FIRST DIVISION
[A.M. No. RTJ-02-1677.
JERUSALINO V. ARAOS, complainant, vs. JUDGE
ROSALINA L. LUNA-PISON, in her capacity as Presiding Judge, Regional Trial
Court, Branch 107, Quezon City, respondent.
R E S O L U T I O N
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:
A Complaint[1] was filed by Jerusalino V. Araos against Judge Rosalina Luna-Pison, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 107, for Graft and Corruption, Knowingly Rendering An Unjust Decision and Gross Ignorance of the Law.
Complainant is the accused in Criminal Case No. Q-91-26112 for Estafa as defined and penalized under Article 315 of the
Revised Penal Code. He alleged that on
Complainant alleged that at the time of the filing of the
Information in Criminal Case No. Q-91-26112 on
Moreover, complainant claims that he did not employ deceit or misrepresentation when he entered into an agreement with the private offended party for the construction of the latter’s house. He further explained that the amount of P350,000.00 which was given to him by the private offended party was spent solely for the purchase of the required building materials.
On
Respondent Judge further states that complainant subsequently
challenged the two (2) adverse orders against him before the Court of Appeals
by way of a petition for certiorari
with application for preliminary injunction docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 43160.[8]
The petition was denied due course in a Resolution dated
Complainant then filed before this Court a petition for review on
certiorari, docketed as G.R. No.
128768.[10]
On
Respondent Judge maintains that she decided the case with justice and equity being always the overriding consideration. She stressed that she had studied meticulously the case and that her decision was based on the facts and evidence presented and the law applicable to the offense charged.
The OCA recommended the dismissal of the complaint against respondent reasoning that the issues raised by complainant pertains to the respondent Judge’s exercise of judicial discretion, and that the alleged want of jurisdiction of respondent judge had already been settled by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, which upheld the jurisdiction of respondent judge over Criminal Case No. Q-91-26112.
The findings of the OCA are well taken. In administrative
proceedings, complainants have the burden of proving by substantial evidence
the allegations in their complaints.[13]
In the absence of contrary evidence as in this case, what will prevail is the
presumption that the respondent has regularly performed her duties.[14]
xxx. The Rules, even in an
administrative case, demand that, if the respondent judge should be disciplined
for grave misconduct or any graver offense, the evidence against him should be
competent and should be derived from direct knowledge. The Judiciary to which the respondent belongs
demands no less. Before any of its
members could be faulted, it should only be after due investigation and after
the presentation of competent evidence, especially since the charge is penal in
character.[15]
In cases where the charges involved are misconduct in office,
willful neglect, corruption, or incompetency, the
general rules in regard to admissibility in evidence in criminal trials
apply. In other words, the ground for
the removal of a judicial officer should be established beyond reasonable
doubt.[16]
Misconduct is defined as any unlawful conduct on the part of a
person concerned in the administration of justice prejudicial to the rights of
parties or to the right determination of the cause.[17]
It generally means wrongful, improper or unlawful conduct motivated by a
premeditated, obstinate or intentional purpose.[18]
To justify the taking of drastic disciplinary action, as is what is sought by
complainant in this case, the law requires that the error or mistake must be
gross or patent, malicious, deliberate or in bad faith.[19]
For liability to attach for ignorance of the law, the assailed
order, decision or actuation of the judge in the performance of official duties
must not only be found to be erroneous but, most importantly, it must be
established that he was moved by bad faith, dishonesty, hatred or some other
like motive.[20]
Similarly, a judge will be held administratively liable for rendering an unjust
judgment – one which is contrary to law or jurisprudence or is not supported by
evidence – when he acts in bad faith, malice, revenge or some other similar motive.[21]
