Paredes steps down as RTC executive judge

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes of Branch 13 stepped down as executive judge after the Supreme Court found him guilty of an administrative case for incompetence and undue delay in resolving cases.

Aside from Paredes, RTC Branch 20 Judge Bienvenido Saniel was also found guilty of the same offense.

Both were fined P10,000 each.

But Paredes said they will file a motion for reconsideration to the resolution of the case that was approved by Jose Midas Marquez as court administrator.

In a press conference yesterday attended by RTC judges and some members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Paredes announced that last Friday afternoon he wrote a letter to the court administrator automatically divesting himself as executive judge.

“Even if the decision will be right or wrong I will divest myself as being executive judge…di ko kapit tuko as executive judge,” Paredes said.

Paredes said lawyer Florencio Villarin filed before the SC an administrative case against him and Saniel for their delay in resolving his civil case against Lorenzo Shipping.

He added he was the third of the judges to handle the case —and later inhibit themselves— before Saniel took it over.

The other three judges were retired judge Ireneo Lee Gako of Branch 5, Judge Aproniano Taypin of Branch 12 and Judge Anacleto Caminade of Branch 6.

Paredes said he was not guilty of the delay and added when Saniel handled the case the latter had problems after his wife was confined in the hospital for three months before she died.

The civil case filed by Villarin was raffled to Paredes’ branch and he set the hearing for July 30, 2002, but Villarin wanted to amend the order and the hearing reset to June 1, 2002, but the said motion was allegedly filed in August and declared moot and academic.

Judge Silvestre Maamo of Branch 17 will replace him as a new executive judge as the latter was the first vice executive judge, Paredes said Maamo is a very competent judge.

Paredes also thanked the IBP and his colleagues for always being there for him. —/BRP - (THE FREEMAN)