Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2010 > October 2010 Decisions > A.M. No. RTJ-07-2076 : October 12, 2010 OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2077 ATTY. LOURDES A. ONA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2078 JOSE MARI L. DUARTE, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2079 RET. GENERAL MELITON D. GOYENA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2080 OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw :





 

EN BANC

A.M. No. RTJ-07-2076 : October 12, 2010

OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

A.M. No. RTJ-07-2077

ATTY. LOURDES A. ONA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

A.M. No. RTJ-07-2078

JOSE MARI L. DUARTE, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

A.M. No. RTJ-07-2079

RET. GENERAL MELITON D. GOYENA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

A.M. No. RTJ-07-2080

OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

D E C I S I O N

PER CURIAM:

Five (5) administrative cases were filed with the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) against Judge Alberto L. Lerma (respondent judge) of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 256, Muntinlupa City, for violating Supreme Court rules, directives, and circulars, for making untruthful statements in his certificates of service, for gross ignorance of the law and/or gross negligence, for delay in rendering an order, for abusing judicial authority and discretion, and for serious irregularity.

In a memorandum1cra1aw dated September 24, 2007, embodying the report and recommendation of the OCA, then Court Administrator Christopher O. Lock (Court Administrator Lock) referred to then Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno (Chief Justice Puno) the five administrative cases filed against respondent judge, to wit: a) Administrative Matter No. 98-6-179-RTC (Re: Request for transfer of arraignment/trial of Criminal Case No. 3639-R); b) OCA IPI No. 07-2644-RTJ ([Ret.] General Meliton D. Goyena v. Judge Alberto L. Lerma); c) OCA IPI No. 07-2643-RTJ (Jose Mari L. Duarte v. Judge Alberto L. Lerma); d) OCA IPI No. 07-2639-RTJ (Atty. Lourdes A. Ona v. Judge Alberto L. Lerma); and e) OCA IPI No. 07-2654-RTJ (Office of the Court Administrator v. Judge Alberto L. Lerma).

Per resolution2cra1aw of the Supreme Court En Banc dated September 25, 2007, the foregoing cases were respectively redocketed as regular administrative cases, as follows: A.M. Nos. RTJ-07-2076, RTJ-07-2079, RTJ-07-2078, RTJ-07-2077, and RTJ-07-2080.

Thereafter, the cases were referred to an Investigating Justice3cra1aw of the Court of Appeals (CA) for investigation and recommendation.

We shall discuss the cases individually, taking into account their peculiar factual surroundings and the findings and recommendations of the Investigating Justice.

a.) A.M. No. RTJ-07-2076

On November 27, 1995, Ruperto Pizarro y Bruno (accused) was charged with Violation of Presidential Decree No. 1866 in an information filed with the RTC, Branch 53, Rosales, Pangasinan and docketed as Criminal Case No. 3639-R.4cra1aw Since accused was already detained at the Quezon City Jail due to the pendency of another criminal case (Criminal Case No. Q-95-64130-31) filed against him. The court ordered that all notices of hearings and proceedings in Criminal Case No. 3639-R be forwarded to the Jail Warden of the Quezon City Jail.5cra1aw Subsequently, in a letter dated March 25, 1998,6cra1aw Officer-in-Charge/City Warden Arnold Buenacosa of the Quezon City Jail informed Judge Teodorico Alfonzo B. Bauzon (Judge Bauzon), RTC of Rosales, Pangasinan, that accused was transferred to the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City on March 21, 1998 in compliance with the commitment order and decision in Criminal Case No. Q-95-64130-31 of the RTC, Branch 82, Quezon City.

The Supreme Court, in a resolution7cra1aw dated June 30, 1998, directed (1) the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Branch 53, Rosales, Pangasinan, to forward the records of Criminal Case No. 3639-R to the Executive Judge, RTC, Muntinlupa City, for appropriate action; (2) the Executive Judge, RTC, Muntinlupa City, to raffle the case among the judges to arraign the accused and consequently take his testimony; and (3) the Clerk of Court, RTC, Muntinlupa City, to return the records to the RTC, Branch 53, Rosales, Pangasinan, for the continuation of the proceedings.

Pursuant to the Supreme Court resolution, Criminal Case No. 3639-R8cra1aw was raffled to RTC, Branch 256, Muntinlupa City, presided by respondent judge. Accused was arraigned on September 29, 1998. Thereafter, respondent judge proceeded to receive the evidence for the prosecution. On February 7, 2003, the prosecution formally offered its exhibits, but the firearm subject of the information was not included in the formal offer. On June 27, 2005, the accused, through Atty. Abelardo D. Tomas of the Public Attorneys Office (PAO), filed a motion for leave of court to file demurrer to prosecutions evidence.9cra1aw Respondent judge granted the said motion on July 26, 2005.10cra1aw On November 8, 2005, Atty. Rodney Magbanua of the PAO filed a demurrer to prosecutions evidence,11cra1aw contending that, without the subject firearm, the prosecution failed to prove an essential element of the offense. On February 28, 2007, respondent judge issued an order, granting the demurrer to prosecutions evidence and dismissing the case for insufficiency of evidence.12chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In a memorandum13cra1aw dated September 24, 2007, the OCA charged respondent judge with exceeding his authority under the Supreme Court resolution dated June 30, 1998 in A.M. No. 98-6-179-RTC. According to the OCA, the authority given to respondent judge under the resolution was clearly limited to the arraignment of the accused and the taking of his testimony; it did not authorize respondent judge to decide the merits of the case. The OCA contended that the act of respondent judge constituted violation of a Supreme Court directive, a less serious offense, under Section 9(4), Rule 140, Revised Rules of Court.

In his comment dated November 16, 2007, respondent judge asserted that there was neither a conscious nor a deliberate intent on his part to disobey any directive of the Supreme Court when he granted the demurrer to evidence filed by the accused in Criminal Case No. 3639-R. He claimed that, through inadvertence, he was not able to recall the limits of the referral made to him, and stressed that he ruled on the merits of the case in a way not tainted with fraud, dishonesty, or corruption. He emphasized that he acted on the demurrer to evidence because of the inadequacy of the evidence for the prosecution and because of the failure of the latter to object to the demurrer. He maintained that it would have been wrong for him to add to the penalty already being served by the accused when there was no evidence to warrant the detention of the latter for the unproved offense.14chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Under Section 9(4), Rule 140, Revised Rules of Court, failure to obey the Courts resolution is a less serious offense that carries a penalty of suspension from office without salary and other benefits for not less than one (1) month or more than three (3) months, or a fine of more than P10,000.00 but not exceeding P20,000.00.

