Case Digest (A.M. No. MTJ-00-1307)
Facts:
- A complaint was filed on February 17, 1997, against Judge Felix A. Caraos of the Municipal Trial Court of Candelaria, Quezon.
- Complainants included members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Candelaria: Manuel Buny, Anatalia Atienza, Alfredo Laygo, Isidro de Gala, Reynaldo Marquez, Nestor Baera, and Olimpio Bukid.
- In 1996, the Sangguniang Bayan decided to demolish the old public market to build a new one and designated a temporary market site one kilometer away.
- A resolution was passed to prohibit vendors from operating in the PNR compound, which was not the designated site.
- Over 300 vendors began operating in the PNR compound without a Mayor's permit, leading to a decline in municipal income.
- Attempts by the Mayor and Provincial Governor to relocate the vendors were unsuccessful, resulting in police action and criminal cases filed against the vendors in June 1996.
- The initial arraignment was set for December 10, 1996, with trial scheduled for January 28, 1997, but Judge Caraos did not appear on the trial date.
- Complainants alleged that Judge Caraos prejudged the case by criticizing the Mayor's decision.
- Judge Caraos claimed the complaint was harassment and attributed delays to political conflicts and the complainants' lawyers.
- The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) found the cases had been pending for over a year, constituting inefficiency.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- Judge Felix A. Caraos was found guilty of inefficiency and fined P5,000.00.
- While Judge Caraos's comments were deemed innocent, they were inappro...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court emphasized the requirement for judges to dispose of cases promptly, as per Rule 3.05 of Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
- The court noted that the criminal cases filed in June 1996 were not set for arraignment until December 1996, with further delays due to the judge's absence....continue reading
Case Digest (A.M. No. MTJ-00-1307)
Facts:
The case at bar involves a complaint filed on February 17, 1997, against Judge Felix A. Caraos, who presides over the Municipal Trial Court of Candelaria, Quezon. The complainants, consisting of Manuel Buny, Anatalia Atienza, Alfredo Laygo, Isidro de Gala, Reynaldo Marquez, Nestor Baera, and Olimpio Bukid, are members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Candelaria. In 1996, the Sangguniang Bayan resolved to demolish the old public market building in the poblacion to construct a new one. They designated a temporary market site approximately one kilometer away for the vendors. A resolution was also passed to prohibit vendors from operating in the PNR compound, which was not the designated site. Despite this, over 300 market vendors began operating in the PNR compound without a Mayor's permit, leading to a decline in municipal income due to unpaid rentals and fees. Efforts by the Mayor and the Provincial Governor to relocate the vendors were unsuccessful, prompting police action to remove them and file criminal cases against them in the Municipal Trial Court. The criminal cases, filed in June 1996, remained pending, with initial arraignment set for December 10, 1996, and trial scheduled for January 28, 1997. However, Judge Caraos failed to appear on the trial date. The complainants alleged that the judge prejudged the case by stating that the Mayor made a mistake in relocating the vendors. In response, Judge Caraos claimed the complaint was a harassment ...