397 Phil. 476
VITUG, J.:
Following a judicial audit and physical inventory of records conducted by a Judicial Audit Team[1] in the Regional Trial Court ("RTC") of Santiago City, Branches 21, 35 and 36; RTC of Cabarroguis, Quirino, Branch 31; RTC of Ilagan, Isabela, Branch 17; Municipal Trial Court in Cities ("MTCC") of Santiago City, Branches 1 and 2; and Municipal Trial Court ('MTC") of Cauayan and Echague, Isabela, and considering the recommendations of the Office of the Court Administrator ("OCA") in its memorandum, dated 23 February 1998, to the Chief Justice, the Court, in its 23rd June 1998 resolution, resolved, among other things, to
- (1) Direct Judge Serio A. Plan of MTC, Cauayan, Isabela, to explain the delay in the resolution of the following cases:
"1. CV-1896 - Submitted for Resolution on August 29, 1996;
2. CV-1894 - Submitted for resolution on November 4, 1996;
3. CV-1932 - Submitted for resolution on December 16, 1996;
4. CV-1946 - Submitted for decision on November 5, 1997;
5. CV-2034 - Submitted for decision on November 12, 1997; and
6. CV-1706 - Submitted for decision on March 17, 1997."[2]
(2) Direct Judge Wilfredo P. Ambrosio of RTC, Cabarroguis, Quirino, Branch 31, to explain the delay in the resolution of the following cases:
"1. 426 - Submitted for decision on June 16, 1997;
2. 427 - Submitted for decision on June 16, 1997;
3. 434 - Submitted for decision on June 16, 1997;
4. 387 - Submitted for decision on June 16, 1997;
5. 194 - Submitted for decision on October 19, 1995;
6. 256 - Submitted for decision on July 26, 1995;
7. 430 - Submitted for decision on August 25, 1997;
8. 292 - Submitted for decision on January 27, 1997;
9. 169 - Submitted for decision on July 7, 1997
10. 373 - Submitted for decision on August 25, 1997; (with draft decision)
11. 324 - Submitted for decision on May 15, 1996;
12. 425 - Submitted for decision on August 25, 1997; 13. 393 - Submitted for resolution on March 3, 1997;
14. 408 - Submitted for resolution on August 25, 1996;
15. 83 - Submitted for resolution on October 10, 1997;
16. 368 - Submitted for resolution on August 7, 1994; and
17. 370 - Submitted for resolution on August 20, 1996."[3]
Judge Ambrosio was likewise required to explain why the following cases were unacted upon for a considerable length of time; to wit:
"CIVIL CASES | |
1. 392 | 14. 45916 |
2. 444 | 15. LRC-92-9 |
3. 188 | 16. 311 |
4. 283 | 17. 261 |
5. 302 | 18. 295 |
6. 394 | 19. 459 |
7. 96-11 | 20. Sp. Proc. 93-002 |
8. 228 | 21. Sp. Proc. 96-08 |
9. 320 | 22. Sp. CV 173 |
10. LRA 184 | 23. LRC Case No. 182 |
11. 399 | 24. Sp. CV Action 91-02 |
12. 309 | 25. Sp. Proc. 97-10 |
13. 243 | 26. LRC Case No. 181 |
"CRIMINAL CASES |
1. 1283 | 3. 1043 | 5. 975 |
2. 718 | 4. 951 | 6. 1116"[4] |
(3) Direct Judge Fe Albano Madrid of RTC, Santiago City, Branch 21, to explain the delay in the resolution of Civil Case No. 0105, submitted for decision on 09 October 1997, and to explain why the following cases were unacted upon for a considerable length of time; to wit:
"CIVIL CASES |
1. 2348 | 4. 2425 | 7. 2433 | 10. 2432 |
2. 2441 | 5. 2230 | 8. 2312 | 11. 2313"[5] |
3. 2317 | 6. 2383 | 9. 503 |
(4) Direct Judge Demetrio D. Calimag, Jr., RTC of Santiago City, Branch 35, to explain the delay in the resolution of the following cases:
"CRIMINAL CASES |
1. 1898 - Submitted for decision on October 10, 1997; |
