A.M. No. RTJ-96-1365 - Young vs. De Guzman

Robert G. Young filed an administrative complaint against Judge Pastor V. De Guzman for unreasonable delay in the disposition of Civil Case No. 873-R.
The case involved the recovery of unpaid rentals from store space lessees and accounting for all rentals due from a condominium property.
The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) evaluated the case and found that the judge failed to comply with Administrative Circular No. 4, recommending a fine of P5,000.00.
The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the complaint, finding no evidence of bad faith or malice on the part of the judge.

Judges are mandated to resolve cases promptly, as stipulated by the Rules of Court and the Code of Judicial Conduct.
However, judges must not compromise due process for the sake of expediency.
The respondent judge believed that the issues could only be resolved after all parties were fully heard, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of the case.
The judge's order on December 20, 1990, indicated that the entitlement to rental deposits required a prior resolution of ownership issues.

The complaint arose from a verified letter dated March 26, 1996, by Robert G. Young, President of Banawe Realty Development Corporation.
The case involved multiple parties, including La Commercial Company and China Banking Corporation, which were substituted during the proceedings.
An earthquake in July 1990 destroyed the condominium, leading to a joint motion to dismiss the case, which remained unresolved.
The complainant alleged that the judge acted with undue haste in granting attorney's fees to Atty. Helenea M. Dauz while neglecting the main case.

Judge De Guzman countered that the case was complex, involving issues of ownership and possession, rather than a simple rental recovery.
He clarified that the substitution of parties was misrepresented and that the case's complexity contributed to the delay.
The judge attributed the delay to the parties' motions and pleadings, as well as his own health issues that required a prolonged leave of absence.
He maintained that the motion for attorney's fees was resolved only after Banawe Realty failed to file any opposition.

The OCA found that the judge did not comply with the directive to expedite older cases and recommended a fine.
The Supreme Court required both parties to indicate their willingness to submit the case for resolution base...continue reading