Stenographer jailed for contempt

CEBU, Philippines – A stenographer of Regional Trial Court Branch 24 was ordered imprisoned for one day and to pay a fine of P200 after Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 4 Judge Rosabella Tormis cites her in contempt.

Beatriz Espartero, 59, was assigned in the sala of Judge Olegario Sarmiento.

She was facing a case for collection of sum of money filed by Victor Yu, wherein Tormis ordered her last July 13 to pay P42,000.

Espartero, in her motion for reconsideration, accused Tormis of being biased for the complainant. Espartero cited that Tormis is also a borrower at the same lending company who sued her, which the lender denied.

Tormis, in explaining her order citing Espartero for direct contempt, cited that a motion for reconsideration is not even allowed in the Rule of Procedure for Small Claim Cases.

Tormis said that Espartero not only filed a pleading that was "irrelevant," it was also "filled with malice" directed at the judge.

Espartero submitted her explanation dated August 2 but according to Tormis, Espartero made further insulting remarks instead of being remorseful for her previous offensive statements.

The judge said that Espartero also made mention of private matters that have nothing to do with the case, "making it clear that she has no respect" for the court.

Worse, the judge said, Espartero is a court employee who should know better how to behave herself in the court.

Espartero said she will file a certiorari before the Regional Trial Court to question the discretionary of power of Tormis.

"Magpapriso nalang ko, kayahon nako, kay kana man ang makalipay ni Judge Tormis. Pero mo-file kog certiorari to question the discretionary power of Tormis," Espartero said.

But for Tormis, the defendant "displayed arrogance, demeaning not only the presiding judge but the court as well."

Tormis said her order citing Espartero in contempt was not issued out of vindictiveness but was issued for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the court.

Tormis issued a warrant of arrest for Espartero, who was arrested by SPO4 Mario Revilla of the Fuente Police Station yesterday afternoon at the Palace of Justice.

The police was supposedly going to take Espartero to the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center but since it was already past 5 p.m., she was taken instead to the Fuente Police Station. She is expected to be out of jail on Saturday morning. (THE FREEMAN)