Mupas described as a 'fighting judge'

MANILA, Philippines - Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jesus Mupas refused to comment on the election sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which was raffled off to him yesterday.

“This is a very sensitive case,” the 52-year-old Mupas told reporters.

He briefly emerged for a photo opportunity and returned to his chambers to review the high profile case.

A 1984 graduate of Manuel L. Quezon University in Manila, Mupas began his career as a prosecutor of the Department of Justice.

He also served as judge in Cavite City before he assumed his post as presiding judge of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112.

A native of Burgos, Pangasinan, Mupas is married to a lawyer. They have three children.

“He is very kind to us, he takes his lunch with us,” a female court employee said.

Lawyer Joel Pelicano, clerk of Court, said Mupas is a “fighting judge” as far as due process and the rule of law is concerned.

Upon receipt of the complaint from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Mupas immediately began studying the urgent motion for issuance of a hold departure order (HDO), he added.

Under normal process, a respondent for HDO is given 10 days to reply to the motion before the court rules, he said.

Pelicano said as far as the Pasay City RTC is concerned the HDO request of the Comelec is still under study.

Pelicano said considering the time limit, it is unlikely that an HDO will be issued to GMA within the day.

This is the first time since Mupas assumed his post that a high profile case has entered his sala. Others facing election sabotage charges are former election chairman Benjamin Abalos, Lintang Bedol and Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Pelicano said Mupas will review the Comelec complaint before issuing an arrest warrant or HDO against the respondents.

A total of eight books containing documentary evidence were received by the court.

Among the documents submitted to the court was the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal which declared Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III the duly-elected senator in the 2007 elections.

The election sabotage complaint was filed by Pimentel after several witnesses came out and exposed the alleged anomalies. Election sabotage is a non-bailable offense.