THIRD DIVISION
|
ERLINDA P. VARCAS,
Complainant, - versus - JUDGE RAFAEL P. OROLA, JR., MCTC,
DAO-IVISAN, CAPIZ, Respondent. |
A.M.
No. MTJ-05-1615 [Formerly
OCA I.P.I No. 04-1613-MTJ] Present: QUISUMBING, J., Chairperson, CARPIO,
CARPIO MORALES, and TINGA, JJ.
Promulgated: February 22, 2006 |
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x
D E C I S I O N
CARPIO MORALES, J.:
By a verified letter-complaint[1] in
Pilipino, Erlinda
P. Varcas (complainant) charges Judge Rafael Orola, Jr. (respondent) of the Municipal Circuit Trial
Court (MCTC) of Dao-Ivisan, with station at Dao, Capiz, with gross ignorance of the law or procedure,
classified as a serious charge under Section 8, Rule 140, as amended.
The antecedents of the case follow:
Complainant was indicted for direct
assault before the sala of respondent. Her arraignment was scheduled on
When the case was called on
Complainant appears to have eventually
shown up in court on
On
During
the hearing of
The
Provincial Prosecutor finding probable cause filed an information against the herein
accused for Direct Assault.
In order not to frustrate the ends of justice, let a warrant of arrest issue. The bail for her temporary liberty is hereby fixed at P12,000.00. (Underscoring supplied)
It appears that complainant got wind
of the P12,000 before the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan, Capiz of which she is a
resident, and for which she was issued Official Receipt (O.R.) C No. 0944912.
On January 19, 2004, complainant presented
the O.R. issued to her by the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan
to the MCTC Clerk of Court, Norman F. Oducado, who
refused to accept it, however, as allegedly respondent had instructed him that the
cash bond must be deposited with the Clerk of Court who would issue an O.R. therefor, it being a matter of policy that a fiduciary fund
receipt should be issued for cash bonds posted.
She was advised to return the O.R. to the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan,
Capiz.
The Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan later issued a Certification[5] that
O.R. No. 0944912 was replaced by O.R. No. 19248652 dated January 19, 2004
[issued by MCTC Clerk of Court Oducado].
By Order of
Hence, the present complaint against
respondent, for gross ignorance of the law, for 1) issuing the January 16, 2004
Order faulting her for indirect contempt despite the fact that she had up to
5:00 p.m. of that day to comply with his January 6, 2004 order, thus depriving
her of the opportunity to be heard thereon as called for by Section 4 of Rule 71; refusing to sign the order for her to be released
on January 19, 2004; and 2) instructing
the Clerk of Court not to accept the cash bond she posted at the Office of Ivisan Municipal Treasurer, despite the provision of the
Rules of Criminal Procedure that the cash bond of an accused can be deposited
with the nearest collector of internal revenue or provincial or municipal
treasurer.
To the complaint, respondent proffers
the following comments: He issued the
January 6, 2004 Order in accordance with Section 4 of Rule 71 of the 1997 Rules
of Civil Procedure which allows a court to motu
proprio initiate proceedings for indirect contempt by an order, in view of complainant’s
failure to show up for arraignment.
Since the last day for complainant to file her written explanation behind
her failure to show up on January 6, 1994 fell on January 16, 2004 (a Friday),
“[t]o insure prompt attendance of [complainant] during court hearing and in
view of the findings of probable cause by the Provincial Prosecution,” he
issued the questioned January 16, 2004 Order in open court, ordering
her detention for two days “for defying” its order.[8]
As for the refusal of the Clerk of
Court to accept the O.R. covering complainant’s cash bond posted before the Ivisan Municipal Treasurer, respondent denied having advised
him to that effect, albeit he proffered that said Clerk’s advice for complainant
to post the bond in court is in accordance with a requirement that a fiduciary
fund receipt should be issued for the posting of bail.
Finally, on his refusal to approve on
OCA’s EVALUATION AND
RECOMMENDATION
On evaluation of the case, the OCA found
respondent guilty of gross ignorance of the law in this wise:
x x x His hasty order detaining complainant without awaiting her comment and without conducting the necessary hearing is a clear violation of the rules. Respondent judge should be reminded that he should not cut short the proceedings simply because the last day for complainant to file her explanation fell on a Friday or that there was a need to discipline the latter to ensure her prompt attendance in court hearings. Complainant should not be deprived of her liberty without due process of law.
While it may be said that respondent judge was merely exercising the inherent power of the court to punish for contempt, such power should be exercised with due regard to the rights of the contemner and must be exercised on the preservative, not vindictive, and on the corrective, and not retaliatory idea of punishment. The court must exercise the power to punish for contempt for purposes that are impersonal, because that power is intended as a safeguard not for the judge as persons but for the functions that they exercise.