The Investigating Justice recommends that a fine of P15,000.00 be imposed upon respondent, based on the following findings:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

In criminal actions, it is a fundamental rule that venue is jurisdictional. The place where the crime was committed determines not only the venue of the action but is an essential element of jurisdiction. Thus, a court cannot exercise jurisdiction over a person charged with an offense committed outside the limited territory. Furthermore, the jurisdiction of a court over a criminal case is determined by the allegations in the complaint or information.15chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The demurrer to evidence filed by the accused cited the accusatory portion of the information which charged him with unlawful possession of a caliber .30 U.S. carbine with two magazines and twenty-five (25) rounds of ammunition. The information clearly stated that the accused possessed the carbine, magazines, and ammunitions in Barangay Cabalaongan Sur, Municipality of Rosales, Province of Pangasinan. Had respondent judge exercised a moderate degree of caution before resolving the demurrer to evidence, a mere perusal of the records would have reminded him that his court was only authorized to arraign the accused, to receive the evidence in the said case, and to return the records of the case to the RTC, Branch 53, Rosales, Pangasinan for continuation of the proceedings. In every case, a judge shall endeavor diligently to ascertain the facts.16chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Respondent judge was found wanting in the diligence required of him. We agree with the Investigating Justice in finding respondent judge guilty of violating a Supreme Court directive, and impose upon him a fine of P15,000.00.

b.) A.M. No. RTJ-07-2080

In a letter17cra1aw dated August 28, 2007, Godofredo R. Galindez, Jr., (Godofredo), president of the Alabang Country Club, Inc. (Alabang Country Club), in response to the letter dated August 21, 2007 of Court Administrator Lock, stated that respondent judge played golf at the Alabang Country Club on the following dates and tee-off time:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

Date Tee off-time
April 8, 2000 12:00 P.M.
July 21, 2000 1:08 P.M.
August 4, 2000 1:20 P.M.
November 28, 2000 10:00 A.M.
May 17, 2001 3:05 P.M.
September 29, 2001 12:56 P.M.
March 5, 2002 1:00 P.M.
June 19, 2002 7:12 A.M.
February 12, 2004 1:35 P.M.
February 28, 2005 10:41 A.M.

With the exception of May 17, 2001, during which respondent judge allegedly played nine (9) holes of golf, Godofredo stated in his letter that the former played eighteen (18) holes of golf on all the aforestated dates.

In another letter18cra1aw dated September 3, 2007, Hirofumi Hotta (Hirofumi), operations manager of TAT Filipinas Golf Club (Tat Filipinas), in answer to an inquiry made by Court Administrator Lock, stated that respondent judge visited the said golf club and appeared to have played golf there on the following dates all Thursdays and time:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

Date Time
April 14, 2005 1:30 P.M.
April 28, 2005 1:30 P.M.
August 18, 2005 1:30 P.M.
August 25, 2005 1:30 P.M.
November 17, 2005 1:30 P.M.
November 24, 2005 1:30 P.M.
December 15, 2005 1:30 P.M.
January 26, 2006 1:30 P.M.
February 9, 2006 1:30 P.M.
March 2, 2006 1:30 P.M.
March 23, 2006 1:30 P.M.
April 6, 2006 1:30 P.M.
April 27, 2006 1:30 P.M.
June 15, 2006 1:30 P.M.
December 14, 2006 1:30 P.M.

According to the OCA, its records in the Office of the Administrative Services show that respondent judge did not declare his absences on July 21, 2000, August 4, 2000, March 5, 2002, February 12, 2004, and February 28, 2005, during which he reportedly played golf at the Alabang Country Club. Further, in a certification19cra1aw dated September 5, 2007, Hermogena F. Bayani (Hermogena), Supreme Court Chief Judicial Staff Officer, Leave Division, OCA, stated that respondent judge did not file any application for a leave of absence on all the dates mentioned by Hirofumi in his letter dated September 3, 2007. These constituted violations of Supreme Court Memorandum Order dated November 19, 1973, Administrative Circular No. 3-99 dated January 15, 1999, and Administrative Circular No. 5 dated October 4, 1988.20chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The OCA asserted that on the days that respondent judge played golf, he was lost to the judiciary for half the working/session hours on those days, positing that this is not merely truancy but also dishonesty and falsification of certificates of service.

Respondent judge, in his comment, countered that contrary to the allegations of the OCA, he only played golf thrice in 2000, once in 2001, twice in 2002, six (6) times in 2005, and five (5) times in 2006 a total of eighteen (18) times in six years, or at the average of three (3) times a year. He argued that his playing golf 18 times in six years, or thrice a year, could not be reasonably characterized as habitual to the extent that it jeopardized the discharge of his functions as a judge. He alleged that since he shared his courtroom with the other judges in Muntinlupa, he only played golf on days when no other place was available for him to carry out his official functions. Likewise, he explained that, in 1996, his physician advised him to exercise more vigorously after he was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. Respondent judge also stressed that he had never missed a day in hearing cases pending in his sala.21chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In the hearing conducted by the Investigating Justice on December 4, 2007, the OCA presented Godofredo, Hirofumi, and Sheila Aquino as witnesses.

Godofredo testified that the dates and time when respondent judge played golf at the Alabang Country Club, as mentioned in his letter, are based on the logbook entries made by the starter in the country club. A starter, explained Godofredo, is a person who records in the logbook the names of the individuals who play in the golf course. The starter may be the player himself or a member who brings in guests to play golf.

On cross-examination, Godofredo admitted that he is not the custodian of the logbook; that he is neither the starter nor the person who wrote the entries in the logbook; and that he does not recognize in whose handwriting the entries were made.

Hirofumi, the operations manager of TAT Filipinas, testified that Aquino, the front desk receptionist in the golf club, made the listing of the respective dates and time when respondent judge played at TAT Filipinas based on the data stored in their office computer.

Aquino, who had been employed by the company for fifteen (15) years, and had been working as its front desk receptionist for six (6) years, testified that she saw respondent judge sign the registered member forms at the golf club prior to playing golf.

The Investigating Justice found as insufficient the evidence that the OCA presented to show that respondent judge played golf at the Alabang Country Club on the dates alleged, but found substantial evidence that respondent judge played golf at TAT Filipinas on the dates and time indicated in Hirofumis letter dated September 3, 2007.

The testimony of Aquino, along with the certification issued by Hermogena, that respondent judge did not file any leave of absence on the dates indicated in Hirofumis letter, indubitably established that respondent judge violated Supreme Court Memorandum Order dated November 19, 1973, Administrative Circular No. 3-99 dated January 15, 1999, and Administrative Circular No. 5 dated October 4, 1988.

Supreme Court Memorandum Order dated November 19, 1973 provides for the observance by judges, among other officials and employees in the judiciary, of a five-day forty-hour week schedule which shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays.

Violation of Supreme Court rules, directives, and circulars, and making untruthful statements in the certificate of service are considered less serious charges under Section 9, Rule 140 of the Rules of Court. Under Section 11(B) of Rule 140, these acts may be punished by suspension from office without salary and other benefits for not less than one (1) month or more than three (3) months, or a fine of more than P10,000.00 but not exceeding P20,000.00.

