SC fines laggard judge who retired before ruling on cases

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court penalized a retired judge in San Fernando City, La Union for letting his retirement pass before deciding on pending cases.

In a decision, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio fined Judge Santiago E. Soriano P40,000 for "gross inefficiency" and "gross ignorance of the law" to be taken from his retirement benefits.

"The Court orders the immediate release of the annuity payable monthly to Judge Soriano under Republic Act No. 910, as amended by Republic Act," the decision said.

Soriano's retirement took effect in 2006 but was found to still have almost 100 unresolved cases beyond their due dates.

An judicial audit team, having made an inventory of pending cases, discovered that Soriano failed to decide on 57 of 59 pending cases at the San Fernando Municipal Trial Court and 39 of 41 cases filed before Naguilan Regional Trial Court.

The unresolved cases went already beyond the reglementary period to decide on cases.

Carpio said Soriano "has been remiss in the performance of his judicial duties."

"Judge Soriano's inefficiency in managing his caseload was compounded by gross negligence as evinced by the loss of the records of at least four cases which could no longer be located or reconstituted despite diligent efforts by his successor," it said.

The Code of Judicial Conduct mandates that judges must be diligent and exhibit professional competence in court as well as in fulfilling their administrative duties. - Camille Diola