Case Digest (A.M. No. RTJ-15-2439)
Facts:
- Complainant: Ariel "Aga" Muhlach against Executive Judge Ma. Angela AcompaAdo-Arroyo.
- Complaint filed on November 6, 2012, alleging gross ignorance of the law and abuse of discretion.
- On October 5, 2012, a petition was filed in the MCTC of San Jose-Presentacion, Camarines Sur, to exclude Ariel and Charlene Mae G. Muhlach from the voters' list.
- The case was assigned docket number Spec. Pro. No. 80.
- Judge Angel A. Tadeo recused himself due to familial ties with the petitioners.
- EJ Arroyo scheduled a raffle for case assignment, which went to Judge Ricky C. Begino.
- Judge Begino set a hearing for October 16, 2012, but the Spouses Muhlach filed a motion to dismiss that morning.
- Judge Begino issued an order of inhibition, citing concerns of impartiality.
- EJ Arroyo declared Judge Begino's inhibition ineffective and directed him to continue the case.
- Judge Begino ruled in favor of the petitioners on October 25, 2012.
- The Spouses Muhlach filed an administrative complaint against EJ Arroyo for her actions.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court dismissed the complaint against EJ Arroyo for lack of merit, ruling she did not commit gross ignorance of the law.
- The Court found that EJ Arroyo did not ab...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- Inhibition of judges must be based on valid reasons as per Section 1, Rule 137 of the Rules of Court.
- Judge Begino's inhibition order was vague and lacked specific grounds, rendering it defective.
- EJ Arroyo's declaration of the inhibition as ineffective was necessary to ensure timely resolution under Republic Act No. 8189.
- A judge's ...continue reading
Case Digest (A.M. No. RTJ-15-2439)
Facts:
The case involves Ariel "Aga" Muhlach (complainant) against Executive Judge Ma. Angela AcompaAdo-Arroyo (respondent), who serves in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of San Jose City, Camarines Sur. The complaint was filed on November 6, 2012, alleging gross ignorance of the law and abuse of discretion by EJ Arroyo. The events leading to the complaint began on October 5, 2012, when Francisco Perico Dizon, Edgar Malate, Crispin Imperial, and Ferdinand Fernando Felix Monasterio filed a petition in the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of San Jose-Presentacion, Camarines Sur, seeking the exclusion of Ariel and Charlene Mae G. Muhlach from the voters' list of Precinct No. 10A, Barangay San Juan. The case was assigned the docket number Spec. Pro. No. 80.
On the same day, Judge Angel A. Tadeo of the MCTC recused himself due to familial connections with the petitioners. Subsequently, EJ Arroyo scheduled a raffle among judges to assign the case, which was eventually assigned to Judge Ricky C. Begino. On October 12, 2012, Judge Begino set a hearing for October 16, 2012. However, on the morning of the hearing, the Spouses Muhlach filed a motion to dismiss the case. That same morning, Judge Begino issued an order of inhibition, stating he would not continue with the case to avoid doubts regarding impartiality.
In response, the counsel for the Spouses Muhlach filed an Urgent Omnibus Motion to inhibit Judge Begino and to re-raffle the case. In the afternoon of October 16, EJ Arroyo issued an order declaring Judge Begino's inhibition ineffective and directed him to continue hearing the case, arguing that the motion to inhibit ...