Judge in bribery case fired

The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed and disbarred a municipal judge in Batangas province after he was found guilty of extorting P15,000 in November 1996 from three parents of five individuals who were facing drug charges in his sala.

Judge Ramon Reyes of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Mabini-Tingloy, Batangas, was also stripped of all his retirement benefits and leave credits and perpetually barred from holding office in any government-owned and controlled corporation.

Reyes' bribery case stemmed from the complaint of Nenita Dalangin, Marina Cordero and Nelia Evangelista who sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The three, whose sons were accused of drug pushing, claimed Reyes had initially demanded from them P240,000 in exchange for the dismissal of the case, but this was eventually reduced after the mothers said they did not have enough money.

The 15-member High Tribunal said Reyes' "conduct falls short of the exacting standards demanded by the legal profession, such that his malfeasance in office merits the ultimate penalty, that of expulsion from our esteemed brotherhood."