2. 1977 - Submitted for decision on October 10, 1997; |
3. 1978 - Submitted for decision on October 10, 1997; and |
4. 1979 - Submitted for decision on October 10, 1997; |
"CIVIL CASES |
1. LRC Case-35-2161 - Submitted for decision on July 28, 1997; |
2. 2077 - Submitted for decision on May 22, 1997; and |
3. 2318 - Submitted for decision on February 19, 1997."[6] |
Judge Calimag, furthermore, was required to explain why the following cases were unacted upon for a considerable length of time; to wit:
"CIVIL CASES | ||
1. LRC 2095 | 3. LRC 2087 | 5. 2396 |
2. 2165 | 4. Sp. Proc. 0205 | 6. 204"[7] |
(5) Direct Judge Efren A. Lamorena, RTC of Santiago City, Branch 36, to explain the delay in the resolution of the following cases:
"CRIMINAL CASES
"CIVIL CASES
Judge Lamorena was also asked to explain why the following cases were unacted on for a considerable length of time; to wit:
"CRIMINAL CASES | |||
1. 1605 | 2. 2283 | 3. 2071 | 4. 1943 |
"CIVIL CASES | |||
1. 0810 | 6. 0811 | 11. 2067 | 15. 1044 |
2. 1082 | 7. 0910 | 12. 540 | 16. 0449 |
3. 2186 | 8. 2187 | 13. 2142 | 17. 2355 |
4. 2294 | 9. 2443 | 14. 2352 | 18. 0108[9] |
5. 2220 | 10. 2309 |
(6) Direct Judge Ruben R. Plata, MTCC, Santiago City, to explain his delay in acting on the following cases:
"CRIMINAL CASES | |||
1. 3433 | 3. 3434 | 5. 3435 | 7. 5570 |
2. 3071 | 4. 2778 | 6. 2840 | |
"CIVIL CASES | |||
1. 320 | 4. 322 | 6. 325 | 8. 326 |
2. 327 | 5. 328 | 7. 330 | 9. 331"[10] |
3. 399 |
Judge Fe Albano Madrid, Judge Demetrio Calimag, Jr., Judge Efren Lamorena and Judge Sergio Plan submitted their respective compliances. In its Memorandum, dated 11 May 1999, the OCA reported thusly:
"JUDGE FE ALBANO MADRID
RTC, Branch 21, Santiago City
"Judge Madrid gave no explanation for the delay in the resolution of Civil Case No. 0105 and why there were cases which were unacted on for a considerable length of time. All she stated were the present status of the said cases, (pp. 54-56, rollo).
"a. Delay in the Resolution of Civil Case No. 0105.
Judge Madrid informed that Civil Case No. 0105 has long been dismissed on February 7, 1984. What might have been referred to was Spc. Proc. No. 0105 where there is a pending Motion for Reconsideration. The petitioner in the said case submitted his Supplemental Offer of Documentary Evidence on October 10, 1997 but was inadvertently missed. Thus, the Motion for Reconsideration was resolved only on February 10, 1998.
"b. Unacted cases for a considerable length of time.
"JUDGE DEMETRIO D. CALIMAG, JR.
RTC, Branch 35,
Santiago City
"Judge Calimag likewise offered no explanations for the delay in the resolution of some cases in his sala. Instead he simply gave the statuses of the cases as follows, (pp. 70-72, rollo):
"Criminal Cases:
"Civil Cases:
"Special Proceedings:
"Archived Criminal Cases:
"JUDGE EFREN A. LAMORENA
RTC, Branch 36, Santiago
City
"Judge Efren A. Lamorena, RTC, Branch 36, Santiago City, submitted his reasons (pp. 60-61, rollo) for the delay in the resolution of some cases in his sala as follows:
"1. Due to his health problem (a vision impairment) caused by a cataract disease clouding his eyes with intense pain and compromising as it compromised his eyesight thus, preventing him to carry his normal work; (Judge Lamorena informed that as soon as his economic life improves, he will try to submit himself for an eye operation. Just recently he suffered a stroke).
