erti&ate from t)e em$ass% and for solemniin* a marria*e0it) an e8pired li&ense.

8 8 8

DELEN 'ON((!M! is *uilt% of *rave mis&ondu&t for violatin* Se&tion 3, Canon I of t)e Code of Condu&t forCourt -ersonnel t)at pro)i$its &ourt personnel from soli&itin* or a&&eptin* an% *ift, favor or $enet $asedon an% or e8pli&it or impli&it understandin* t)at su&) *ift, favor or $enet s)all inuen&e t)eir o"&iala&tions and for *ivin* false information for t)e purpose of perpetratin* an irre*ular marria*e.

RDON! RORI(UEJ is *uilt% of *ross mis&ondu&t for violatin* Se&tion 3, Canon I of t)e Code of Condu&t forCourt -ersonnel and for indu&in* 'ari&el !l$ater to falsif% t)e appli&ation for marria*e li&ense $%instru&tin* )er to indi&ate )er residen&e as Barili, Ce$u.

ESIERIO !R!N!S and REBECC! !LESN! are *uilt% of &ondu&t pre6udi&ial to t)e $est interest of t)eservi&e for providin* &ouples 0)o are to $e married under !rti&le 1= of t)e :amil% Code 0it) t)e re>uireda"davit of &o)a$itation.

CELESTE RETUM!, E''! V!LENCI! and REBECC! !LESN! are *uilt% of violatin* Se&tion 39$;, Canon III oft)e Code of Condu&t for Court -ersonnel 0)i&) pro)i$its &ourt personnel from re&eivin* tips or ot)erremuneration for assistin* or attendin* to parties en*a*ed in transa&tions or involved in a&tions orpro&eedin*s 0it) t)e +udi&iar%.=

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T)e OC!, )o0ever, re&ommended t)e IS'ISS!L of t)e &omplaints a*ainst +ud*e (eraldine :ait) !. E&on*,Coraon -. Retu%a, and 'arilou Ca$aQe, for la&G of merit.

TDE ISSUE

T)e issue no0 $efore t)is Court is 0)et)er t)e 6ud*es and personnel of t)e 'TCC and RTC in Ce$u Cit% are*uilt% of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0, *ross ne*le&t of dut% or *ross ine"&ien&% and *ross mis&ondu&t, andin turn, 0arrant t)e most severe penalt% of dismissal from servi&e.

TDE COURT7S RULIN(

T)e ndin*s in t)e 3/#/ 'emorandum of t)e O"&e of t)e Court !dministrator are supported $% t)eeviden&e on re&ord and appli&a$le la0 and 6urispruden&e.

T)is Court )as lon* )eld t)at &ourt o"&ials and emplo%ees are pla&ed 0it) a )eav% $urden andresponsi$ilit% of Geepin* t)e fait) of t)e pu$li&.2 In O$aQana, +r. v. Ri&afort, 0e said t)atA

!n% impression of impropriet%, misdeed or ne*li*en&e in t)e performan&e of o"&ial fun&tions must $eavoided. T)is Court s)all not &ountenan&e an% &ondu&t, a&t or omission on t)e part of all t)ose involved int)e administration of 6usti&e 0)i&) 0ould violate t)e norm of pu$li& a&&ounta$ilit% and diminis) t)e fait) of t)e people in t)e +udi&iar%.

T)e OC! des&ri$ed a&&uratel% t)e -ala&e of +usti&e in Ce$u Cit% as a )u$ of s0ift marria*es. T)erespondent 6ud*es and &ourt personnel disre*arded la0s and pro&edure to t)e pre6udi&e of t)e parties andt)e proper administration of 6usti&e.

T)e OC! found t)at +ud*es !natalio S. Ne&essario, (il R. !&osta, Rosa$ella '. Tormis, and Ed*emelo C.Rosales are all *uilt% of *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% 0)en t)e% solemnied marria*es 0it)outfollo0in* t)e proper pro&edure laid do0n $% la0, parti&ularl% t)e :amil% Code of t)e -)ilippines ande8istin* 6urispruden&e. T)e OC! listed do0n aspe&ts of t)e solemniation pro&ess 0)i&) 0ere disre*arded$% t)e 6ud*es. T)e Court 0ill no0 dis&uss t)e individual lia$ilities of t)e respondent 6ud*es and &ourtpersonnel visXvis t)e eviden&e presented $% t)e OC! a*ainst t)em.

Lia$ilit% of +ud*e !natalio S. Ne&essario

T)e OC! reported t)at +ud*e Ne&essario solemnied a total of one t)ousand one )undred t0ent%t)ree9#,#31; marria*es from 3//2 to 3//


16/61

T)ere 0ere fort%one 9=#; marria*e &erti&ates si*ned $% +ud*e Tormis or +ud*e Ne&essario as solemniin*o"&ers found in )is &ustod%.@3 T)ere 0ere also ten 9#/; marria*es under !rti&le 1= of t)e :amil% Code0)ere one or $ot) of t)e &ontra&tin* parties 0ere minors durin* &o)a$itation.@1 To illustrate, respondent

6ud*e solemnied on = 'a% 3//= t)e marria*e of +ulieto . Ba*a, 33 %ears old, and Esterlita -. !nlan*it, #@%ears old.@=

T)ere 0ere seventeen 9#uired&erti&ate of le*al &apa&it% to marr%.@ Lastl%, t)ere 0as no proof of pa%ment of t)e solemniation fee in

almost all of t)e marria*es t)e 6ud*e o"&iated.@<

Lia$ilit% of +ud*e Rosa$ella '. Tormis

+ud*e Tormis solemnied a total of one )undred ei*)t%one 9#@#; marria*es from 3//1 to 3//< $ased ont)e marria*e &erti&ates a&tuall% e8amined.@@ Do0ever, t)e mont)l% report of &ases s)o0ed t)at s)esolemnied t)ree )undred ve 91/2; marria*es instead for t)e %ears 3//= to 3//uired do&uments parti&ularl% t)e marria*e li&ense.41 T)e 6udi&ial audit team found numerous erasuresand superimpositions on entries 0it) re*ard to t)e parties7 pla&e of residen&e.4=

In one instan&e, t)e 6ud*e solemnied t)e marria*e of Re8 Rand% E. Cu6ardo and !nselma B. Laranio on 3@e&em$er 3// despite t)e marria*e li&ense &ontainin* a ru$$erstamp marG sa%in*, 5TDIS LICENSEEZ-IRES ON5 and a )and0ritten note sa%in* 5#33@/5 under it.42

T)e 6ud*e solemnied a total of fort%seven 9=uirements7 aut)enti&it% 0as dou$tful due to t)e &ir&umstan&es of t)e &o)a$itation of t)eparties and t)e *iven address of t)e parties.4 T)ese irre*ularities 0ere evident in t)e &ase of 33%earold

+o)n Re% R. Ti$alan and !na Lia Se&u%a 0)o 0ere married on 32 'a% 3//


17/61

:irst, +ud*es Ne&essario, Tormis and Rosales solemnied marria*es even if t)e re>uirements su$mitted $%t)e &ouples 0ere in&omplete and of >uestiona$le &)ara&ter. 'ost of t)ese do&uments s)o0ed visi$le si*nsof tamperin*, erasures, &orre&tions or superimpositions of entries related to t)e parties7 pla&e ofresiden&e.### T)ese in&luded indistin*uis)a$le features su&) as t)e font, font sie, and inG of t)e &omputerprinted entries in t)e marria*e &erti&ate and marria*e li&ense.##3 T)ese a&tions of t)e respondent 6ud*es&onstitute *ross ine"&ien&%. In Ve*a v. !sdala,##1t)e Court )eld t)at ine"&ien&% implies ne*li*en&e,in&ompeten&e, i*noran&e, and &arelessness.

