Facts:

In the case of The Secretary of Justice vs. Honor Abdulwahid A. Bidin, the complaint was filed on February 2, 1971, against Judge Abdulwahid A. Bidin of the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga City. The Secretary of Justice accused Judge Bidin of serious misconduct for failing to decide two civil cases: Civil Case No. 1305, entitled Young Sen vs. Overseas Bank of Manila, which was submitted for decision on January 9, 1970, and Civil Case No. 1192, entitled Hadji Usman Sakaluran vs. Hadji Musa Arip, submitted on April 14, 1970. As of November 6, 1970, the judge had not rendered decisions on these cases. To collect his salary, Judge Bidin submitted certificates of service from April to October 1970, falsely stating that all cases pending for over ninety days had been decided. In his defense, Judge Bidin claimed that these certificates were submitted on December 29, 1970, after he had decided both cases on the same day. He argued that his salary had been withheld from Sep...

Facts:

1. Submission of Cases for Decision:

   • Civil Case No. 1305 (Young Sen vs. Overseas Bank of Manila) was submitted for decision on January 9, 1970.
   • Civil Case No. 1192 (Hadji Usman Sakaluran vs. Hadji Musa Arip) was submitted for decision on April 14, 1970.

2. Failure to Decide Within 90 Days:

   • As of November 6, 1970, both cases remained undecided, exceeding the 90-day period mandated by law.

3. Certificates of Service:

   • Respondent Judge Abdulwahid A. Bidin submitted certificates of service from April to October 1970, certifying that all cases under submission for 90 days or more had been decided. These certificates were later found to contain false statements since the two cases were still pending.

4. Withholding of Salary:

   • The Department of Justice withheld the respondent’s salary from September to December 1970 due to the undecided cases. The salary was released only after the cases were decided on December 29, 1970.

5. Motion to Suspend Proceedings:

   • In Civil Case No. 1305, the Central Bank filed a motion on April 17, 1970, to suspend proceedings due to a related pending case in the Supreme Court. The motion was denied by the respondent on December 28, 1970.

6. Workload and Docket:

   • The respondent’s docket was unusually heavy, with 1,123 pending cases as of October 30, 1970, including 576 criminal cases, 159 of which involved detention prisoners.

7. Decisions and Resolutions:

   • The respondent decided 12 criminal cases and 2 guardianship cases in October 1970, indicating that he was not idle.

8. Investigation Findings:

   • The investigator, Justice Mateo Canonoy, found that the respondent had no wrongful intent to falsify the certificates of service, as he had decided the cases before submitting the certificates and had not collected his salary during the period in question.

Issue:

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Ruling:

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Ratio:

1. No Intent to Falsify:

   • The respondent did not have the intent to falsify the certificates of service, as he had already decided the cases before submitting the certificates and had not collected his salary during the period in question.

2. Heavy Workload and Extenuating Circumstances:

   • The respondent’s heavy docket, including numerous criminal cases involving detention prisoners, justified the delay in deciding the cases. The Court recognized that judges with heavy workloads deserve compassion and understanding.

3. Admonition for Future Conduct:

   • While the respondent was exonerated, the Court emphasized the importance of punctuality and diligence in the performance of judicial duties. Judges must ensure that cases are decided within the mandated period to maintain public trust in the judiciary.

4. Judicial Independence and Compensation:

   • The Court highlighted the importance of timely payment of judicial salaries to ensure that judges can perform their duties without financial stress, which could otherwise compromise their independence and dignity.