Facts:

• Extra Excel International Philippines, Inc. filed an administrative complaint against Hon. Afable E. Cajigal, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 96, Quezon City.
• The complaint, dated June 6, 2018, alleged gross ignorance of the law, gross inefficiency, grave abuse of authority, and evident partiality related to Criminal Case No. R-QZN-13-00488-CR.
• The case involved Ike R. Katipunan, a former employee accused of qualified theft.
• Judge Cajigal failed to set the case for arraignment or issue a warrant of arrest after the Information was filed.
• He granted the accused's motions for preliminary investigation and deferred further proceedings.
• The Court of Appeals later found Judge Cajigal had committed grave abuse of discretion.
• Despite the 60-day period for preliminary investigation lapsing, he did not proceed with the arraignment.
• The complainant filed a Motion to Set Case for Arraignment, which led to a re-investigation affirming probable cause.
• A Motion for Issuance of Hold Departure Order filed by the complainant remained unresolved.
• The accused filed an Omnibus Motion for Judicial Determination of Probable Cause, leading to further motions from the complainant.
• The accused was arraigned on June 9, 2014, but was allowed to leave despite the offense being nonbailable.
• Judge Cajigal found the accused's Petition for Bail premature but later granted it without a proper hearing.
• The complainant argued that these actions showed gross inefficiency and evident partiality.
• Judge Cajigal defended himself, claiming the allegations were unfounded and that Atty. Oliva lacked standing to file the complaint.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court found Judge Cajigal administratively liable for gross ignorance of the law and gross inefficiency.
• He was ordered to pay a fine ...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Court determined that Judge Cajigal's failure to resolve the motion for a hold departure order within the required 90-day period constituted gross inefficiency.
• Judges must dispose of cases and motions promptly to uphold public confidence in the judiciary.
• Allowing the accused to go home post-arraignment, despite the nonbailable nature of the offense, indicated gross ignorance of the law.
• A proper judicial determination of probable cause is...continue reading