On the basis of the foregoing findings, we adopt the recommendation of the Investigating Justice that, in this administrative case, a fine of P15,000.00 be imposed upon respondent judge.

c.) A.M. No. RTJ-07-2077

On January 24, 1995, the RTC, Branch 142, Makati City, rendered a decision in Civil Case No. 90-659, entitled Alexander Van Twest v. Gloria A. Anacleto and/or International Corporate Bank, ordering defendant bank (Interbank) or its successors-in-interest to release in favor of plaintiff Alexander Van Twest (Van Twest) the entire proceeds of Interbank Foreign Currency Trust Deposit (FCTD) No. 39156 in the amount of Deutsch Mark (DM) 260,000.00, including accrued interest and other earnings. The decision also directed defendant Gloria Anacleto to return to plaintiff the sum of DM 9,777.37 with interest thereon. The court ordered the defendants, jointly and severally, to pay plaintiff P500,000.00 as moral damages, P250,000.00 as exemplary damages, P200,000.00 as attorneys fees, and the costs of suit.22cra1aw However, even before the decision was rendered, Van Twest had disappeared and was believed to have been kidnapped and killed.23chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Subsequently, Atty. Ernesto V. Perez (Atty. Perez), representing Van Twest, filed a Motion for Execution of Decision. In the motion, Atty. Perez informed the RTC of Makati City that, on October 30, 2006, the RTC, Branch 256, Muntinlupa City, with respondent judge presiding, granted the petition to appoint the former as administrator of the properties or estate of absentee Van Twest in Special Proceeding No. 97-045, entitled In the Matter of the Petition to Appoint an Administrator for the Estate of Absentee Alexander Van Twest a.k.a. Eugene Alexander Van West.24cra1aw On January 27, 2007, the RTC Branch 142, Makati City, granted the motion for execution.25chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Union Bank of the Philippines (Union Bank) filed a Manifestation and Urgent Ex-Parte Motion dated May 23, 2007 in Special Proceeding No. 97-045, praying that the exercise by Atty. Perez of powers as administrator of absentee Van Twest be held in abeyance until the said manifestation and motion is heard. Because respondent judge was on official leave at the time of the filing of the Manifestation and Urgent Ex-Parte Motion, Judge Philip A. Aguinaldo, pairing judge of RTC Branch 256, Muntinlupa City, acted on the same, and, in an order dated May 28, 2007, granted Union Banks urgent ex-parte motion.

Union Bank thereafter filed an Urgent Manifestation and Motion to Recall Writ of Execution/Garnishment in Civil Case No. 90-659, citing, in support thereof, the order dated May 28, 2007 issued by Judge Aguinaldo in Special Proceeding No. 97-045.

On June 1, 2007, Atty. Perez filed with the Muntinlupa RTC an Omnibus Motion: 1) To Lift or Set Aside Pairing Judges Order of May 28, 2007 for having been issued without jurisdiction, grave abuse of discretion and/or violation of due process of law; 2) To Cite Union Bank of the Philippines counsel for Indirect Contempt.

At the hearing of the omnibus motion on June 6, 2007, respondent judge ordered Atty. Lourdes A. Ona (Atty. Ona), counsel for Union Bank, to file her Opposition and/or Comment to the said Motion within 10 days. Atty. Perez was given the same period from receipt of the Opposition and/or Comment to file his Reply thereto, if necessary, and thereafter, the matter would be deemed submitted for resolution.

On the same day, however, respondent judge issued another order bearing the same date, ruling that the bank had not shown any legal basis to set aside the courts decision of October 30, 2006, or to suspend the Letters of Administration issued to Atty. Perez pursuant thereto. The order then concluded that Atty. Perez may exercise all the powers granted to him as Administrator of the absentee Van Twest until further orders of the court.

In a letter dated July 23, 2007, addressed to the OCA, complainant alleged that respondent judges issuance of the second order dated June 6, 2007 was irregular, in light of the following: 1) At the hearing held on June 6, 2007, the omnibus motion filed by Atty. Perez was deemed submitted for resolution only after the complainant shall have filed her comment/opposition thereto or until the 10-day period shall have expired; 2) The issuance of the second order dated June 6, 2007 was secretly railroaded to give Atty. Perez a ground to oppose Union Banks Urgent Manifestation and Motion to Recall Writ of Execution/Garnishment filed with the RTC, Branch 142, Makati City, in time for its hearing originally set on June 8, 2007; 3) Even the staff of respondent judge did not become aware of the second June 6, 2007 order until much later, since respondent judge never furnished complainant with a copy thereof until the latter made inquiries regarding the same; and 4) The contents of the second order dated June 6, 2007 contradicted the first order and rendered the pending incident moot and academic.

Respondent judge, in his comment, denied the charge and argued that the same should be dismissed. The complainant, according to respondent judge, should instead be meted disciplinary penalties as a member of the bar.

Notwithstanding the recommendation of the Investigating Justice, the Court finds that the actions of respondent judge constitute gross negligence and/or gross ignorance of the law.

We have repeatedly held that to warrant a finding of gross ignorance of the law, it must be shown that the error is "so gross and patent as to produce an inference of bad faith."26cra1aw Gross negligence refers to negligence characterized by want of even slight care, acting or omitting to act in a situation where there is a duty to act, not inadvertently but willfully and intentionally, with a conscious indifference to consequences insofar as other persons may be affected. It is the omission of that care which even inattentive and thoughtless men never fail to take on their own property. In cases involving public officials, there is gross negligence when a breach of duty is flagrant and palpable.27chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In the instant case, the issuance by respondent of divergent orders raises serious questions of impropriety that taint respondent judges credibility, probity, and integrity. Coupled with the clandestine issuance of the second order where the Union Bank counsel and even the judges own staff were left completely in the dark the action of respondent judge gives rise to an inference of bad faith. Indeed, we have ample reason to believe as Atty. Ona posits that the secretly-issued second order was really intended to give Atty. Perez the ammunition to oppose Union Banks Urgent Manifestation and Motion to Recall Writ of Execution/Garnishment which was to be heard by the RTC of Makati City. Under the circumstances, the breach committed by respondent can be characterized as flagrant and palpable.

This action of respondent judge violates Section 8 of Rule 140, and carries the penalty of dismissal from the service or suspension from office for more than three (3) months but not exceeding six (6) months, or a fine of P20,000.00 but not exceeding P40,000.00.