Se&ond, t)e 6ud*es 0ere also found *uilt% of ne*le&t of dut% re*ardin* t)e pa%ment of solemniation fees.

T)e Court, in Rodri*oE$ron v. !dolfo,##=

dened ne*le&t of dut% as t)e failure to *ive one7s attention to atasG e8pe&ted of )im and it is *ross 0)en, from t)e *ravit% of t)e oFense or t)e fre>uen&% of instan&es,t)e oFense is so serious in its &)ara&ter as to endan*er or t)reaten pu$li& 0elfare. T)e marria*edo&uments e8amined $% t)e audit team s)o0 t)at &orrespondin* o"&ial re&eipts for t)e solemniation fee0ere missin*##2 or pa%ment $% $at&)es 0as made for marria*es performed on diFerent dates. ## T)e OC!emp)asies t)at t)e pa%ment of t)e solemniation fee starts oF t)e 0)ole marria*e appli&ation pro&essand even puts a 5stamp of re*ularit%5 on t)e pro&ess.

T)ird, +ud*es Ne&essario, Tormis, and Rosales also solemnied marria*es 0)ere a &ontra&tin* part% is aforei*ner 0)o did not su$mit a &erti&ate of le*al &apa&it% to marr% from )is or )er em$ass%. )at t)eforei*ners su$mitted 0ere mere a"davits statin* t)eir &apa&it% to marr%. T)e irre*ularit% in t)e &erti&atesof le*al &apa&it% t)at are re>uired under !rti&le 3# of t)e :amil% Code ##uired for t)e marria*e

li&ense issuan&e. !n% irre*ularities 0ould )ave $een prevented in t)e >uali&ations of parties to &ontra&tmarria*e.##@

:ourt), +ud*es Ne&essario, !&osta, and Tormis are liGe0ise *uilt% of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 under !rti&le1= of t)e :amil% Code##4 0it) respe&t to t)e marria*es t)e% solemnied 0)ere le*al impediments e8isteddurin* &o)a$itation su&) as t)e minorit% status of one part%.#3/ T)e audit team &ites in t)eir SupplementalReport t)at t)ere 0ere parties 0)ose a*es ran*ed from ei*)teen 9#@; to t0ent%t0o 933; %ears old 0)o0ere married $% mere su$mission of a pro forma 6oint a"davit of &o)a$itation. #3# T)ese a"davits 0erenotaried $% t)e solemniin* 6ud*e )imself or )erself.#33

:inall%, positive testimonies 0ere also *iven re*ardin* t)e solemniation of marria*es of some &ouples0)ere no marria*e li&ense 0as previousl% issued. T)e &ontra&tin* parties 0ere made to ll up t)eappli&ation for a li&ense on t)e same da% t)e marria*e 0as solemnied. #31

T)e Court does not a&&ept t)e ar*uments of t)e respondent 6ud*es t)at t)e as&ertainment of t)e validit%of t)e marria*e li&ense is $e%ond t)e s&ope of t)e dut% of a solemniin* o"&er espe&iall% 0)en t)ere are*larin* pie&es of eviden&e t)at point to t)e &ontrar%. !s &orre&tl% o$served $% t)e OC!, t)e presumption of re*ularit% a&&orded to a marria*e li&ense disappears t)e moment t)e marria*e do&uments do not appearre*ular on its fa&e.

In -eople v. +ansen,#3= t)is Court )eld t)atA

t)e solemniin* o"&er is not dut%$ound to investi*ate 0)et)er or not a marria*e li&ense )as $een dul%and re*ularl% issued $% t)e lo&al &ivil re*istrar. !ll t)e solemniin* o"&er needs to Gno0 is t)at t)e li&ense)as $een issued $% t)e &ompetent o"&ial, and it ma% $e presumed from t)e issuan&e of t)e li&ense t)at

said o"&ial )as fullled t)e dut% to as&ertain 0)et)er t)e &ontra&tin* parties )ad fullled t)e re>uirementsof la0.

Do0ever, t)is Court also said in Sevilla v. Cardenas,#32 t)at 5t)e presumption of re*ularit% of o"&ial a&tsma% $e re$utted $% a"rmative eviden&e of irre*ularit% or failure to perform a dut%.5 T)e visi$lesuperimpositions on t)e marria*e li&enses s)ould )ave alerted t)e solemniin* 6ud*es to t)e irre*ularit% of t)e issuan&e.

It follo0s also t)at alt)ou*) !rti&le 3# of t)e :amil% Code re>uires t)e su$mission of t)e &erti&ate fromt)e em$ass% of t)e forei*n part% to t)e lo&al re*istrar for a&>uirin* a marria*e li&ense, t)e 6ud*es s)ould)ave $een more dili*ent in revie0in* t)e parties7 do&uments and >uali&ations. !s noted $% t)e OC!, t)ea$sen&e of t)e re>uired &erti&ates &oupled 0it) t)e presen&e of mere a"davits s)ould )ave arousedsuspi&ion as to t)e re*ularit% of t)e marria*e li&ense issuan&e.

T)e 6ud*es7 *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 is also evident 0)en t)e% solemnied marria*es under !rti&le 1= oft)e :amil% Code 0it)out t)e re>uired >uali&ations and 0it) t)e e8isten&e of le*al impediments su&) asminorit% of a part%. 'arria*es of e8&eptional &)ara&ter su&) as t)ose made under !rti&le 1= are, dou$tless,t)e e8&eptions to t)e rule on t)e indispensa$ilit% of t)e formal re>uisite of a marria*e li&ense. #3 Under t)erules of statutor% &onstru&tion, e8&eptions as a *eneral rule s)ould $e stri&tl% $ut reasona$l%&onstrued.#3


18/61

To ela$orate furt)er on t)e *ravit% of t)e a&ts and omissions of t)e respondents, t)e :amil% Code providest)e re>uisites for a valid marria*eA

!rt. 1. T)e formal re>uisites of marria*e areA

9#; !ut)orit% of t)e solemniin* o"&er?

93; ! valid marria*e li&ense e8&ept in t)e &ases provided for in C)apter 3 of t)is Title? and

91; ! marria*e &eremon% 0)i&) taGes pla&e 0it) t)e appearan&e of t)e &ontra&tin* parties $efore t)esolemniin* o"&er and t)eir personal de&laration t)at t)e% taGe ea&) ot)er as )us$and and 0ife in t)epresen&e of not less t)an t0o 0itnesses of le*al a*e. 921a, 22a;

!rt. =. T)e a$sen&e of an% of t)e essential or formal re>uisites s)all render t)e marria*e void a$ initio,e8&ept as stated in !rti&le 12 93;. ! defe&t in an% of t)e essential re>uisites s)all not aFe&t t)e validit% oft)e marria*e $ut t)e part% or parties responsi$le for t)e irre*ularit% s)all $e &ivill%, &riminall% andadministrativel% lia$le. 9n;

T)e a$sen&e of a marria*e li&ense 0ill &learl% render a marria*e void a$ initio.#1/ T)e a&tions of t)e 6ud*es)ave raised a ver% alarmin* issue re*ardin* t)e validit% of t)e marria*es t)e% solemnied sin&e t)e% didnot follo0 t)e proper pro&edure or &)e&G t)e re>uired do&uments and >uali&ations. In !ranes v. +ud*e

Salvador O&&iano,

#1#

t)e Court said t)at a marria*e solemnied 0it)out a marria*e li&ense is void and t)esu$se>uent issuan&e of t)e li&ense &annot render valid or add even an iota of validit% to t)e marria*e. It ist)e marria*e li&ense t)at *ives t)e solemniin* o"&er t)e aut)orit% to solemnie a marria*e and t)e a&t of solemniin* t)e marria*e 0it)out a li&ense &onstitutes *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0.