In other words, in order to hold a judge liable for knowingly rendering an
unjust judgment, it must be shown beyond reasonable doubt that the judgment is
and that it was made with a conscious and deliberate intent
to do an injustice.[22]
In fine, bad faith is the ground for liability in either or both offenses.[23]
In the case at bar, the record is bereft of any showing of a
wrongful, improper or unlawful conduct on the part of respondent judge. As observed by the Court of Appeals in its
Resolution dated
xxx. The painstaking
analysis with which the respondent evaluated the evidence adduced by the
prosecution and the well-reasoned conclusions arrived by her in the assailed
resolution and order, cannot but negate any imputation of grave abuse of
discretion on her part. Quite the
contrary, both resolution and order unmistakably speak of the care and
meticulousness with which the said respondent addressed the issues raised in the
petitioner’s demurrer and motion for reconsideration.[24]
Assuming for the nonce that respondent judge may have erred at
all, the lapse would be a mere error of judgment. A judge may not be administratively charged
for mere errors of judgment, in the absence of showing of any bad faith malice or
corrupt purpose.[25]
Indeed, it is settled that judges cannot be held to account criminally, civilly
or administratively for an erroneous decision rendered in good faith.[26]
As held in Dionisio v. Escano,[27]
if a party is prejudiced by the orders of a judge, his remedy lies with the
proper court for the proper judicial action and not with the Office of the
Court Administrator by means of an administrative complaint. Divergence of opinion between a trial judge
and a party’s counsel is not proof of bias and partiality.[28]
All told, the absence of any evidence showing that respondent
Judge acted in bad faith, ill-will or malice reduces the charges against her
into a mere indictment. We cannot, however, give credence to charges based on
mere suspicion and speculation.[29]
We will never tolerate or condone any conduct, act or omission
that would violate the norm of public accountability or diminish the people’s
faith in the judiciary.[30]
However, when an administrative charge against a Judge or court personnel holds
no basis whatsoever in fact or in law, we will not hesitate to protect them
against any groundless accusation that trifles with judicial processes.[31]
The Court will not shirk from its responsibility of imposing discipline upon
all employees of the judiciary, but neither will it hesitate to shield them
from unfounded suits that only serve to disrupt rather than promote the orderly
administration of justice.[32]
WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, the complaint against respondent Judge is DISMISSED for lack of merit.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J. (Chairman), Puno, and Kapunan, JJ., concur.
[1] Rollo,
p. 1.
[2] Ibid., p. 53.
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13] Lorena v. Encomienda,
302 SCRA 632 [1999]; Cortes v.
Agcaoili, 294 SCRA 423 [1998].
[14] Oniquit
v. Binamira-Parcia, 297 SCRA 354 [1998].
[15] OCA v. Judge Filomeno Pascual, 259 SCRA 604
[1996].
[16] Raquiza
v. Castaneda, Jr., 81 SCRA 235 [1978].
[17] Canson v.
Garchitorena, SB-99-9-J,
[18] Ibid., p.
285, citing Words and Phrases, Vol. 27, p. 466, citing Sewell v. Sharp,
La App., 102 So 2d 259, 261.
[19] Fernadez
v. Español, 289 SCRA 1, 7 [1998], citing Roa, Sr. v. Imbing, 231
SCRA 57, 61 [1994]; Guillermo v. Reyes, Jr., 240 SCRA 154, 161 [1995];
Alvarez v. Laquindamum, 245 SCRA 501, 504
[1995]; Bengzon v. Adaoag,
250 SCRA 344, 348 [1995].
[20] De la Cruz v.
[21] Guerrero v. Villamor, 296 SCRA 88, 98 [1998].
[22] Naval v. Panday, 275 SCRA 654, 694 [1997], citing Wingarts v. Mejia, 242 SCRA 436 [1995]; Basbacio v. Office of the Secretary, Department of
Justice, 238 SCRA 5 [1994]; Louis Vuitton, S.A. v.
Villanueva, 216 SCRA 121 [1992].
[23] Heirs of the late
Nasser D. Yasin v. Felix, 250 SCRA 545 [1995]
[24] Rollo,
p. 262; emphasis provided.
[25] Re: Judge Silverio S. Tayao, RTC Branch
143,
[26] In Re: Petition for
Dismissal from Service and/or Disbarment of Judge Baltazar
R. Dizon, 173 SCRA 719 [1989].
[27] 302 SCRA 411, 422
[1999].
[28] Go v. CA, 221
SCRA 397 [1993]; Paredes v. Sandiganbayan, 252 SCRA 541 [1996].
[29] Lambino v.
De Vera, 275 SCRA 60 [1997].
[30] Re: Report on the Judicial
Audit, RTC Br. 117,
[31] Sarmiento v.
Salamat, A.M. No. P-01-1501,
[32] Francisco v. Leyva, 304 SCRA 365 [1999].