For this violation, we impose upon respondent judge the penalty of dismissal from the service, with forfeiture of all benefits, except earned leave credits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service, including government-owned and controlled corporations.

d) A.M. No. RTJ-07-2078

Jose Mari L. Duarte (complainant) is one of the defendants in Civil Case No. 2003-433, entitled "Eugene T. Mateo v. The Board of Governors of Ayala Alabang Village Association: Paolo V. Castano, Constantino A. Marcaida, Ruben P. Baes, Eric Yutuc, Roberto Santiago, Beatriz "Bettina" H. Pou, Edilberto Uichanco, Salvador S. Arceo, Jr., Benjamin Narciso, Guy L. Romualdez, and Jose Mari L. Duarte," for Declaration of the General Membership Meeting and Election of the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) as void ab initio, with prayer for the Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction and/or a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Status Quo Order. Eugene T. Mateo filed the case on July 29, 2003 with the RTC, Muntinlupa City, and it was eventually raffled to the RTC, Branch 256, Muntinlupa City, presided over by respondent judge.28chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

On August 15, 2003, defendants Salvador S. Arceo, Jr. (Arceo) and Benjamin Narciso (Narciso) filed their answer with affirmative defenses and counterclaims, while all the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss. In moving for the dismissal of the case, all defendants invoked the trial courts lack of jurisdiction over the case and plaintiffs lack of cause of action. On September 2, 2003, plaintiff filed his opposition to motion to dismiss with motion to declare defendants in default. In an order dated September 12, 2003, respondent judge denied defendants motion to dismiss and plaintiffs motion to declare defendants in default, and set for hearing plaintiffs application for the issuance of a TRO. Respondent judge eventually denied the prayer of plaintiff for the issuance of a TRO on September 26, 2003.

On November 25, 2003, respondent judge rendered a decision in favor of plaintiff, declaring the AAVAs general membership meeting held on June 15, 2003 void ab initio, and ordering that the status quo of the boards composition prior to the proceedings of June 15, 2003 be maintained. The respondent judge also enjoined defendants Arceo, Narciso, Guy L. Romualdez (Romualdez) and Jose Mari L. Duarte from further exercising the functions of the office they respectively hold. He directed the holding of another election of the AAVA board, and ordered the defendants to pay jointly and severally the amount of P100,000.00 as and by way of attorneys fees. The respondent judge dismissed the defendants counterclaim.

The aggrieved complainant, together with all the other defendants, appealed to the CA from the above-cited decision. On December 10, 2003, plaintiff filed with the RTC a petition to direct defendants to show cause why they should not be cited and thereafter punished for indirect contempt of court (petition for indirect contempt) for their alleged defiance of respondent judges decision dated November 25, 2003, as shown by their continued performance of duties as governors of Ayala Alabang Village, despite receipt of a copy of the said decision.

On July 1, 2004, respondent judge issued an order declaring complainant, Arceo and Romualdez, guilty of indirect contempt, and ordering each of them to pay a fine in the amount of P30,000.00.

Unperturbed, complainant and his co-defendants Arceo and Romualdez moved for reconsideration of the July 1, 2004 order. On September 24, 2004, respondent judge granted their motion for reconsideration, and reversed and set aside his order dated July 1, 2004.

On June 29, 2007, the Special Sixteenth Division of the CA issued a resolution, ruling that the lower court should have dismissed the plaintiff-appellees Complaint for Declaration of the General Membership Meeting and Election of the AAVA as void ab initio with prayer for the Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction and/or TRO and Status Quo Order because it is the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board that has jurisdiction over the dispute.

On August 23, 2007, Mateo filed a complaint with the Supreme Court, contending that respondent judge did not have the judicial authority to hear and decide the issues involved in Civil Case No. 2003-433 for want of jurisdiction. According to complainant, this was brought to the attention of respondent judge, but the latter, being grossly ignorant of existing laws and rules, if not completely insolent of the same, and with grave abuse of discretion, took cognizance of the case.

In his comment, respondent judge argued that the error he allegedly committed could be corrected by an available judicial remedy. He maintained that if he erroneously assumed jurisdiction over Civil Case No. 2003-433, the proper recourse available to complainant was not an administrative complaint, but a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.

The Investigating Justice recommended that the instant administrative case against respondent judge be dismissed. This Court takes the opposite view.

It is true that to constitute gross ignorance of the law, it is not enough that the subject decision, order, or actuation of the judge in the performance of his official duties is contrary to existing law and jurisprudence but, most importantly, he must be moved by bad faith, fraud, dishonesty, or corruption.29chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

However, when the law is so elementary and the matter of jurisdiction is an elementary principle that judges should be knowledgeable of not to be aware of it constitutes gross ignorance of the law. Judges are expected to exhibit more than just cursory acquaintance with statutes and procedural rules. They are expected to keep abreast of our laws and the changes therein as well as with the latest decisions of the Supreme Court. They owe it to the public to be legally knowledgeable, for ignorance of the law is the mainspring of injustice. Judicial competence requires no less. It is a truism that the life chosen by a judge as a dispenser of justice is demanding. By virtue of the delicate position which he occupies in society, he is duty bound to be the embodiment of competence and integrity.30chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

On the matter of the order finding complainant guilty of indirect contempt, we also find the action of respondent judge sadly wanting. Section 4, Rule 71 of the same Rules provides:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

Sec. 4. How proceedings commenced. Proceedings for indirect contempt may be initiated motu proprio by the court against which the contempt was committed by an order or any other formal charge requiring the respondent to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt.

In all other cases, charges for indirect contempt shall be commenced by a verified petition with supporting particulars and certified true copies of documents or papers involved therein, and upon full compliance with the requirements for filing initiatory pleadings for civil actions in the court concerned. If the contempt charges arose out of or are related to a principal action pending in the court, the petition for contempt shall allege that fact but said petition shall be docketed, heard and

decided separately, unless the court in its discretion orders the consolidation of the contempt charge and the principal action for joint hearing and decision.31chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The Rules are unequivocal. Indirect contempt proceedings may be initiated only in two ways: (1) motu proprio by the court; or (2) through a verified petition and upon compliance with the requirements for initiatory pleadings. The procedural requirements are mandatory considering that contempt proceedings against a person are treated as criminal in nature.32cra1aw Conviction cannot be had merely on the basis of written pleadings.33chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The records do not indicate that complainant was afforded an opportunity to rebut the charges against him. Respondent judge should have conducted a hearing in order to provide complainant the opportunity to adduce before the court documentary or testimonial evidence in his behalf. The hearing also allows the court a more thorough evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the case, including the chance to observe the accused present his side in open court and subject his defense to interrogation from the complainants or from the court itself.34chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

It must be remembered that the power to punish for contempt should be used sparingly with caution, restraint, judiciousness, deliberation, and due regard to the provisions of the law and the constitutional rights of the individual.35cra1aw In this respect, respondent judge failed to measure up to the standards demanded of member of the judiciary.

As already mentioned above, gross ignorance of the law or procedure is classified as a serious charge under Section 8(9), Rule 140, Revised Rules of Court, and a respondent found guilty of serious charge may be punished by: a) dismissal from the service, forfeiture of all or part of the benefits as the Court may determine, and disqualification from reinstatement or appointment to any public office, including government-owned or controlled corporations, provided, however, that the forfeiture of benefits shall in no case include accrued leave credits; b) suspension from office without salary and other benefits for more than three (3) months but not exceeding six (6) months; or c) a fine of more than P20,000.00 but not exceeding P40,000.00.