!s )eld $% t)is Court in Navarro v. oma*to%A

T)e 6udi&iar% s)ould $e &omposed of persons 0)o, if not e8perts are at least pro&ient in t)e la0 t)e% ares0orn to appl%, more t)an t)e ordinar% la%man. T)e% s)ould $e sGilled and &ompetent in understandin*and appl%in* t)e la0. It is imperative t)at t)e% $e &onversant 0it) $asi& le*al prin&iples liGe t)e onesinvolved in t)e instant &ase. It is not too mu&) to e8pe&t t)em to Gno0 and appl% t)e la0 intelli*entl%. #13

It is important to note t)at t)e audit team found out t)at +ud*e Rosa$ella '. Tormis ordered Celerina -laa,

a personal emplo%ee of t)e 6ud*e, to 0ait for &ouples outside t)e Dall of +usti&e and oFerservi&es.#11 Crisanto ela Cerna also stated in )is a"davit t)at +ud*e Tormis instru&ted )im to *et allmarria*e &erti&ates and $rin* t)em to )er )ouse 0)en s)e found out a$out t)e 6udi&ial audit.#1= In t)elan*ua*e of t)e OC!, +ud*e Tormis &onsidered t)e solemniation of marria*es not as a dut% $ut as a$usiness.#12 T)e respondent 6ud*e 0as suspended for si8 9; mont)s in !.'. No. 'T+/


19/61

'on*a%a7s &laim t)at s)e 0as merel% relatin* to t)e lad% la0%er 0)at s)e Gne0 from ot)er o"&es as t)eusual pra&ti&e#=1 is ine8&usa$le. !s found $% t)e OC! in its 'emorandum, 5'on**a%a deli$eratel% *avefalse information for t)e purpose of perpetratin* an ille*al s&)eme. T)is, in itself, &onstitutes *ravemis&ondu&t.5#== Se&. 23, Rule IV of t)e Uniform Rules on

!dministrative Cases in t)e Civil Servi&e denes *rave mis&ondu&t as 5a *rave oFense t)at &arries t)ee8treme penalt% of dismissal from t)e servi&e even on a rst oFense.

In Villa&eran v. Rosete, t)is Court )eld t)atA

Court personnel, from t)e lo0liest emplo%ee, are involved in t)e dispensation of 6usti&e? parties seeGin*redress from t)e &ourts for *rievan&es looG upon &ourt personnel, irrespe&tive of ranG or position, as part of t)e +udi&iar%. In performin* t)eir duties and responsi$ilities, t)ese &ourt personnel serve as sentinels of

6usti&e and an% a&t of impropriet% on t)eir part immeasura$l% aFe&ts t)e )onor and di*nit% of t)e +udi&iar%and t)e people7s trust and &onden&e in t)is institution. T)erefore, t)e% are e8pe&ted to a&t and $e)ave ina manner t)at s)ould up)old t)e )onor and di*nit% of t)e +udi&iar%, if onl% to maintain t)e peopleHs&onden&e in t)e +udi&iar%.#=2

'on*a%a a&ted improperl% and in a manner opposite of 0)at is e8pe&ted of &ourt personnel. Der a&tionspla&ed dou$ts on t)e inte*rit% of t)e &ourts.

R)ona Rodri*ue, !dministrative O"&er I of t)e O"&e of t)e ClerG of Court of t)e 'TCC, Ce$u Cit%, is*uilt% of *ross mis&ondu&t. S)e assisted t)e &ouple, 'oreil Se$ial and 'ari&el !l$ater, and demanded anda&&epted -=,/// from t)em.#= T)e a&t 0as a violation of Se&tion 3, Canon I of t)e Code of Condu&t forCourt -ersonnel. !s found $% t)e OC! and adopted $% t)is Court, Rodri*ue indu&ed !l$ater to falsif% t)eappli&ation for marria*e li&ense $% instru&tin* )er to indi&ate )er residen&e as Barili, Ce$u.#=


20/61

T)e Court a&&epts t)e re&ommendation of t)e OC! as to t)e dismissal of t)e &ase a*ainst +ud*e (eraldine:ait) !. E&on*. T)e 6ud*e 0as onl% impli&ated t)rou*) t)e statement of -ro&ess Server !ntonio :loresa$out an 5alle*ed sinGin* fund5. No eviden&e 0as presented as to t)e &olle&tion of an e8&ess of t)esolemniation fee. Neit)er 0as it proven t)at +ud*e E&on* or )er staF )ad Gno0led*e of su&) fund.

DERE:ORE, t)e Court nds respondentsA

#. +ud*e !natalio S. Ne&essario, -residin* +ud*e, 'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities, Bran&) 3, Ce$u Cit%, (UILTMof *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% and of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 and t)at )e $e IS'ISSE :RO'

TDE SERVICE 0it) forfeiture of )is retirement $enets, e8&ept leave &redits, if an%, and t)at )e $edis>ualied from reinstatement or appointment to an% pu$li& o"&e, in&ludin* *overnmento0ned or&ontrolled &orporation?

3. +ud*e (il R. !&osta, -residin* +ud*e, 'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities, Bran&) 1, Ce$u Cit%, (UILTM of *rossine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% and of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 and t)at )e $e IS'ISSE :RO' TDESERVICE 0it) forfeiture of )is retirement $enets, e8&ept leave &redits, if an%, and t)at )e $e dis>ualiedfrom reinstatement or appointment to an% pu$li& o"&e, in&ludin* *overnmento0ned or &ontrolled&orporation?

1. +ud*e Rosa$ella '. Tormis, -residin* +ud*e, 'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities, Bran&) =, Ce$u Cit%, (UILTM of *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% and of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 and t)at s)e 0ould )ave $eenIS'ISSE :RO' TDE SERVICE 0it) forfeiture of )er retirement $enets, e8&ept leave &redits, if an%, and

dis>ualied from reinstatement or appointment to an% pu$li& o"&e, in&ludin* *overnmento0ned or&ontrolled &orporation, )ad s)e not $een previousl% dismissed from servi&e in !.'. No. 'T+#3#@#<9:ormerl% !.'. No. /431/'TCC;?

=. +ud*e Ed*emelo C. Rosales, -residin* +ud*e, 'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities, Bran&) @, Ce$u Cit%, (UILTMof *ross ine"&ien&% or ne*le&t of dut% and of *ross i*noran&e of t)e la0 and t)at )e $e IS'ISSE :RO'

TDE SERVICE 0it) forfeiture of )is retirement $enets, e8&ept leave &redits, if an%, and t)at )e $edis>ualied from reinstatement or appointment to an% pu$li& o"&e, in&ludin* *overnmento0ned or&ontrolled &orporation?

