SC fines Sarangani judge

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has recently fined a regional trial court (RTC) judge in Sarangani for granting bail to an accused in a murder case without conducting a hearing.

In an 18-page decision penned by Justice Lucas Bersamin, the SC’s First Division imposed a P20,000 fine on judge Jaime Infante of Sarangani’s RTC Branch 38 due to gross ignorance of the law and the rules.

The high court ruled that a bail hearing was mandatory as bail serves to ensure the appearance of the accused at the time of arraignment and trial.

“It was only through such hearing that he could be put in a position to determine whether the evidence for the prosecution was weak or strong. Hence, his dispensing with the hearing manifested a gross ignorance of the law and the rules,” the SC said.