Case Summary (A.M. No. RTJ-13-2342, RTJ-12-2318)
Judicial Audit Findings
On June 13, 2011, the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) conducted a judicial audit of RTC Branch 49. The audit revealed that the court had a total of 272 pending cases, with 83 cases submitted for decision, significantly exceeding the reglementary period for resolution. Out of these, 70 cases were overdue, some as far back as 2003, including cases involving detention prisoners.
Court Directives
In response to the audit, on August 22, 2011, the Court issued directives to Judge Fuentes III to cease hearing new cases and focus on resolving pending matters, especially prioritizing cases involving detained individuals. The Court withheld his salaries and benefits pending compliance and demanded explanations for the delays.
Judge Fuentes III's Response
In a letter dated October 7, 2011, Judge Fuentes III acknowledged the audit findings but refrained from justifying the delays. He expressed a commitment to rectify the situation and attributed the backlog to personal circumstances affecting his health, stemming from his living arrangements away from Bohol.
Compliance Efforts
On March 13, 2012, Judge Fuentes III partially complied, submitting decisions for several cases and requesting further extensions to fulfill the remaining directives due to personal challenges, including family health issues. His repeated requests for extensions indicated ongoing difficulties in managing his docket.
Complaint by Paulino Butal, Sr.
On September 21, 2011, Paulino Butal, Sr. lodged a verified complaint against Judge Fuentes III, specifically highlighting delays in Civil Case No. 7028. The complainant claimed that the case had been submitted for decision since January 2008, with undue delays leading to motions for the Court to render a decision.
Admission of Delay
Judge Fuentes III later acknowledged the delay regarding Civil Case No. 7028 but indicated that this case was part of the backlogged cases mentioned in prior resolutions. He submitted a decision dated October 20, 2011, in a belated effort to address the complaints.
Conclusions by the OCA
The OCA reported in November 2012 that Judge Fuentes III was guilty of gross inefficiency due to significant delays in deciding 70 cases, including the one filed by Butal, and unresolved motions. They recommended a fine and a warning against future infractions.
Judicial Mandates
Under the 1987 Constitution, judges are required to decide cases within 90 days of submission, and any unreasonable delay constitutes gross inefficiency. This requirement is also supported by the New Code of Judicial Conduct, reinforcing the expectation for judges to handle cases promptly.
Court's Decision
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...continue readingCase Syllabus (A.M. No. RTJ-13-2342, RTJ-12-2318)
Background of the Case
- A judicial audit was conducted on June 13, 2011, at the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 49, Tagbilaran City, presided by Judge Fernando G. Fuentes III.
- The audit report indicated that there were 272 pending cases (138 criminal and 134 civil) in the court's docket as of the audit date.
- Among these, 83 cases (24 criminal and 59 civil) were submitted for decision, with 70 of these cases overdue, some dating back to 2003.
- The report highlighted that 31 of the overdue cases were appeals from lower courts, including two involving detention prisoners.
Court Directives Issued
- On August 22, 2011, the Supreme Court resolved to direct Judge Fuentes III to cease hearing new cases and focus solely on resolving pending cases, particularly prioritizing cases involving detention prisoners.
- Judge Fuentes III's salaries and benefits were ordered withheld pending compliance with the directives.
- Presiding Judge Suceso A. Arcamo was designated as an assisting judge to handle hearings and interlocutory matters in Judge Fuentes III's court until compliance was achieved.
Judge Fuentes III's Response and Attempts at Compliance
- In a letter dated October 7, 2011, Judge Fuentes III acknowledged the audit findings but offered no justification for the delays, attributing his challenges to health issues linked to frequent