2. Delen 'on*a%a, Court Interpreter, 'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities, Bran&) =, Ce$u Cit%, (UILTM of violatin*Se&tion 3, Canon I of t)e Code of Condu&t for Court -ersonnel and t)at s)e $e IS'ISSE :RO' TDESERVICE 0it) forfeiture of )er retirement $enets, e8&ept leave &redits, if an%, and t)at s)e $e dis>ualiedfrom reinstatement or appointment to an% pu$li& o"&e, in&ludin* *overnmento0ned or &ontrolled&orporation?

. R)ona :. Rodri*ue, !dministrative O"&er I, O"&e of t)e ClerG of Court, Re*ional Trial Court, Ce$u Cit%,(UILTM of *ross mis&ondu&t for Se&tion 3, Canon I of t)e Code of Condu&t for Court -ersonnel and forindu&in* 'ari&el !l$ater to falsif% t)e appli&ation for marria*e and t)at s)e $e IS'ISSE :RO' TDESERVICE 0it) forfeiture of )er retirement $enets, e8&ept leave &redits, if an%, and t)at s)e $e dis>ualiedfrom reinstatement or appointment to an% pu$li& o"&e, in&ludin* *overnmento0ned or &ontrolled&orporation?


21/61

re*ardin* t)e pro&essin* of marria*e li&enses and to taGe t)e ne&essar% a&tion as t)e ndin*s of t)einvesti*ation ma% 0arrant.

Let a &op% of t)is e&ision $e in&luded in t)e respondents7 les t)at are 0it) t)e O"&e of t)e BarCondant and distri$uted to all &ourts and to t)e Inte*rated Bar of t)e -)ilippines.

SO ORERE.


22/61

A.M. No. MTJ-11-1801 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 11-2@38 MTJ! Ferury 27, 2013

ANONMO&+, Complainant,vs.

J&%$' "IO C. AC*A+, Mun//l Tr/l Cour /n C//e, )rn 2, OGm/G C/y, M/m/O/6enl,Respondent.

R E S O L U T I O N

M'N%OA, J.:

Before t)e Court is an anon%mous letter&omplaint,# dated !u*ust 3, 3/#/, alle*in* immoralit% and

&ondu&t un$e&omin* of a 6ud*e a*ainst respondent +ud*e Rio C. !&)as (Judge Achas), -residin* +ud*e,

'uni&ipal Trial Court in Cities, Bran&) 3, Oami Cit%, 'isamis O&&idental.

Te leer ll on e Cour o looH /no e morl/y o reon6en Ju6e A n6 llee> (1! / / o ul/ Hno:le6e /n e /y Ju6e A / l//n n6louly :/ :omn :o / no / :/e (2! e l/e eyon6 / men (3! e / /nole6 :/ /llel///e rou / onne/on :/ 6 elemen, e kuratongs; ( @! e ome o ourery un/6y n6 6/ry (5! e 6e/6e / e un/rly /n eEne or mer/l n6 moneryon/6er/on n6 (! e / /nole6 :/ oH;/nml/n.

In t)e Indorsement,3 dated Septem$er 1/, 3/#/, t)e O"&e of t)e Court !dministrator (OCA) referred t)e

matter to E8e&utive +ud*e 'iriam Or>uiea!n*ot (Judge Angot) for is&reet Investi*ation and Report.

In )er Report,1 dated Novem$er 3, 3/#/, +ud*e !n*ot found t)at +ud*e !&)as )ad $een separated from

)is le*al 0ife for >uite some time and t)e% are livin* apart? and t)at )e found for )imself a %oun* 0oman

0it) 0)om )e 0ould o&&asionall% *o out 0it) in pu$li& and it 0as not a se&ret around to0n. !nent t)e

alle*ations t)at +ud*e !&)as 0as livin* $e%ond )is means and 0as involved in ille*al a&tivities, +ud*e

!n*ot reported t)at s)e &ould not $e &ertain 0)et)er su&) 0ere true, and onl% as&ertained t)at )e )ad

esta$lis)ed friends)ips or allian&es 0it) people of diFerent so&ial standin*s from around t)e &it%. +ud*e

!n*ot opined t)at t)e alle*ation t)at +ud*e !&)as 0ould &ome to &ourt untid% and dirt% 0as a matter ofpersonal )%*iene and in t)e e%e of t)e $e)older. Lastl%, s)e found t)e &)ar*e t)at +ud*e !&)as de&ided

&ases unfairl% in e8&)an*e for &onsideration to $e va*ue and unsu$stantiated.

In )is Comment,= dated :e$ruar% =, 3/##, +ud*e !&)as denied all t)e alle*ations a*ainst )im and &laimed

t)at t)e% 0ere )at&)ed to )arass )im, pointin* to dis*runtled professionals, supporters and lo&al

&andidates 0)o lost durin* t)e 'a% 3/#/ ele&tions. De asserted t)at after 3@ %ears in t)e *overnment

servi&e, )e )ad remained lo%al to )is 0orG and &ondu&ted )imself in a ri*)teous manner.

In t)e Resolution, dated e&em$er #=, 3/##, t)e Court resolved to redo&Get t)e &ase as a re*ular

administrative matter and to refer t)e same to t)e E8e&utive +ud*e of t)e Re*ional Trial Court of Oami

Cit% for investi*ation, report and re&ommendation.

In )er Report,2 dated !pril =, 3/#3, E8e&utive +ud*e Salome -. un*o* (Judge Dungog) stated t)at an

investi*ation 0as &ondu&ted. +ud*e !&)as and )is t0o 0itnesses testied in )is defense, namel%, )is

Bran&) ClerG of Court, Renato Japatos? and )is -ro&ess Server, 'i&)ael el Rosario. T)e anon%mous

&omplainant never appeared to testif%. urin* t)e investi*ation, +ud*e !&)as a*ain denied all t)e &)ar*es

$ut admitted t)at )e 0as married and onl% separated de facto from )is le*al 0ife for 3 %ears, and t)at )e

reared *ame &o&Gs for leisure and e8tra in&ome, )avin* in)erited su&) from )is forefat)ers. +ud*e un*o*

found t)at 5it is not &ommenda$le, proper or moral per Canons of +udi&ial Et)i&s to $e per&eived as *oin*

out 0it) a 0oman not )is 0ife,5 and for )im to $e involved in rearin* *ame &o&Gs.

In its 'emorandum, dated e&em$er #


23/61

roee6/n :/ uully re :/ e oml/nn, mu e uree6 y /n6u/leul/ reor6 n6 y : / u/enly roen 6ur/n e /ne//on. I e ur6en oroo / no oerome, e reon6en / un6er no ol//on o roe / 6eene.<

In t)e present &ase, no eviden&e 0as atta&)ed to t)e letter&omplaint. T)e &omplainant never appeared,

and no pu$li& re&ords 0ere $rou*)t fort) durin* t)e investi*ation. Respondent +ud*e !&)as denied all t)e

&)ar*es made a*ainst )im, onl% admittin* t)at )e 0as separated de facto from )is 0ife and t)at )e reared

*)tin* &o&Gs.

T)e &)ar*es t)at )e 9#; lives $e%ond )is means, 93; is involved 0it) ille*al a&tivities t)rou*) )is &onne&tion

0it) t)ekuratongs, 91; &omes to &ourt ver% untid% and dirt%, and 9=; de&ides )is &ases unfairl% in e8&)an*e

for material and monetar% &onsideration 0ere, t)erefore, properl% re&ommended dismissed $% t)e OC! for

la&G of eviden&e.

