Supreme Court dismisses, disbars dishonest Ecija judge

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed and disbarred a regional trial court (RTC) judge in Nueva Ecija who was found guilty of dishonesty and falsification of an official document.

In a 16-page unanimous decision penned by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the SC has imposed the ultimate penalty on Judge Virgilio Caballero of Cabanatuan City RTC Branch 30 after discovering that he lied in filing his application for the position of RTC judge.

Caballero was ordered perpetually disqualified from holding office in any government agency, including government-owned and -controlled corporations.

The SC also forfeited all benefits due him, except his accrued leave credits, and had his name stricken off the Roll of Attorneys for violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Caballero, according to the SC, committed “dishonesty” when he checked the box indicating ‘No’ to the question “Have you ever been formally charged?” in his personal data sheet (PDS) filed with the Office of Administrative Services Office of the Court Administration RTC Personnel Division in his application for the position of RTC judge.

The SC ruled that Caballero’s act showed “an obvious lack of integrity, the most fundamental qualification of a member of the judiciary.”

“A judge knows fully well that the making of a false statement in his PDS could subject him to dismissal. A judge should conduct himself in a manner which merits the respect and confidence of the people at all times for he is a visible representation of the law,” the SC said.

As for Caballero’s disbarment, the SC said he violated the lawyer’s oath to “do no falsehood nor consent to the doing of any in court.”

The SC ruled that his dishonesty “did not only affect the image of the judiciary, it also put his moral character in serious doubt and rendered him unfit to continue in the practice of law.”