Case Digest (A.M. No. MTJ-97-1120)
Facts:
- An administrative complaint for malfeasance was filed against Judge Ramon B. Reyes by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
- Reyes was the Presiding Judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Mabini-Tingloy, Batangas.
- On November 12, 1996, barangay officials arrested four individuals for a drug session involving shabu.
- The accused were charged under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, with the case filed as Criminal Case No. 1817 in Reyes' court.
- On November 20, 1996, the mothers of three accused approached Reyes for their sons' release.
- Reyes allegedly demanded a bribe of P240,000.00, later negotiated to P15,000.00, with payment scheduled for November 28, 1996.
- Reyes did not report for work on the payment date, prompting the mothers to reschedule for December 5, 1996.
- The mothers reported the extortion attempt to the NBI, leading to an entrapment operation.
- On December 5, during the operation, Reyes instructed a mother to write a motion while the marked money was hidden in a latrine.
- NBI agents later found the marked money in Reyes' desk drawer, confirming it was the same money prepared by the NBI.
- An Information was filed against Reyes for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, leading to recommendations for his dismissal and disbarment.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- Yes, Judge Ramon B. Reyes committed malfeasance in office by accepting a bribe.
- Judge Reyes is dismissed from service, forfeiting all retirement benefits and disqualified from re-employme...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court found sufficient evidence to support the bribery charge against Judge Reyes.
- Testimonies from the mothers and the NBI agent were credible and corroborated by the agent's direct involvement in the entrapment.
- The Court emphasized the importance of integrity and the avoidance of impropriety for judges, as mandated by the Code of Judicial Conduct.
- Reyes' actions violated legal standards and undermined public confidence in the judiciary.
- The Co...continue reading
Case Digest (A.M. No. MTJ-97-1120)
Facts:
The case involves an administrative complaint for malfeasance filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Judge Ramon B. Reyes, who served as the Presiding Judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Mabini-Tingloy, Batangas. The events leading to the complaint began on November 12, 1996, when barangay officials arrested four individuals—Reynaldo Magday, Melvin Dalangin, Rex Cordero, and Primo Evangelista—during a drug session involving methamphetamine chloride, commonly known as shabu. The accused were subsequently detained and charged with violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, with the case filed as Criminal Case No. 1817 in Reyes' court.
On November 20, 1996, the mothers of three of the accused approached Judge Reyes to plead for their sons' release. Initially, Reyes allegedly demanded a bribe of P240,000.00, which was later negotiated down to P15,000.00, with the payment scheduled for November 28, 1996. However, Reyes did not report for work on that date, prompting the mothers to reschedule the payment for December 5, 1996. Prior to this date, the mothers reported the extortion attempt to the NBI, leading to an entrapment operation.
On December 2, 1996, the NBI prepared marked money amounting to P3,000.00 and arranged for an agent to accompany the mothers to Reyes' office. During the operation on December 5, Reyes instructed one of the mothers to write a motion for reconsideration while the marked money was placed in a latrine. After the mothers left the room, NBI agents entered and, despite initial difficulties locating the money, Reyes eventually confessed to having taken the envel...