Davide urges: Report corrupt judges

BACOLOD City – Chief Justice Hilario Davide has urged the public to report any irregularities committed by judges and court personnel so they can be acted upon.

It is the civic duty of the public because they are stakeholders in the administration of justice, he said.

The chief justice was in Bacolod Thursday to keynote the national convention of the Philippine Judges Association here.

Davide’s statement comes following the filing of criminal complaints against three judges and five state prosecutors for various offenses at the Department of Justice offices in Padre Faura, Manila last Thursday which was witnessed by President Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo, after a closed door meeting with Justice Secretary Hernando Perez and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, stressed that no one should be above the law, "more so among those who sit in judgment of violations of the law."

For his part, Davide said "we will not hesitate to discipline judges because we want them to observe utmost honesty and integrity."

Cleansing the judiciary is a continuing campaign and many judges have already been dismissed while others have been disciplined through fines or suspension, he added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the statement by US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone about corruption in the Philippine judiciary, Davide said the SC public information office wrote to the envoy to request his cooperation in rooting out the so-called "hoodlums in robes."

"If he really has basis for any complaint we should be made aware of whom these people are so we can go after them," Davide said.

He stressed the need for judges to work as agents of progress and warned them against indiscriminate issuance of temporary restraining orders that will hamper economic growth.

Judges are mandated to exercise utmost caution, prudence and judiciousness in the issuance of TROs, Davide said.

He said the court process should be used as a tool to encourage trade and commerce, among others.

It should boost economic recovery and give ample protection to legitimate businesses, he said.

"TROs and writs of injunction were never meant to be a source of unreasonable delay in litigation nor a source of profit and business among magistrates," he added.

The SC, Davide said, prohibits the issuance of injunctive writs, not only against government interest but against any person or entity involved in the execution and implementation of government infrastructure projects.