High Court orders probe of Pampanga MTC judge

The Supreme Court, acting on a complaint of a woman lawyer, has ordered the investigation of a Pampanga Municipal Trial Court (MTC) judge on allegations of incompetence, gross ignorance of the law and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Facing the investigation is Judge Rodrigo Flores, of San Fernando City MTC Branch 2, the subject of a complaint filed by lawyer Maria Elissa Velez.

Velez lodged the complaint against Flores in connection with a civil case she handled for spouses Jose and Lina Velez in the MTC judge’s sala.

In a resolution, the High Court’s third division directed the re-docketing of the complaint against Flores as a regular administrative matter.

The third division also referred the charge of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Flores to San Fernando City Executive Judge Pedro Sunga for investigation.

Supreme Court Hilario Davide Jr. earlier ordered an audit of the bail bonds fixed and reduced by Flores and another MTC judge, Perfecto Corpuz Jr., following complaints by litigants and members of the Pampanga chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

The IBP members alleged that there were "irregularities" in the fixing and reduction of bail bonds.