SC junks administrative raps vs 3 justices

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has cleared one of its justices and two retired magistrates in an administrative charge filed by a litigant in Cebu City.

In a seven-page resolution, the SC dismissed as baseless the allegation against Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. and retired Justices Conrado Vasquez Jr. and Segio Pestaño in connection with their ruling in June 1994 in the case of Joaquin Borromeo against the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) as then justices of the Court of Appeals (CA).

Instead, the CA warned the complainant of penalty for instituting legal proceedings in various courts.

“Any act on his part tending to show disregard to the High Court and abuse of its proceedings will be dealt with severely,” said the ruling signed by lawyer Enriquetta Vidal, SC clerk of court.

Borromeo was found guilty of constructive contempt on Feb. 21, 1995.

Records show that Borromeo sent a letter to the SC last Feb. 21 claiming that the resolution dated June 15, 2010 which denied his complaint against UCPB for lack of merit and the resolution dated Dec. 7, 2010 which denied his motion for reconsideration, gave him severe infirmities.

His complaint was in connection with the motion for issuance of a writ of possession filed by the UCPB against his property, which was earlier foreclosed by the bank.

The CA rendered its ruling granting the petition of the UCPB on June 13, 1994.

Borromeo moved to reconsider the ruling and filed a motion to annul judgment but was denied by the CA as this was not the proper remedy.

On Oct. 1, 2009, Borromeo sued then CA Justices Vasquez, Villarama and Pestaño for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).

Villarama is currently an SC associate justice while Vasquez and Pestaño are now both retired.