"2. His health problem is compounded by the hard working condition of his office. It is very small and crowded. All the equipments of the court are stocked without any airconditioning unit. (The Team noted that Judge Lamorena has no court and staff room.) He conducts his trials at the corridors and shares the room with the Office of the Clerk of Court.
"3. His sala was designated to try heinous crimes;
"4. He likewise revealed that he commutes daily in a public transportation at a distance of seventy two (72) kilometers one way with a travel time of at least four (4) hours a day.
"On November 12, 1998 (p. 80, rollo) Judge Lamorena informed that of the thirty-one (31) cases mentioned in Item No. 5-a, only six (6) cases remain to be decided or resolved, while seven (7) of the cases listed in Item No. 5-c are likewise being resolved.
"Judge Lamorena informed that had it not been for the Super Typhoon Iliang and later Loleng whose destructive fury devastated the province of Isabela, including his residence, he would have resolved already all the said cases.
"He likewise manifested that he is already ready to resume trying cases in his sala.
"It is should be noted that Judge Lamorena however did not furnish this Office copies of his decisions.
"JUDGE SERGIO A. PLAN
MTC, Cauayan, Isabela
"In his letter dated August 27, 1998 (p. 68, rollo), Judge Plan simply informed the status of the following cases:
"1. Civil Case No. 1706 - Not submitted for decision because defendants have not been served with summons as they could not be located. Due to the inaction of the plaintiff, the case is ordered archived.
"2. Civil Case Nos. 1894 & 1896 - The Court archived said cases due to the inaction of the plaintiff for unreasonable length of time.
"3. Civil Case No. 1932 - Not immediately acted upon due to the withdrawal of counsel Atty. Agustin Ladera for the plaintiff and substituted by new counsel Atty. Bernard Olalia who has not filed a formal appearance as counsel for the plaintiff and to have the motion to declare defendants in default set for hearing with notice to the defendants. Hence, due to the inaction of the plaintiff, the Court archived the case.
"4. Civil Cases Nos. 1946 & 2034 - Not immediately decided due to the failure of the plaintiff to submit the exhibits offered as evidence and as the Court was about to archive the cases, the plaintiff submitted the required exhibits and thereupon, the Court rendered its decision dated March 23 and March 31, 1998, respectively."[11]
Judge Wilfredo Ambrosio failed to comply with the directive of the Court. The OCA advised the Court that Judge Ambrosio had resigned from the service upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy although his resignation papers, for purposes of payment of his benefits, were yet being processed.
With respect to Judge Fe Albano Madrid, the OCA observed that the delay, for only a number of days, in the resolution of Civil Case No. 0105, was excusable. The slow movement in the other cases was found to be attributable, not to the Judge, but mainly to the parties. .
The OCA noted that Judge Calimag, in not proffering a single explanation, had tacitly admitted his failure to resolve the cases assigned to him within the reglementary period.
The OCA said that Judge Plan had given no explanation for his delay in disposing the cases in his sala except to state that it was due to the fault of the parties.
The OCA expressed its sympathy over the plight of Judge Lamorena who suffered a stroke and eventually died while in service. Judge Wilfredo Tumaliwan was forthwith designated as Acting Presiding Judge of Branch 36 vice Judge Lamorena.
In his compliance made on 11 May 1999, Judge Plata averred that Criminal Cases No. 3433, 3434, 2778, 3435, 3071, 2840 and 3570 (instead of 5570), as well as Civil Cases No. 320, 327, 399, 322, 328, 325, 330, 326, and 331, were already decided. The Judge, however, failed to submit copies of his orders and decisions in the criminal cases. The OCA, in its 28 January 2000 memorandum, observed that Judge Plata's orders and decisions were issued only about four (4) months after the judicial audit was conducted. The OCA noted that Civil Cases No. 331, 330, 322 and 327, while all dated 05 June 1998, were released for mailing only on 07 August 1998 or almost two (2) months after they were decided.