In fine, the rule (Section 3, Rule 71, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure) violated by respondent judge is so basic that not to know it or to act as if he does not know it constitute gross ignorance of the law which is punishable by a fine or suspension from office without salary and other benefits for more than three (3) [months] but not exceeding six (6) months; or a fine of more than P20,000.00 but not exceeding P40,000.00. Considering that this is the first offense of Judge Orola Jr., a fine of P20,000.00 is commensurate.
As regards the alleged refusal to accept complainant’s cash bond, it was erroneous to have required the complainant to return the official receipt to the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan, Capiz and post the money in court. However, such indiscretion was committed by the Clerk of Court and not respondent judge. Moreover there is no clear showing that respondent judge instructed the Clerk of Court not to accept the official receipt issued by the Municipal Treasurer. Also, respondent judge’s refusal to act on complainant’s release order and other pertinent papers in his residence is a policy which is left to the discretion of respondent judge. It will be noted however that respondent judge on the following day immediately approved her cash bond and ordered her release.[9] (Citations omitted) (Underscoring supplied)
The OCA accordingly gave the
following Recommendation:
(a) The
instant administrative complaint be RE-DOCKETED
as a regular administrative matter;
and
(b) Respondent Judge Rafael P. Orola, Jr. of the 3rd MCTC, Dao-Ivisan, Capiz be ordered to pay a FINE in the amount of TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) for gross ignorance of law with stern WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall be dealt with more severely.[10] (Emphasis in the original)
THIS COURT’S RULING
Respondent is indeed guilty of gross ignorance of the law
in light of the following discussions.
When an accused fails
to appear when required, like during arraignment, Section 21 of Rule 114 of the
Rules provides:
Sec. 21. Forfeiture of bail. - When the presence of the accused is required by the court or these Rules, his bondsmen shall be notified to produce him before the court on a given date and time. If the accused fails to appear in person as required, his bail shall be declared forfeited and the bondsmen given thirty (30) days within which to produce their principal and to show cause why no judgment should be rendered against them for the amount of their bail. Within the said period, the bondsmen must:
(a) produce the body of their principal or give the reason for his non-production; and
(b) explain why the accused did not appear before the court when first required to do so.
Failing in these two requisites, a judgment shall be rendered against the bondsmen, jointly and severally, for the amount of the bail. The court shall not reduce or otherwise mitigate the liability of the bondsmen, unless the accused has been surrendered or is acquitted. (Italics in the original; underscoring supplied)
Respondent did not,
however, follow the above-quoted rule.
Instead, he issued a bench warrant for complainant’s arrest and detention,
with the requirement that she post a bailbond of P12,000
“for temporary liberty.”
Complainant did post a cash bond of P12,000 alright,
but respondent still enforced his order for her to be detained for two
days. For what then was she supposed to
be posting the P12,000 bond if she was still going to be detained? Did not complainant post bail under Section 1
of Rule 114, upon arrest following the filing of the information “to guarantee
his appearance?”
In another vein, if complainant’s failure to show up during
the scheduled arraignment on
Sec. 3. Indirect contempt to be punished after charge and hearing. - After a charge in writing has been filed, and an opportunity given to the respondent to comment thereon within such period as may be fixed by the court and to be heard by himself or counsel, a person guilty of any of the following acts may be punished for indirect contempt:
x x x x
(b) Disobedience of or resistance to a lawful writ, process, order or judgment of a court, including the act of a person who, after being dispossessed or ejected from any real property by the judgment or process of any court of competent jurisdiction, enters or attempts or induces another to enter into or upon such real property, for the purpose of executing acts of ownership or possession, or in any manner disturbs the possession given to the person adjudged to be entitled thereto;
x x x x (Italics in the original, underscoring supplied)
In his Notes under above-said Section 3 of Rule 71, Justice
Regalado states:
1. With some minor changes in the phraseology, this provision is a reproduction of the former Sec. 3 of this Rule. It is now specified that the respondent should (a) be given an opportunity to comment on the charge within such period fixed by the court, and (b) be heard thereon by himself or counsel.
Thus, the procedural requisites for indirect contempt proceedings are (a) a charge in writing or an order of the court to appear and explain, and (b) an opportunity for the respondent to comment on the charge and to appear and explain his conduct.[11] (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
In the present case, respondent did
not comply with the second requisite. He
gave complainant 10 days from receipt of the order or until
By respondent’s issuance of the questioned
Order of
There being no record that respondent
had previously been faulted administratively, the recommended penalty of FINE in
the amount of P20,000 is well-taken, with warning that a repetition of
the same or similar infraction shall be dealt with more severely.
WHEREFORE, for
gross ignorance of the law, respondent, Judge Rafael P. Orola,
Jr., of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Dao-Ivisan,
Capiz, is FINED
in the amount of Twenty Thousand (P20,000) Pesos, with warning that
a repetition of the same or similar charge shall be dealt with more severely.
SO ORDERED.
CONCHITA
CARPIO MORALES
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
LEONARDO A.
QUISUMBING
Associate Justice
Chairperson
|
ANTONIO T. CARPIO Associate Justice |
DANTE O. TINGA Associate Justice |