T)e &)ar*es t)at 9#; it is of pu$li& Gno0led*e t)at )e is livin* s&andalousl% 0it) a 0oman not )is 0ife and

t)at 93; )e is involved 0it) &o&G*)tin**am$lin* are, )o0ever, anot)er matter.

T)e Ne0 Code of +udi&ial Condu&t for t)e -)ilippine +udi&iar% pertinentl% providesA

C!NON 3

INTE(RITM

Inte*rit% is essential not onl% to t)e proper dis&)ar*e of t)e 6udi&ial o"&e $ut also to t)e personal

demeanor of 6ud*es.

SEC. #. +ud*es s)all ensure t)at not onl% is t)eir &ondu&t a$ove reproa&), $ut t)at it is per&eived to $e so

in t)e vie0 of a reasona$le o$server.

SEC. 3. T)e $e)avior and &ondu&t of 6ud*es must rea"rm t)e people7s fait) in t)e inte*rit% of t)e 6udi&iar%.

+usti&e must not merel% $e done $ut must also $e seen to $e done.

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

C!NON =

-RO-RIETM

-ropriet% and t)e appearan&e of propriet% are essential to t)e performan&e of all t)e a&tivities of a 6ud*e.

SEC. #. +ud*es s)all avoid impropriet% and t)e appearan&e of impropriet% in all of t)eir a&tivities.

SEC. 3. !s a su$6e&t of &onstant pu$li& s&rutin%, 6ud*es must a&&ept personal restri&tions t)at mi*)t $e

vie0ed as $urdensome $% t)e ordinar% &itien and s)ould do so freel% and 0illin*l%. In parti&ular, 6ud*es

s)all &ondu&t t)emselves in a 0a% t)at is &onsistent 0it) t)e di*nit% of t)e 6udi&ial o"&e.

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Ju6e Ano


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impairs t)e respe&t due )im. !s a 6ud*e, )e must impose upon )imself personal restri&tions t)at mi*)t $e

vie0ed as $urdensome $% t)e ordinar% &itien and s)ould do so freel% and 0illin*l%.

T)e Court furt)er notes t)at in !.'. No. 'T+/=#2=,4 +ud*e !&)as 0as &)ar*ed 0it) immoralit% for

&o)a$itin* 0it) a 0oman not )is 0ife, and 0it) *ross mis&ondu&t and dis)onest% for personall% a&&eptin*

a &as) $ond in relation to a &ase and not depositin* it 0it) t)e &lerG of &ourt, and for maintainin* a o&G of

*)tin* &o&Gs and a&tivel% parti&ipatin* in &o&G*)ts. T)e Court, in 3//2, found )im *uilt% of *ross

mis&ondu&t for personall% re&eivin* t)e &as) $ond and ned )im in t)e amount of -#2,///.// 0it) a stern

0arnin*. T)e &)ar*e of immoralit% 0as dismissed for la&G of eviden&e. !lt)ou*) t)e Court, at t)e sametime, noted t)at t)e &)ar*e of maintainin* a o&G of *)tin* &o&Gs and parti&ipatin* in &o&G*)ts 0as

denied $% t)e respondent 6ud*e, it made no rulin* on t)e &)ar*e.

Seven %ears later, similar &)ar*es of immoral &o)a$itation and &o&G*)tin* )ave a*ain $een levelled

a*ainst +ud*e !&)as. Considerin* t)at )is immoral $e)aviour is not a se&ret around to0n, it is apparent

t)at respondent 6ud*e )as failed to ensure t)at )is &ondu&t is perceived to $e a$ove reproa&) $% t)e

reasona$le o$server, and )as failed toavoid the appearance of impropriet% in )is a&tivities, to t)e

detriment of t)e 6udi&iar% as a 0)ole.

No o//on 6emn6 reer morl r/eoune n6 ur/ne rom / oun n6oe e =u6//l oe. Ju6e /n r/ulr mu e /n6//6ul o omeene, oney n6ro/y, re6 ey re :/ eur6/n e /ner/y o e our n6 / roee6/n.*e oul6 ee ll /me o o romoe ul/ on;6ene /n e /ner/y n6/mr/l/y o e =u6//ry, n6 o/6 /mror/ey n6 e erne o /mror/ey /n ll ////e. */ eronl e/our ou/6e e our, n6 no only :/le /n e erormne o/ o/l 6u/e, mu e eyon6 rero, or e / ere/e6 o e e eron/;/on ol: n6 =u/e. Tu, ny 6emen/n o =u6e 6er6e e /n/u/on e rereen.#/

Under Se&tion #/ in relation to Se&tion ## C 9#; of Rule #=/ of t)e Rules of Court, as amended,

5un$e&omin* &ondu&t5 is &lassied as a li*)t &)ar*e, punis)a$le $% an% of t)e follo0in* san&tionsA 9#; a

ne of not less t)an -l,///.// $ut not e8&eedin* -#/,///.//? andor 93; &ensure? 91; reprimand? 9 =;

admonition 0it) 0arnin*. T)e Court, t)us, nds t)at t)e penalt% of a ne in t)e amount of -2,///.// and

reprimand are proper under t)e &ir&umstan&es.

B*'"'FO"', for violation of t)e Ne0 Code of +udi&ial Condu&t, respondent +ud*e Rio Con&ep&ion !&)asis"'P"lMAN%'% and FIN'% in t)e amount of :IVE TDOUS!N -ESOS 9-2,///.//;, A%MONI+*'% not toso&iall% min*le 0it) &o&G*)tin* ent)usiasts and $ettors, and +T'"N# BA"N'% t)at a repetition of t)esame or similar a&ts s)all $e dealt 0it) more severel%.

SO ORERE.

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A.M. No. 10-7-17-+C Ferury 8, 2011

IN T*' MATT'" OF T*' C*A"$'+ OF P#A$IA"I+M, 'TC., A$AIN+T A++OCIAT' J&+TIC' MA"IANOC. %'# CA+TI##O.

R E S O L U T I O N

PER CURIAM:

-etitioners Isa$elita C. Vinu%a, et al., all mem$ers of t)e 'ala%a Lolas Or*aniation, seeG re&onsideration

of t)e de&ision of t)e Court dated O&to$er #3, 3/#/ t)at dismissed t)eir &)ar*es of pla*iarism, t0istin* of

&ited materials, and *ross ne*le&t a*ainst +usti&e 'ariano el Castillo in &onne&tion 0it) t)e de&ision )e

0rote for t)e Court in (.R. No. #331/, entitled Vinu%a v. Romulo. #

M/nly, e//oner l/m e Cour y / 6e//on lel/Ge6 or roe6 o eomm//on o l/r/m /n e P/l//ne. T/ l/m / ur6. Te Cour, l/He eeryoneele, on6emn l/r/m e :orl6 /n enerl un6ern6 n6 ue e erm.

-la*iarism, a term not dened $% statute, )as a popular or &ommon denition. To pla*iarie, sa%s e$ster,

is 5to steal and pass oF as one7s o0n5 t)e ideas or 0ords of anot)er. Stealin* implies mali&ious taGin*.

Bla&G7s La0 i&tionar%, t)e 0orld7s leadin* En*lis) la0 di&tionar% >uoted $% t)e Court in its de&ision,

denes pla*iarism as t)e 5deli$erate and Gno0in* presentation of anot)er personHs ori*inal ideas or

&reative e8pressions as one7s o0n.53 T)e presentation of anot)er person7s ideas as one7s o0n must $e

deli$erate or premeditated[a taGin* 0it) ill intent.