In this case, we find respondent judge guilty of gross ignorance of the law, and impose upon him a fine of P40,000.00.

e.) A.M. No. RTJ-07-2079

On January 19, 2006, Bennie Cuason (Cuason) was charged before the RTC, Muntinlupa City, with estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code, for defrauding Brigadier General Meliton D. Goyena (Gen. Goyena) (Ret.) by convincing the latter to invest, entrust, and/or deliver the amount of Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) on the promise that the former would return the investment with interest, plus two (2) Condominium Certificates of Title over residential units on the 20st floor at Tower B of Diamond Bay Towers Condominium, with a total value of Nine Million Five Hundred Ninety-Two Thousand Pesos (P9,592,000.00). Gen. Goyena gave the amount of Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) to the accused and received two (2) condominium certificates of title with numbers 6893 and 6894. After verification, complainant found that the condominium units were non-existent, or had not yet been constructed.

The case was docketed as Criminal Case No. 06-179 and was raffled to RTC, Branch 204, Muntinlupa City, presided over by Judge Juanita T. Guerrero (Judge Guerrero).

On February 14, 2006, accused Cuason, through counsel, filed with the RTC an entry of appearance with a plea to determine whether or not probable cause exists for the purpose of issuance of a warrant of arrest. Complainant, also through counsel, subsequently filed a Motion to deny the application for judicial determination of probable cause and to cite accused in contempt of this Honorable Court on the ground of forum shopping. On April 4, 2006, accused Cuason filed his comment and/or opposition thereto, and on April 10, 2006, accused Cuason filed a supplemental comment and/or opposition to the motion.

With the designation of RTC, Branch 204, Muntinlupa City, as a special court for drug cases on May 2, 2006, the case was re-raffled to the sala of respondent judge. After hearing the respective arguments of the parties, respondent judge issued an omnibus order dated September 4, 2006, dismissing Criminal Case No. 06-179. The pertinent portions of the omnibus order read as follows:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

On this first issue, this Court, after a careful scrutiny of the arguments and evidence of both parties, believes that there was payment already made as to the principal obligation as admitted by the complainant in his affidavit dated September 20, 2005 (page 3, par. 17) and what is being left is the payment of interest which, under the premises, is in [the] form of condominium certificates. So also, while the complainant questions the authenticity of those certificates as well as the existence of [the] condominium units subject thereof, accused, indubitably, was able to satisfy this Court as to the authenticity of the questioned certificates and the existence of the units by showing proofs to that effect.

On September 6, 2006, Gen. Goyena filed with the RTC a very urgent manifestation with motion for the court to conduct ocular inspection, and on September 22, 2006, he filed an omnibus motion for reconsideration, ocular inspection and inhibition, anchored on the following grounds: 1) as correctly found by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Muntinlupa City, the two (2) condominium units used in partly settling the liabilities of the accused to the private complainant do not exist a fact that should have been established by now, if only the court allowed the ocular inspection prayed for; 2) the court overlooked the pronouncement in the very case it has relied on, that "Allado and Salonga constitute exceptions to the general rule and may be invoked only if similar circumstances are clearly shown to exist"; and 3) the order dismissing the case was improperly or irregularly issued.

On September 18, 2006, complainant filed a letter-complaint addressed to then Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, charging respondent judge with abuse of judicial authority and discretion, serious irregularity, and gross ignorance of the law, allegedly shown by the latters act of willfully and knowingly reversing the well-grounded finding of probable cause made by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Muntinlupa City.

Thereafter, respondent judge issued an order dated October 4, 2006, inhibiting himself from sitting in Criminal Case No. 06-179, and directing that the records of the case be forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Muntinlupa City, for appropriate re-raffling. The case was eventually re-raffled to the RTC, Branch 206, Muntinlupa City, presided over by Judge Patricia Manalastasde Leon (Judge Manalastas-De Leon).

In his memorandum dated September 24, 2007, Court Administrator Lock found ample basis to charge respondent judge with delay in rendering an order and for abuse of judicial discretion and authority

The OCA stated that Criminal Case No. 06-179 was assigned to respondent judge on May 2, 2006, a fact which the latter did not dispute. More than a month later, or on June 19, 2006, respondent judge set accused Cuasons motion to determine whether or not a probable cause exists for the purpose of the issuance of a warrant of arrest and complainants motion to deny application for judicial determination of probable cause and to cite accused in contempt of this Honorable Court on the ground of forum shopping for hearing on July 17, 2006. It must be stressed that accused Cuason and complainant filed their respective motions on February 14, 2006 and on March 22, 2006, or while the case was still pending in the sala of Judge Guerrero. After hearing the said motions on July 17, 2006, it took another forty-eight (48) days for respondent judge to issue the omnibus order dated September 4, 2006, dismissing the case for lack of probable cause.

In his comment dated November 23, 2007, respondent judge insists that the charge filed against him should be dismissed.

This Court finds that respondent judges delay in the determination of probable cause clearly runs counter to the provisions of Section 6, Rule 112 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, which provides:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

Sec. 6. When warrant of arrest may issue. (a) By the Regional Trial Court. - Within ten (10) days from the filing of the complaint or information, the judge shall personally evaluate the resolution of the prosecutor and its supporting evidence. He may immediately dismiss the case if the evidence on record clearly fails to establish probable cause. If he finds probable cause, he shall issue a warrant of arrest, or a commitment order if the accused has already been arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the judge who conducted the preliminary investigation or when the complaint or information was filed pursuant to Section 7 of this Rules. In case of doubt on the existence of probable cause, the judge may order the prosecutor to present additional evidence within five (5) days from notice and the issue must be resolved by the court within thirty (30) days from the filing of the complaint or information.

While respondent judge could not have ascertained the existence of probable cause for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Cuason within ten (10) days from the filing of the complaint or information Criminal Case No. 06-179 having been re-raffled to his sala only on May 2, 2006 prudence demanded that respondent judge should have determined the existence of probable cause within ten (10) days from July 17, 2006, the date he heard the respective arguments of the parties. This interpretation is in keeping with the provisions of Section 6, Rule 112.

By allowing forty-eight (48) days to lapse before issuing the two-page omnibus order dated September 4, 2006, respondent judge should be held liable for undue delay in rendering an order, which is classified as a less serious charge under Section 9(1), Rule 140 of the Rules of Court, punishable by suspension from office without salary and other benefits for not less than one (1) month or more than three (3) months, or a fine of more than P10,000.00 but not exceeding P20,000.00.

Furthermore, the Court agrees with the OCA that the respondent judge is guilty of abuse of judicial discretion and authority.

The information in Criminal Case No. 06-179 clearly accuses Cuason of falsely pretending that he can return the investment of complainant by paying cash and two (2) condominium units when in fact these units do not exist or have not yet been constructed. The issue therefore boils down to whether or not the condominium units exist, and the incontrovertible proof of this are the condominium units themselves. The logical thing to do would have been to order the conduct of an ocular inspection. Instead of an ocular inspection, respondent relied on the certificate of registration, the development permit, the license to sell, the building permit, and the Condominium Certificate of Title ― on the basis of which the judge ordered the dismissal of the case. It may be that an ocular inspection was premature at the time the respondent dismissed the case because at that time the case was not yet set for the presentation of evidence of the parties. Nevertheless, it now appears that the pieces of evidence relied upon by the respondent do not fully support his conclusion.

