SC warns vs. harassing members of the bench

The Supreme Court has indicated its willingness to entertain complaints against members of the bench but at the same time warned that complainants could end up being penalized if proven that such an undertaking is only meant to harass judges.

The SC first division, chaired by Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., in its decision issued last August 11 cleared Judge Lily Lydia Laquindanum of the Regional Trial Court in Cotabato of charges filed against her, and instead fined her complainant Mercedes Duduaco.

Duduaco, manager of the Toyota Service Center branch in Davao City had filed three administrative cases against the judge for grave misconduct, abuse of judicial office, and gross ignorance of the law. The complainant claimed that the judge had shown her arrogance when she insisted on taking her car from the service center without paying for services rendered. The judge's car had figured in an accident last June 23, 2001.

Duduaco claimed the judge insisted her insurance would pick up the tab. Since Duduaco's personnel would not release the car without payment, Laquindanum, who was still assigned at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Kabacan-Carmen, Cotabato, asked for the manager.

When told the manager was having a meeting, she allegedly scolded the shop's personnel. When told she could take out her car after she signs the Release of Claim with Subrogation form, she refused. Laquindanum said she refused to sign because the form was blank.

On July 19, 2001, Duduaco and her personnel went to the judge's chamber to apologize. But on March 4, 2002, Duduaco filed a complaint before the Supreme Court against Laquindanum, who at that time was applying as a judge at the Regional Trial Court in Midsayap, Cotabato.

"Clearly, this administrative case was filed not for the purpose of obtaining justice to the aggrieved persons, however mistaken it may be, but for the sole purpose of degrading respondent's reputation and exposing her to public ridicule," the SC ruled.

The SC upheld the opinion of the Office of Court Administrator that the complainant only wasted the time of the justices in resolving her baseless harassment suit. - Rene U. Borromeo