The OCA recommended that -
"1. Judge Fe Albano Madrid, RTC, Branch 21, Santiago City, be REPRIMANDED for the delay in the resolution of Sp. Proc. No. 0105;
"2. Judge Demetrio Calimag, RTC, Branch 35, Santiago City, be FINED P5,000.00 for his failure to justify the delay in the resolution of the following cases:
CRIMINAL CASES CIVIL CASES1. 1898 3. 1978 1. LRC Case 35-2161 2. 1977 4. 1979 2. 2077 3. 2318 "3. Judge Sergio Plan, MTC, Cauayan, Isabela, be FINED P5,000.00 for the delay in the resolution of the following cases, deductible from his retirement benefits:
1. CV-1896 4. CV-1946 2. CV-1894 5. CV-2034 3. CV-1932 6. CV-1706 "4. Judge Wilfredo Ambrosio, RTC, Branch 31, Cabarroguis, Quirino, be FINED P10,000.00 for his failure to decide the following cases:
1. 426 7. 430 13. 393 2. 427 8. 292 14. 408 3. 434 9. 169 15. 83 4. 387 10. 373 16. 368 5. 194 11. 324 17. 370 6. 256 12. 425 and willful disregard of the resolutions of the Honorable Court, to be deducted from the retirement benefits he may receive;
"5. Judge Ruben Plata, MTCC, Santiago City, be SEVERELY REPRIMANDED for his failure to act with dispatch on the following cases:
CRIMINAL CASES | |||
1. 3433 | 4. 2778 | 7. 5570 | |
2. 3071 | 5. 3435 | ||
3. 3434 | 6. 2840 | ||
CIVIL CASES | |||
1. 320 | 4. 322 | 7. 330 | |
2. 327 | 5. 328 | 8. 326 | |
3. 399 | 6. 325 | 9. 331"[12] |
The OCA did not suggest any administrative sanction against the late Judge Lamorena for "humanitarian reasons."
The Court agrees with the findings, and adopts the recommendations, of the OCA.
In A.M. No. 97-9-283-RTC (Report on the Judicial Audit Conducted in Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, Bangued, Abra, 31 May 2000), the Court deemed it inappropriate to impose sanction upon Judge Francisco O. Villarta who died during the pendency of the case against him. For like reasons, no administrative sanction would here be imposed on Judge Efren A. Lamorena.
In the resolution of the Court on 20 July 1999, the parties were required to manifest within ten (10) days from notice if they would be willing to submit the case for resolution on the basis of the reports on record. The parties having failed to comply with its directive, the Court resolved to dispense with their manifestation.
The Court agrees with the OCA that the lapses on the part of the judges can be traced to their failure in the proper observance of the following circulars of the Court; to wit:
(1) Administrative Circular No. 1, dated 28 January 1988, which states:
"1. Effective Docket Control:
1.1 All presiding judges of trial courts must, upon assumption of office, and every semester thereafter on June 30th and December 31st of every year conduct a physical inventory of their dockets for the purpose of determining the actual number of cases pending in their salas.
1.2 An inventory shall be prepared to indicate the cases pending trial, the cases submitted for decision and the cases that have been archived. Copy of such inventory shall be submitted to the Supreme Court through the Court Administrator within thirty (30) days from receipt of this Circular and the Inventory Form.
"1.3 The Presiding Judge and the Clerk of Court shall initial the Records or Rollos of each case to indicate the date of actual inventory. The inventory shall include a list of cases submitted for decision, indicating the title and case number and the date of filing of said case. An updated inventory is to be submitted to the Supreme Court every six (6) months thereafter as required in Paragraph 1.1. hereof."[13]
The circular has been restated by the Court in Administrative Circular No. 10-94 of 29 June 1994.
(2) Circular No. 13, dated 01 July 1987, reiterated in Administrative Circular No. 3-99, dated 15 January 1999, which mandates:
"To insure speedy disposition of cases, the following guidelines must be faithfully observed:
I. The session hours of all Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall be from 8:30 A.M. to noon and from 2:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M., from Monday to Friday. The hours in the morning shall be devoted to the conduct of trial, while the hours in the afternoon shall be utilized for (1) the conduct of pre-trial conferences; (2) writing of decisions, resolutions, or orders; or (3) the continuation of trial on the merits, whenever rendered necessary, as may be required by the Rules of Court, statutes, or circulars in specified cases.