Section 4, Rule 128 of the Rules of Court provides that "evidence must have such a relation to the fact in issue as to induce belief in its existence or non-existence." "Relevancy is, therefore, determinable by the rules of logic and human experienceRelevant evidence is any class of evidence which has rational probative value to the issue in controversy."36cra1aw Logic and human experience teach us that the documents relied upon by respondent do not constitute the best evidence to prove the existence or non-existence of the condominium units. To repeat, the best evidence would have been adduced by an ocular inspection of the units themselves.

Judge Lerma should also have exercised caution in determining the existence of probable cause. At the very least, he should have asked the prosecutor to present additional evidence, in accordance with Section 6, Rule 112 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure or, in the alternative, to show cause why the case should not be dismissed instead of precipitately ordering the dismissal of the case. The circumstances required the exercise of caution considering that the case involved estafa in the considerable amount of P20 Million for which the complainant paid P129,970.00 in docket fees before the Office of the City Prosecutor and later P167,114.60 as docket fee for the filing of the Information before the RTC.

For this particular violation, we find respondent judge guilty and impose upon him a fine of P21,000.00.

As an unflattering footnote to these administrative offenses, the OCA, upon the authority of the Chief Justice, conducted a judicial audit from August 21-30, 2007 of the RTC, Branch 256, Muntinlupa. The initial result of the audit revealed that Judge Lerma failed to decide 30 civil cases and 11 criminal cases within the 90-day reglementary period. It also appears that 101 civil cases and 137 criminal cases remained unacted despite the lapse of a considerable period.

Judge Lerma had previously been sanctioned by this Court. In a resolution dated September 13, 2003 in A.M. No. RTJ-03-1799, entitled Ma. Cristina Olondriz Pertierra v. Judge Alberto L. Lerma, this Court found him liable for conduct unbecoming a judge and imposed upon him the penalty of reprimand. In that case, Judge Lerma was found having lunch with a lawyer who has a pending case in his sala.

The totality of all these findings underscore the fact that respondent judges actions served to erode the peoples faith and confidence in the judiciary. He has been remiss in the fulfillment of the duty imposed on all members of the bench in order to avoid any impression of impropriety to protect the image and integrity of the judiciary.

To reiterate, officers of the court have the duty to see to it that justice is dispensed evenly and fairly. Not only must they be honest and impartial, but they must also appear to be honest and impartial in the dispensation of justice. Judges should make sure that their acts are circumspect and do not arouse suspicion in the minds of the public. When they fail to do so, such acts cast doubt upon their integrity and ultimately on the judiciary in general.37cra1aw "Courts will only succeed in their task and mission if the judges presiding over them are truly honorable men, competent and independent, honest and dedicated." 38chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Respondent judge failed to live up to the judiciarys exacting standards, and this Court will not withhold penalty when called for to uphold the peoples faith in the Judiciary.39chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Court RULES, as follows:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

1) In A.M. No. RTJ-07-2076, Judge Alberto Lerma is found GUILTY of violating a Supreme Court directive, and we impose upon him a FINE in the total amount of FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (P15,000.00);

2) In A.M. No. RTJ-07-2080, Judge Alberto Lerma is FINED in the total amount of FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (P15,000.00) for violation of Supreme Court rules, directives, and circulars, and for making untruthful statements in his certificate of service;

3) In A.M. No. RTJ-07-2077, Judge Alberto Lerma is found GUILTY of gross misconduct and punished with the penalty of DISMISSAL from the service, with forfeiture of all benefits, except earned leave credits, with prejudice to reemployment in any government agency or instrumentality.

4) In A.M. No. RTJ-07-2078, we find Judge Alberto Lerma GUILTY of gross ignorance of the law, and impose upon him a FINE of FORTY THOUSAND PESOS (P40,000.00); and

5) In A.M. No. RTJ-07-2079, we find Judge Alberto Lerma GUILTY of grave abuse of authority and undue delay in rendering an order, and impose upon him a FINE of TWENTYONE THOUSAND PESOS (P21,000.00).

This Decision is final and immediately executory.

SO ORDERED.

RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice

(on official leave)
ANTONIO T. CARPIO*
Associate Justice
CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
Associate Justice
(no part)
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.**
Associate Justice
ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA
Associate Justice
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Associate Justice
ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice
(on leave)
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA***
Associate Justice
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate Justice
MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO
Associate Justice
(on official leave)
ROBERTO A. ABAD***
Associate Justice
MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.
Associate Justice
(no part)
JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ**
Associate Justice
JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA
Associate Justice
MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO
Associate Justice


cralaw Endnotes:

* On Official Leave.

** No part.

*** On Leave.

1cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2076), pp. 9-22.

2cra1aw Id. at 38-39.

3cra1aw Justice Hakim S. Abdulwahid of the CA.

4cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2076), p. 41.

5cra1aw Id. at 53.

6cra1aw Id. at 99.

7cra1aw Id. at 8.

8cra1aw Docketed as Criminal Case No. 98-464 in the RTC of Muntinlupa.

9cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2076), p. 339.

10cra1aw Id. at 346.

11cra1aw Id. at 357-359.

12cra1aw Id. at 386-387.

13cra1aw Supra note 1.

14cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2076), pp. 393-396.

15cra1aw Macasaet v. People, G.R. No. 156747, February 23, 2005, 452 SCRA 255, 271.

16cra1aw Santos v. How, A.M. No. RTJ-05-1946, January 26, 2007, 513 SCRA 25.

17cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2080), p. 31.

18cra1aw Id. at 33.

19cra1aw Id. at 35.

20cra1aw Id. at 60.

21cra1aw Id. at 66-68.

22cra1aw Folder of Exhibits, pp. 20-21.

23cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2077), p. 83.

24cra1aw Folder of Exhibits, p. 83.

25cra1aw See Folder of Exhibits, p. 43.

26cra1aw Joaquin v. Madrid, A.M. No. RTJ-04-1856, September 30, 2004, 439 SCRA 567, 578.

27cra1aw Brucal v. Hon. Desierto, 501 Phil. 453, 465-466 (2005).

28cra1aw Rollo (RTJ-07-2078), pp. 1-2.

29cra1aw The Officers and Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Baguio-Benguet Chapter v. Judge Pamintuan, 485 Phil. 473, 489 (2004).

30cra1aw Espino v. Hon. Salubre, 405 Phil. 331 (2001).

31cra1aw Emphasis supplied.

32cra1aw Atty. Cañas v. Judge Castigador, 401 Phil. 618, 630 (2000).

33cra1aw Soriano v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 128938, June 4, 2004, 431 SCRA 1, 8.

34cra1aw Aquino v. Ng, G.R. No. 155631, July 27, 2007, 528 SCRA 277.

35cra1aw Ruiz v. Judge How, 459 Phil. 728 (2003).

36cra1aw Florenz Regalado, Remedial Law Compendium, Vol. II, 6st Rev. Ed., p. 436.