Tere / no ommonly-ue6 6//onry /n e :orl6 emre /n e men/n o l/r/merror /n r/u/on y mere /6en or /n oo6 /.

Certain edu&ational institutions of &ourse assume diFerent norms in its appli&ation. :or instan&e, t)e

Lo%ola S&)ools Code of !&ademi& Inte*rit% ordains t)at 5pla*iarism is identied not t)rou*) intent $ut

t)rou*) t)e a&t itself. T)e o$6e&tive a&t of falsel% attri$utin* to one7s self 0)at is not one7s 0orG, 0)et)er

intentional or out of ne*le&t, is su"&ient to &on&lude t)at pla*iarism )as o&&urred. Students 0)o pleadi*noran&e or appeal to la&G of mali&e are not e8&used.51

But t)e Court7s de&ision in t)e present &ase does not set aside su&) norm. T)e de&ision maGes t)is &lear,

t)usA

To rre ) n6 +muel, :/le e 6em/ ul//n mo6el / e6 on eor//nl/y o e :r/eruestion t)at a &)eat deserves neit)er re0ard nor s%mpat)%.

But t)e poli&% adopted $% s&)ools of disre*ardin* t)e element of mali&ious intent found in di&tionaries is

evidentl% more in t)e nature of esta$lis)in* 0)at eviden&e is su"&ient to prove t)e &ommission of su&)

dis)onest &ondu&t t)an in re0ritin* t)e meanin* of pla*iarism. Sin&e it 0ould $e eas% enou*) for a student

to plead i*noran&e or la&G of mali&e even as )e )as &opied t)e 0orG of ot)ers, &ertain s&)ools )ave

adopted t)e poli&% of treatin* t)e mere presen&e of su&) &opied 0orG in )is paper su"&ient o$6e&tive

eviden&e of pla*iarism. Surel%, )o0ever, if on its fa&e t)e student7s 0orG s)o0s as a 0)ole t)at )e )as $ut

&ommitted an o$vious mistaGe or a &leri&al error in one of )undreds of &itations in )is t)esis, t)e s&)ool 0ill

not $e so unreasona$le as to &an&el )is diploma.

In &ontrast, de&isions of &ourts are not 0ritten to earn merit, a&&olade, or prie as an ori*inal pie&e of 0orG

or art. e&idin* disputes is a servi&e rendered $% t)e *overnment for t)e pu$li& *ood. +ud*es issue

de&isions to resolve ever%da% &oni&ts involvin* people of es) and $lood 0)o a&)e for speed% 6usti&e or

6uridi&al $ein*s 0)i&) )ave ri*)ts and o$li*ations in la0 t)at need to $e prote&ted. Te /nere oo/ey /n :r/en 6e//on / no ey re or//nlly re6 u ey re /r n6

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orre /n e oneE o e r/ulr 6/ue /nole6. Ju/e, no or//nl/y, orm, n6yle, / e o=e o eery 6e//on o our o l:.

Tere / / reon or /n6//6ul =u6e o :eer leel o our, /nlu6/n e+ureme Cour, no o ue or//nl or un/?ue lnue :en re/n/n e l: /nole6 /ne e ey 6e/6e. Te/r 6uy / o ly e l: ee re :r/en. But la0s in&lude,under t)e do&trine of stare de&isis, 6udi&ial interpretations of su&) la0s as are applied to spe&i& situations.

Under t)is do&trine, Courts are 5to stand $% pre&edent and not to distur$ settled point.5 One e Cour

Dl/6 6o:n r/n/le o l: l/le o er/n e o , / :/ll 6ere o r/n/le, n6 ly / o ll uure e, :ere re un/lly e me rer6le o :eer e r/e or roery re e me.5

!nd $e&ause 6udi&ial pre&edents are not al0a%s &learl% delineated, t)e% are >uite often entan*led in

apparent in&onsisten&ies or even in &ontradi&tions, promptin* e8perts in t)e la0 to $uild up re*ardin* su&)

matters a lar*e $od% of &ommentaries or annotations t)at, in t)emselves, often $e&ome part of le*al

0ritin*s upon 0)i&) la0%ers and 6ud*es dra0 materials for t)eir t)eories or solutions in parti&ular &ases.

!nd, $e&ause of t)e need to $e pre&ise and &orre&t, 6ud*es and pra&titioners aliGe, $% pra&ti&e and

tradition, usuall% lift passa*es from su&) pre&edents and 0ritin*s, at times omittin*, 0it)out mali&ious

intent, attri$utions to t)e ori*inators.

Is t)is dis)onestK No. un&an e$$, 0ritin* for t)e International Bar !sso&iation puts it su&&in&tl%. Benr//n l:yer (:/ /nlu6e =u6e! :r/e ou e l:, ey e4e/ely le e/r/6e, e/r lnue, n6 e/r :orH /n e ul/ 6om/n, o e rme6, 6oe6, r///Ge6,or re=ee6. )e/n /n e ul/ 6om/n, oer l:yer n u reely ue ee :/ou er o omm//n ome :ron or /nurr/n ome l//l/y. T)usA

Te en6eny o oy /n l: / re6/ly eEl/le. In l: ury o :or6 / eery/n. #el6/ue oen enre roun6 e :y /n :/ ol//on e een eEree6 /n lel6oumen n6 o: e o e rel :orl6 ; e men/n o e :or6 /n :/ eol//on / on/ne6. T)is, in &on6un&tion 0it) t)e risGaversion of la0%ers means t)at refu*e 0illoften $e sou*)t in arti&ulations t)at )ave $een tried and tested. In a sense t)erefore t)e &ommunit% of

la0%ers )ave to*et)er &ontri$uted to t)is $od% of Gno0led*e, lan*ua*e, and e8pression 0)i&) is &ommonpropert% and ma% $e utilied, developed and $ettered $% an%one.<

T)e impli&it ri*)t of 6ud*es to use le*al materials re*arded as $elon*in* to t)e pu$li& domain is not uni>ue

to t)e -)ilippines. !s +o%&e C. (eor*e, 0)om +usti&e 'aria Lourdes Sereno &ites in )er dissentin* opinion,

o$served in )er +udi&ial Opinion ritin* Dand$ooGA

A =u6e :r//n o reole 6/ue, :eer r/l or elle, / eEeme6 rom re ol/r/m een / /6e, :or6 or re rom l: re/e: r/le, noel ou ul/e6/n lel er/o6/l or lnue rom ry e =u6e / no :r//n l/erry :orH n6, more /mornly, euroe o e :r//n / o reole 6/ue. A reul, =u6e 6=u6//n e re nou=e o l/m o lel l/r/m.@

If t)e Court 0ere to in>uire into t)e issue of pla*iarism respe&tin* its past de&isions from t)e time of C)ief

+usti&e Ca%etano S. !rellano to t)e present, it is liGel% to dis&over t)at it )as not on o&&asion a&Gno0led*ed

t)e ori*inators of passa*es and vie0s found in its de&isions. T)ese omissions are true for man% of t)e

de&isions t)at )ave $een penned and are $ein* penned dail% $% ma*istrates from t)e Court of !ppeals,

t)e Sandi*an$a%an, t)e Court of Ta8 !ppeals, t)e Re*ional Trial Courts nation0ide and 0it) t)em, t)e

muni&ipal trial &ourts and ot)er rst level &ourts. Never in t)e 6udi&iar%7s more t)an #// %ears of )istor%

)as t)e la&G of attri$ution $een re*arded and demeaned as pla*iarism.