However, in multi-sala courts in places where there are few practicing lawyers, the schedule may be modified upon request of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines such that one-half of the branches may hold their trial in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. Except those requiring immediate action, all motions should be scheduled for hearing on Friday afternoons, or if Friday is a non-working day, in the afternoon of the next business day. The unauthorized practice of some judges of entertaining motions or setting them for hearing on any other day or time must be immediately stopped.
"II. Judges must be punctual at all times.
"III. The Clerk of Court, under the direct supervision of the Judge, must comply with Rule 20 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure regarding the calendar of cases.
"IV. There should be strict adherence to the policy on avoiding postponements and needless delay.
Sections 2, 3 and 4 of Rule 30, 1997 Rules on Civil Procedure on adjournments and postponements and on the requisites of a motion to postpone trial for absence of evidence or for illness of a party or counsel should be faithfully observed.
Lawyers, as officers of the court, are enjoined to cooperate with judges to ensure swift disposition of cases."[14]
The Court, here again, must stress that while it is not unaware of the heavy caseload of judges nor is it impervious to the plight of judges, it cannot, however, take too lightly Rule 3.05, of Canon 3, of the Code of Judicial Conduct requiring the disposition of the court business and of pending cases or incidents promptly and seasonably.[15] All that a judge really needs to do, in case of great difficulty, would be to request for an extension of time over which the Court has, almost invariably, been sympathetic.
WHEREFORE, the Court RESOLVED, conformably with the recommendations of the OCA, that -
CRIMINAL CASES |
CIVIL CASES | ||
1. 1898 | 3. 1978 | 1. LRC Case 35-2161 | |
2. 1977 | 4. 1979 | 2. 2077 | |
3. 2318 |
3. Judge Sergio A. Plan, MTC, Cauayan, Isabela, be FINED P5,000.00 for his failure to amply justify the delay in the resolution of the following cases, deductible from his retirement benefits:
1. CV-1896 | 4. CV-1946 |
2. CV-1894 | 5. CV-2034 |
3. CV-1932 | 6. CV-1706 |
4. Judge Wilfredo Ambrosio, RTC, Branch 31, Cabarroguis, Quirino, be FINED P10,000.00 for his failure to decide the following cases:
1. 426 | 7. 430 | 13. 393 |
2. 427 | 8. 292 | 14. 408 |
3. 434 | 9. 169 | 15. 83 |
4. 387 | 10. 373 | 16. 368 |
5. 194 | 11. 324 | 17. 370 |
6. 256 | 12. 425 |
and for willful disregard of the resolutions of the Honorable Court, said fine to be deducted from the retirement benefits he might be entitled to;
5. Judge Ruben R. Plata, MTCC, Santiago City, be SEVERELY REPRIMANDED for while he was able to heretofore decide the following cases, to wit:
CRIMINAL CASES | ||
1. 3433 | 4. 2778 | 7. 3570 |
2. 3071 | 5. 3435 | |
3. 3434 | 6. 2840 | |
CIVIL CASES | ||
1. 320 | 4. 322 | 7. 330 |
2. 327 | 5. 328 | 8. 326 |
3. 399 | 6. 325 | 9. 331 |
he, nevertheless, had failed to act therein with dispatch.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Kapunan, Mendoza, Panganiban,
Quisumbing, Purisima, Pardo, Buena, Gonzaga-Reyes, Ynares-Santaigo, and
De Leon, Jr., JJ., concur.
[2] Rollo, p. 42.
[3] Rollo, p. 43.
[4] Rollo, p. 43.
[5] Rollo, p. 43.
[6] Rollo, p. 44.
[7] Rollo, p. 44.
[8] Rollo, p. 45.
[9] Rollo, p. 45.
[10] Rollo, p. 46.
[11] Rollo, pp. 223-228.
[12] Memorandum of OCA, dated 28 January 2000, pp. 5-6.
[13] At p. 105.
[14] At pp. 501-502.
[15] A.M. No. 98-8-262-RTC, Report on the Judicial Audit, etc., 21 March 2000.