37cra1aw Procedure adopted by Judge Liangco Re: Raffle of Cases, 391 Phil. 666 (2000).

38cra1aw Ernesto L. Pineda, LEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS (1999 ed.), p. 367.

39cra1aw Jabao v. Judge Bonilla, 372 Phil. 823, 835 (1999), citing Sadik v. Casar, 266 SCRA 1 (1997); Ortigas & Co, Ltd. Partnership v. Velasco, 277 SCRA 342 (1997).




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  • A.M. No. 10-10-4-SC : October 19, 2010 Re: Letter of the UP Law Faculty entitled "Restoring Integrity: A Statement by the Faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Law on the Allegations of Plagiarism and Misrepresentation in the Supreme Court."

  • G.R. No. 190108 : October 19, 2010 DAVID E. SO, on behalf of his daughter MARIA ELENA SO GUISANDE, Petitioner, v. HON. ESTEBAN A. TACLA, JR., Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City, Branch 208; and DR. BERNARDO A. VICENTE, National Center for Mental Health, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 166910 : October 19, 2010 ERNESTO B. FRANCISCO, JR. and JOSE MA. O. HIZON, Petitioners, v. TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, MANILA NORTH TOLLWAYS CORPORATION, BENPRES HOLDINGS CORPORATION, FIRST PHILIPPINE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TOLLWAY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, PNCC SKYWAY CORPORATION, CITRA METRO MANILA TOLLWAYS CORPORATION and HOPEWELL CROWN INFRASTRUCTURE, INC., Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 169917 HON. IMEE R. MARCOS, RONALDO B. ZAMORA, CONSUMERS UNION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC., QUIRINO A. MARQUINEZ, HON. LUIS A. ASISTIO, HON. ERICO BASILIO A. FABIAN, HON. RENATO "KA RENE" B. MAGTUBO, HON. RODOLFO G. PLAZA, HON. ANTONIO M. SERAPIO, HON. EMMANUEL JOEL J. VILLANUEVA, HON. ANIBAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA SA AGRIKULTURA (AMA), INC., ANIBAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA, MANGINGISDA AT MANGGAGAWA SA AGRIKULTURA-KATIPUNAN, INC., KAISAHAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA SA AGRIKULTURA, INC., KILUSAN NG MANGAGAWANG MAKABAYAN, Petitioners, v. The REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, acting by and through the TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, MANILA NORTH TOLLWAYS CORPORATION, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, and FIRST PHILIPPINE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORP., Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 173630 GISING KABATAAN MOVEMENT, INC., BARANGAY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO, MUNICIPALITY OF SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA [as Represented by COUNCILOR CARLON G. AMBAYEC], and YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS OF SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA Petitioners, v. THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, acting through the TOLL REGULATORY BOARD (TRB), PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION (PNCC), Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 183599 THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, represented by the TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, Petitioner, v. YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS OF SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 187032 : October 18, 2010 EDGARDO M. PANGANIBAN, Petitioner, v. TARA TRADING SHIPMANAGEMENT INC. AND SHINLINE SDN BHD, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 187116 : October 18, 2010 ASSET BUILDERS CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. STRONGHOLD INSURANCE COMPANY, INCORPORATED, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 191394 : October 18, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARIA POLITICO y TICALA and EWINIE POLITICO y PALMA, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 170073 : October 18, 2010 SPOUSES RAMY and ZENAIDA PUDADERA, Petitioners, v. IRENEO MAGALLANES and the late DAISY TERESA CORTEL MAGALLANES substituted by her children, NELLY M. MARQUEZ, ELISEO MAGALLANES and ANGEL MAGALLANES, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 164757 : October 18, 2010 CEBU METRO PHARMACY, INC., Petitioner, v. EURO-MED LABORATORIES, PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 159230 : October 18, 2010 B.E. SAN DIEGO, INC., Petitioner, v. COURT OF APPEALS and JOVITA MATIAS, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 189859 : October 18, 2010 PIO MODESTO and CIRILA RIVERA-MODESTO, Petitioners, v. CARLOS URBINA, substituted by the heirs of OLYMPIA MIGUEL VDA. DE URBINA (Surviving Spouse) and children, namely: ESCOLASTICA M. URBINA, ET AL., Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 170375 : October 13, 2010 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. HON. MAMINDIARA P. MANGOTARA, in his capacity as Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, and MARIA CRISTINA FERTILIZER CORPORATION, and the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Respondents, G.R. No. 170505 LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION and NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO), Respondents, G.R. Nos. 173355-56 NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS (Special Twenty-Third Division, Cagayan de Oro City), and LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Respondents, G.R. No. 173401 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. DEMETRIA CACHO, represented by alleged Heirs DEMETRIA CONFESOR VIDAL and/or TEOFILO CACHO, AZIMUTH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Respondents.cralaw G.R. Nos. 173563-64 NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS (Special Twenty-Third Division, Cagayan de Oro City), and LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION as represented by Atty. Max C. Tabimina, Respondents, G.R. No. 178779 LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. DEMETRIA CONFESOR VIDAL and AZIMUTH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Respondents, G.R. No. 178894 TEOFILO CACHO and/or ATTY. GODOFREDO CABILDO, Petitioner, v. DEMETRIA CONFESOR VIDAL and AZIMUTH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Respondents.crala

  • G.R. No. 172394 : October 13, 2010 H. TAMBUNTING PAWNSHOP, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 191254 : October 13, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROEL "RUEL" SALLY, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 184041 : October 13, 2010 ANICETO G. SALUDO, JR., Petitioner, v. SECURITY BANK CORPORATION, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 184036 : October 13, 2010 PACIFIC REHOUSE CORPORATION, PACIFIC CONCORDE CORPORATION, MIZPAH HOLDINGS, INC., FORUM HOLDINGS CORPORATION, and EAST ASIA OIL COMPANY,INC., Petitioners, v. EIB SECURITIES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 175862 : October 13, 2010 REAL BANK, INC., Petitioner, v. SAMSUNG MABUHAY CORPORATION, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 173342 : October 13, 2010 ZAMBOANGA FOREST MANAGERS CORP., Petitioner, v. NEW PACIFIC TIMBER AND SUPPLY CO., ET AL., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 161431 : October 13, 2010 CALIBRE TRADERS, INC., MARIO SISON SEBASTIAN, and MINDA BLANCO SEBASTIAN, Petitioners, v. BAYER PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 185814 : October 13, 2010 SHS PERFORATED MATERIALS, INC., WINFRIED HARTMANNSHENN, and HINRICH JOHANN SCHUMACHER, Petitioners, v. MANUEL F. DIAZ, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 173822 : October 13, 2010 SALVADOR ATIZADO and SALVADOR MONREAL, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 157802 : October 13, 2010 MATLING INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CORPORATION, RICHARD K. SPENCER, CATHERINE SPENCER, AND ALEX MANCILLA, Petitioners, v. RICARDO R. COROS, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. RTJ-05-1924 : October 13, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 04-10-568-RTC) RE: CASES SUBMITTED FOR DECISION BEFORE JUDGE DAMASO A. HERRERA, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 24, BIAN, LAGUNA.