T)is is not to sa% t)at t)e ma*istrates of our &ourts are mere &op%&ats. T)e% are not. T)eir de&isions

anal%e t)e often &oni&tin* fa&ts of ea&) &ase and sort out t)e relevant from t)e irrelevant. T)e% identif%

and formulate t)e issue or issues t)at need to $e resolved and evaluate ea&) of t)e la0s, rulin*s,

prin&iples, or aut)orities t)at t)e parties to t)e &ase invoGe. Te 6e//on en 6r: e/r onlu/on rer6/n :eer or no u l:, rul/n, r/n/le, or uor//e ly o er/ulr e eore e Cour. Tee e4or, re6ue6 /n :r//n, re e ro6u o e

=u6e< re//y. I / ereKully e une o e/r 6e//onK e/r en/u,or//nl/y, n6 one lor n e oun6, o :/ ey oul6 e rou6.

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In /nuy, Ju/e %el C/llo eEm/ne6 n6 ummr/Ge6 e een y e oo/n/6e /n :y no one eer 6one. *e /6en/;e6 n6 ormule6 e ore o e /ue e r/e r/e6. An6 :en e 6 6one /, e 6/ue6 e e o e l: releno e/r reolu/on. I : ere e 6re: mer/l rom r/ou oure, /nlu6/n eree ore/n uor /e6 /n e re /n /m. *e omre6 e 6/eren /e: eereen ey 6eeloe6 /n /ory. *e en eEl/ne6 :y e Cour mu re=e ome /e:/n l/ o e eul/r o e e n6 l/e6 oe u/ u . F/nlly, e 6re:rom / 6/u/on o e n6 e l: e r/ olu/on o e 6/ue /n e e. On

e :ole, / :orH : or//nl. *e 6 u 6one n one :orH.

Te Cour :/ll no, ereore, on/en :/ el/e6 r/e /n e P/l//ne n6ele:ere, 6re erm/ e ;l/n o /on o nnul e 6e//on romule6 y / =u6eor eEoe em o re o l/r/m or one :orH 6one.

T/ rule oul6 ly o r//n l:yer :ell. Counel or e e//oner, l/He lll:yer n6l/n e eore our n6 6m/n/r/e r/unl, nno o=e o /. !lt)ou*) as a rule t)e% re&eive &ompensation for ever% pleadin* or paper t)e% le in &ourt or for ever%

opinion t)e% render to &lients, la0%ers also need to strive for te&)ni&al a&&ura&% in t)eir 0ritin*s. T)e%

s)ould not $e e8posed to &)ar*es of pla*iarism in 0)at t)e% 0rite so lon* as t)e% do not depart, as

o"&ers of t)e &ourt, from t)e o$6e&tive of assistin* t)e Court in t)e administration of 6usti&e.

!s un&an e$$ saidA

In presentin* le*al ar*ument most la0%ers 0ill )ave re&ourse to eit)er previous de&isions of t)e &ourts,

fre>uentl% liftin* 0)ole se&tions of a 6ud*e7s 0ords to lend 0ei*)t to a parti&ular point eit)er 0it) or

0it)out attri$ution. T)e 0ords of s&)olars are also sometimes *iven 0ei*)t, dependin* on reputation.

Some en&%&lopaedi& 0orGs are *iven parti&ular aut)orit%. In En*land t)is pla&e is *iven to Dals$ur%7s La0s

of En*land 0)i&) is 0idel% &onsidered aut)oritative. ! la0%er &an do little $etter t)an to frame an

ar*ument or &laim to t 0it) t)e arti&ulation of t)e la0 in Dals$ur%7s. )ile in man% &ases t)e ver%

purpose of t)e &itation is to &laim t)e aut)orit% of t)e aut)or, t)is is not al0a%s t)e &ase. :re>uentl%

&ommentar% or di&ta of lesser standin* 0ill $e adopted $% le*al aut)ors, lar*el% 0it)out attri$ution.

8 8 8 8

Te onere o/n / or//nl/y /n e l: / /e:e6 :/ He//m. I / only erron ool or e ruly /e6 :o :/ll 6er en/rely rom e el/e6 emle n6reormule n eE//n /6e /n e el/e /n 6o/n o ey :/ll /mroe /. B/le oer /me/nremenl ne our, e :olele n6onmen o el/e6 eEre/on / enerllyon/6ere6 oolr6y.4

T)e Court pro$a$l% s)ould not )ave entertained at all t)e &)ar*es of pla*iarism a*ainst +usti&e el Castillo,

&omin* from t)e losin* part%. But it is a &ase of rst impression and petitioners, 6oined $% some fa&ult%

mem$ers of t)e Universit% of t)e -)ilippines s&)ool of la0, )ave unfairl% mali*ned )im 0it) t)e &)ar*es ofpla*iarism, t0istin* of &ited materials, and *ross ne*le&t for failin* to attri$ute lifted passa*es from t)ree

forei*n aut)ors. T)ese &)ar*es as alread% stated are false, appl%in* t)e meanin* of pla*iarism as t)e

0orld in *eneral Gno0s it.

True, +usti&e el Castillo failed to attri$ute to t)e forei*n aut)ors materials t)at )e lifted from t)eir 0orGs

and used in 0ritin* t)e de&ision for t)e Court in t)e Vinu%a &ase. )u, e Cour /6, e e/6ene oun6 y / '/ Comm/ee o: e r/u/on o ee uor ere6 /n ee/nn/n 6r o e 6e//on. &norunely, e/;e6 o y /ly ?ul/;e6 n6eEer/ene6 our-emloye6 reerer, e /6enlly 6elee6 e me e /me e :len/n u e ;nl 6r. Te Cour el/ee6 er /ne, mon oer reon, e 6 nomo/e or om//n e r/u/on. T)e forei*n aut)ors &on&erned, liGe t)e doens of ot)er sour&ess)e &ited in )er resear&), )ad )i*) reputations in international la0.1awphi1

Nota$l%, t)ose forei*n aut)ors e8pressl% attri$uted t)e &ontroversial passa*es found in t)eir 0orGs to

earlier 0ritin*s $% ot)ers. T)e aut)ors &on&erned 0ere not t)emselves t)e ori*inators. A / ene6,lou e onen/ o Ju/e %el C/llo /6enlly 6elee6 e r/u/on o em,ere rem/ne6 /n e ;nl 6r o e 6e//on r/u/on o e me e o eerl/er :r//n rom :/ oe uor orro:e6 e/r /6e /n e ;r le. In s)ort, 0it)t)e remainin* attri$utions after t)e erroneous &leanup, t)e passa*es as it nall% appeared in t)e Vinu%a

de&ision still s)o0ed on t)eir fa&e t)at t)e lifted ideas did not $elon* to +usti&e el Castillo $ut to ot)ers.

De did not pass t)em oF as )is o0n.

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it) our rulin*, t)e Court need not d0ell lon* on petitioners7 alle*ations t)at +usti&e el Castillo )ad also

&ommitted pla*iarism in 0ritin* for t)e Court )is de&ision in anot)er &ase, !n* Ladlad v. Commission on

Ele&tions.#/ -etitioners are nitpi&Gin*. Upon &lose e8amination and as +usti&e el Castillo ampl%

demonstrated in )is &omment to t)e motion for re&onsideration, )e in fa&t made attri$utions to passa*es

in su&) de&ision t)at )e $orro0ed from )is sour&es alt)ou*) t)e% at times suFered in formattin* lapses.

