Retired judge fined

The Supreme Court fined a retired Cebu regional trial court judge after a judicial audit showed that he had failed to render decisions in 13 civil cases and resolve motions in three other civil cases within the prescribed period.

The tribunal’s third division ordered that the P11,000 fine of former Argao RTC Branch 26 Judge Epifanio Llanos be deducted from his retirement benefits.

Llanos retired on April 7, 2002 after serving the judiciary for 34 years.

Although it considered Llanos’ heavy workload and poor health during his final days in office, the tribunal said that could not exonerate him from his administrative liability. — Pia Lee-Brago