High Court sacks 2 more judges

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s judiciary continues to cleanse its ranks as the Supreme Court (SC) recently dismissed two more trial court judges for various violations of judicial rules.

Dismissed from the judicial service were Judges Priscilla Hernandez of the Fourth Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Jimenez-Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, and Victoria Villalon-Pornillos of the Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 10.

In a 16-page decision, the SC also forfeited all the benefits, except accrued leave credits, of Hernandez and ordered her perpetual disqualification from holding office in any government branch or instrumentality, including government-owned or -controlled corporations.

The SC also fined her with P20,000 for her repeated violations of SC directives and Section 14 of Rule 136 of the Rules of Court which provides that “(no) record shall be taken from the clerk’s office without an order of the court except as otherwise provided by these rules.”

Despite several SC directives, Hernandez failed to explain the whereabouts of certain missing case records and took five years to return them, according to the SC ruling.

The SC also fined Hernandez with another P5,000 for her violation of Canons 1, 11 and 12, and Rule 12.04 of the Code of Professional Responsibility which mandate every lawyer to uphold the Constitution, observe and maintain the respect due to the courts, exert every effort and consider it one’s duty to assist in the speedy and efficient administration of justice, and not unduly delay a case, impede the execution of a judgment or misuse court processes.

Hernandez, despite several SC directives, also failed to explain why she did not act promptly on cases pending before her sala following an audit investigation in February 2003 and October 2005.

Pornillos, on the other hand, was dismissed last July 7 for borrowing P5,000 from a lawyer who had at least two cases pending before her sala.

The SC earlier had dismissed Judge Ramon Caguioa of the Olongapo City RTC Branch 74 for erroneously issuing preliminary injunctions three times in different civil cases.

He was penalized for gross ignorance of the law and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Apart from the three judges, the SC has suspended three court personnel for various violations.

Meanwhile, the SC also suspended two of its shuttle service bus drivers for engaging in a fistfight at Paco Park in Manila on Nov. 19 last year.