Considerin* its a$ove rulin*, t)e Court sees no point in furt)er passin* upon t)e motion of t)e Inte*rated

Bar of t)e -)ilippines for leave to le and admit motion for re&onsiderationinintervention dated +anuar% 2,

3/## and r. -eter -a%o%o7s &laim of ot)er instan&es of alle*ed pla*iarism in t)e Vinu%a de&ision.

!CCORIN(LM, t)e Court ENIES petitioners7 motion for re&onsideration for la&G of merit.

SO ORERE.

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A.M. No. 10-10-@-+C Mr 8, 2011

"'> #'TT'" OF T*' &P #AB FACT 'NTIT#'% D"'+TO"IN$ INT'$"IT> A +TAT'M'NT ) T*'FACT OF T*' &NI'"+IT OF T*' P*I#IPPIN'+ CO##'$' OF #AB ON T*' A##'$ATION+ OFP#A$IA"I+M AN% MI+"'P"'+'NTATION IN T*' +&P"'M' CO&"TD

E C I S I O N

#'ONA"%O-%' CA+T"O, J.:

:or disposition of t)e Court are t)e various su$missions of t)e 1< respondent la0 professors# in responseto t)e Resolution dated O&to$er #4, 3/#/ 9t)e S)o0 Cause Resolution;, dire&tin* t)em to s)o0 &ause 0)%t)e% s)ould not $e dis&iplined as mem$ers of t)e Bar for violation of spe&i& provisions of t)e Code of-rofessional Responsi$ilit% enumerated t)erein.

!t t)e outset, it must $e stressed t)at t)e S)o0 Cause Resolution &learl% do&Gets t)is as an administrativematter, not a spe&ial &ivil a&tion for indire&t &ontempt under Rule


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T)e Donora$leSupreme Court of t)e Repu$li& of t)e -)ilippines

T)rou*)A Don. Renato C. CoronaC)ief +usti&e

Su$6e&tA Statement of fa&ult%from t)e U- Colle*e of La0on t)e -la*iarism in t)e &ase of

Vinu%a v E8e&utive Se&retar%

Mour DonorsA

e atta&) for %our information and proper disposition a statement si*ned $% t)irt%ei*)t 91@;3@mem$ersof t)e fa&ult% of t)e U- Colle*e of La0. e )ope t)at its points &ould $e &onsidered $% t)e Supreme Courten $an&.

Respe&tfull%,

9S*d.;'arvi& '.V.:. Leonen

ean and -rofessor of La0

9Emp)ases supplied.;

T)e &op% of t)e Statement atta&)ed to t)e a$ove>uoted letter did not &ontain t)e a&tual si*natures of t)ealle*ed si*natories $ut onl% stated t)e names of 1< U- La0 professors 0it) t)e notation 9S(.; appearin*$eside ea&) name. :or &onvenient referen&e, t)e te8t of t)e U- La0 fa&ult% Statement is reprodu&ed )ereA

"'+TO"IN$ INT'$"IT

! ST!TE'ENT BM TDE :!CULTM O: TDE UNIVERSITM O: TDE -DILI--INES COLLE(E O: L!

ON TDE !LLE(!TIONS O: -L!(I!RIS' !N 'ISRE-RESENT!TIONIN TDE SU-RE'E COURT

!n e8traordinar% a&t of in6usti&e )as a*ain $een &ommitted a*ainst t)e $rave :ilipinas 0)o )ad suFereda$use durin* a time of 0ar. !fter t)e% &oura*eousl% &ame out 0it) t)eir ver% personal stories of a$use andsuFerin* as 5&omfort 0omen5, 0aited for almost t0o de&ades for an% meanin*ful relief from t)eir o0n*overnment as 0ell as from t)e *overnment of +apan, *ot t)eir )opes up for a sem$lan&e of 6udi&ialre&ourse in t)e &ase of Vinu%a v. E8e&utive Se&retar%, (.R. No. #331/ 93@ !pril 3/#/;, t)e% onl% )adt)ese )opes &rus)ed $% a sin*ularl% repre)ensi$le a&t of dis)onest% and misrepresentation $% t)e Di*)estCourt of t)e land.

It is 0it)in t)is frame t)at t)e :a&ult% of t)e Universit% of t)e -)ilippines Colle*e of La0 vie0s t)e &)ar*et)at an !sso&iate +usti&e of t)e Supreme Court &ommitted pla*iarism and misrepresentation in Vinu%a v.

E8e&utive Se&retar%. T)e pla*iarism and misrepresentation are not onl% aFronts to t)e individual s&)olars0)ose 0orG )ave $een appropriated 0it)out &orre&t attri$ution, $ut also a serious t)reat to t)e inte*rit%and &redi$ilit% of t)e -)ilippine +udi&ial S%stem.

In &ommon parlan&e, \pla*iarism7 is t)e appropriation and misrepresentation of anot)er person7s 0orG asone7s o0n. In t)e eld of 0ritin*, it is &)eatin* at $est, and stealin* at 0orst. It &onstitutes a taGin* ofsomeone else7s ideas and e8pressions, in&ludin* all t)e eFort and &reativit% t)at 0ent into &ommittin*su&) ideas and e8pressions into 0ritin*, and t)en maGin* it appear t)at su&) ideas and e8pressions 0ereori*inall% &reated $% t)e taGer. It is dis)onest%, pure and simple. ! 6udi&ial s%stem t)at allo0s pla*iarism inan% form is one t)at allo0s dis)onest%. Sin&e all 6udi&ial de&isions form part of t)e la0 of t)e land, to allo0pla*iarism in t)e Supreme Court is to allo0 t)e produ&tion of la0s $% dis)onest means. Evidentl%, t)is is a&omplete perversion and falsi&ation of t)e ends of 6usti&e.

! &omparison of t)e Vinu%a de&ision and t)e ori*inal sour&e material s)o0s t)at t)e ponente merel%&opied sele&t portions of ot)er le*al 0riters7 0orGs and interspersed t)em into t)e de&ision as if t)e% 0ere)is o0n, ori*inal 0orG. Under t)e &ir&umstan&es, )o0ever, $e&ause t)e e&ision )as $een promul*ated $%t)e Court, t)e e&ision no0 $e&omes t)e Court7s and no lon*er 6ust t)e ponente7s. T)us t)e Court also$ears t)e responsi$ilit% for t)e e&ision. In t)e a$sen&e of an% mention of t)e ori*inal 0riters7 names andt)e pu$li&ations from 0)i&) t)e% &ame, t)e t)in* speaGs for itself.

So far t)ere )ave $een unsatisfa&tor% responses from t)e ponente of t)is &ase and t)e spoGesman of t)eCourt.

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9=; In li*)t of t)e e8tremel% serious and farrea&)in* nature of t)e dis)onest% and to savet)e )onor and di*nit% of t)e Supreme Court as an institution, it is ne&essar% fort)e ponente of Vinu%a v. E8e&utive Se&retar% to resi*n )is position, 0it)out pre6udi&e to an%ot)er san&tions t)at t)e Court ma% &onsider appropriate?

92; T)e Supreme Court must taGe t)is opportunit% to revie0 t)e manner $% 0)i&) it &ondu&tsresear&), prepares drafts, rea&)es and nalies de&isions in order to prevent a re&urren&e ofsimilar a&ts, and to provide &lear and &on&ise *uidan&e to t)e Ben&) and Bar to ensure onl%t)e )i*)est >ualit% of le*al resear&) and 0ritin* in pleadin*s, pra&ti&e, and ad6udi&ation.

'al&

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