SC dismisses judge, fines another for offenses

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has dismissed from service a trial court judge and fined another for various administrative offenses. The judges were identified as Judge Cesar Dumlao of the metropolitan trial court of San Mateo in Isabela, and Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City regional trial court. Dumlao was found guilty of violating Section 17 (a) Rule 114 of the Rules of Court for issuing bail to an accused who was facing a criminal complaint in another court. A Supreme Court en banc resolution said Dumlao approved the bail of one Hernan Medina, a respondent in an estafa charge, despite the fact that he has no jurisdiction over the case. Dumlao's dismissal was based on the recommendation by the Office of the Court Administrator. Mupas, on the other hand, was fined P10,000 after finding him administratively liable for delaying for more than seven months the resolution of a case pending before his sala. In a seven-page resolution, the SC Third Division found Mupas guilty of incurring delay in resolving motions and incidents pending before him, which constitutes gross inefficiency and is not excused by his additional assignment. The SC said Mupas also failed to timely transmit the order resolving said motions to the parties, a violation under Rule 3.05 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires judges to dispose of court business promptly. “Judges must cultivate a capacity for quick decision, and must not delay the judgment, which a party justly deserves,” the SC said in its resolution penned by Associate Justice Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez. The disciplinary action against Mupas was imposed after the tribunal found merit in the complaint filed by Nilo Jay Mina, who accused Mupas of dereliction of duties, grave misconduct, manifest partiality, violation of the Constitution and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. - GMANews.TV