  • G.R. No. 188154 : October 13, 2010 LOURDES A. CERCADO, Petitioner, v. UNIPROM, INC., Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 183404 : October 13, 2010 BERRIS AGRICULTURAL CO., INC., Petitioner, v. NORVY ABYADANG, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 180699 : October 13, 2010 BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Petitioner, v. LABOR ARBITER RODERICK JOSEPH CALANZA, SHERIFF ENRICO Y. PAREDES, AMELIA ENRIQUEZ, and REMO L. SIA, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 177881 : October 13, 2010 EMMANUEL C. VILLANUEVA, Petitioner, v. CHERDAN LENDING INVESTORS CORPORATION, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 173463 : October 13, 2010 GLOBAL BUSINESS HOLDINGS, INC. (formerly Global Business Bank, Inc.), Petitioner, v. SURECOMP SOFTWARE, B.V., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 177279 : October 13, 2010 COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. HON. RAUL M. GONZALEZ, Secretary of Justice, L. M. CAMUS ENGINEERING CORPORATION (represented by LUIS M. CAMUS and LINO D. MENDOZA), Respondents.crala

  • A.M. No. RTJ-07-2076 : October 12, 2010 OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2077 ATTY. LOURDES A. ONA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2078 JOSE MARI L. DUARTE, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2079 RET. GENERAL MELITON D. GOYENA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2080 OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. 10-7-17-SC : October 15, 2010 IN THE MATTER OF THE CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM, ETC., AGAINST ASSOCIATE JUSTICE MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO.

  • G.R. No. 174066 : October 12, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ERNESTO NARZABAL y CASTELO, JR., Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 164195 : October 12, 2010 APO FRUITS CORPORATION and HIJO PLANTATION, INC., Petitioners, v. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-09-2735 : October 12, 2010 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 07-2614-P) LEVI M. ARGOSO, Complainant, v. ACHILLES ANDREW REGALADO II, Sheriff IV, Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, Naga City, Respondent.cr

  • A.M. No. P-06-2287 : October 12, 2010 [Formerly A.M. No. 06-11391-MTC] OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. MARCELA V. SANTOS, CLERK OF COURT II, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, SAN LEONARDO, NUEVA ECIJA, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.C. No. 2655 : October 12, 2010 LEONARD W. RICHARDS, Complainant, v. PATRICIO A. ASOY, Respondent.cral

  • G.R. No. 184952 : October 11, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. MARIANITO GONZAGA y JOMAYA, Appellant.

  • G.R. NO. 177127 : October 11, 2010 J.R.A. PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 192473 : October 11, 2010 S.I.P. FOOD HOUSE and MR. and MRS. ALEJANDRO PABLO, Petitioners, v. RESTITUTO BATOLINA, ALMER CALUMPISAN, ARIES MALGAPO, ARMANDO MALGAPO, FLORDELIZA MATIAS, PERCIVAL MATIAS, ARWIN MIRANDA, LOPE MATIAS, RAMIL MATIAS, ALLAN STA. INES, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 156038 : October 11, 2010 SPOUSES VICTORIANO CHUNG and DEBBIE CHUNG, Petitioners, v. ULANDAY CONSTRUCTION, INC.,*cra1aw Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 192916 : October 11, 2010 MANUEL A. ECHAVEZ, Petitioner, v. DOZEN CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF CEBU CITY, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 190804 : October 11, 2010 PHILIPPINE TRANSMARINE CARRIERS, INC., GLOBAL NAVIGATION, LTD., Petitioners, v. SILVINO A. NAZAM, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 182953 : October 11, 2010 CORAZON D. SARMIENTA, JOSE DERAMA, CATES RAMA, JOSIE MIWA, TOTO NOLASCO, JESUS OLIQUINO, NORBERTO LOPEZ, RUBEN ESPOSO, BERNARDO FLORESCA, MARINA DIMATALO, ROBLE DIMANDAKO, RICARDO PE�A, EDUARDO ESPINO, ANTONIO GALLEGOS, VICTOR SANDOVAL, FELICITAS ABRANTES, MERCY CRUZ, ROSENDO ORGANO, RICKY BARENO, ANITA TAKSAGON, JOSIE RAMA and PABLO DIMANDAKO, Petitioners, v. MANALITE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. (MAHA), Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 178551 : October 11, 2010 ATCI OVERSEAS CORPORATION, AMALIA G. IKDAL and MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH-KUWAIT Petitioners, v. MA. JOSEFA ECHIN, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171685 : October 11, 2010 LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. GLENN Y. ESCANDOR, GEROME Y. ESCANDOR, EMILIO D. ESCANDOR and VIOLETA YAP, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171365 : October 6, 2010 ERMELINDA C. MANALOTO, AURORA J. CIFRA, FLORDELIZA J. ARCILLA, LOURDES J. CATALAN, ETHELINDA J. HOLT, BIENVENIDO R. JONGCO, ARTEMIO R. JONGCO, JR. and JOEL JONGCO, Petitioners, v. ISMAEL VELOSO III, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 163091 : October 6, 2010 COCA-COLA BOTTLERS PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. ANGEL U. DEL VILLAR, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 152866 : October 6, 2010 THE HEIRS OF ROMANA SAVES, namely: FIDELA ALMAIDA, EMILIANO ALMAIDA, JESUS ALMAIDA, CATALINA ALMAIDA, ALFREDO RAMOS, GINA RAMOS, LUZ ALMAIDA, ANITA ALMAIDA, PETRA GENERAL, EDNA GENERAL, ESTHER ALMAIDA, DIONISIA ALMAIDA, CORNELIA ALMAIDA, FELIMON ALMAIDA (represented by SINFROSA ALMAIDA); The Heirs of RAFAELA SAVES, namely: JULIANA DIZON, HILARIA DIZON, JOVENCIO DIZON, MAURA DIZON, BABY DIZON & ULDARICO AMISTOSO (represented by ULDARICO AMISTOSO); The Heirs of JANUARIA SAVES, namely: FELICIDAD MARTINEZ, MARLOU MARTINEZ, ROWENA MARTINEZ, BABY LOU MARTINEZ, BOBERT MARTINEZ, JERRY MARTINEZ (represented by FELICIDAD MARTINEZ); The Heirs of MAXIMO SAVES, namely: ELPIDIO AMIGO, CELESTINA DEMETRIA AMIGO, MEREN (daughter of SEVERA SAVES), FRUTO ROSARIO (represented by ELPIDIO AMIGO); The Heirs of BENEDICTA SAVES, namely: AUTEMIA JUCOM, CATALINA JUCOM, DOLORES JUCOM, SERGIA JUCOM, BENEDICTA JUCOM, JOSEFINA JUCOM, FLORDIVIDA REMETILLO, FELINA REMETILLO and ANNA MARIE REMETILLO, (represented by AUTEMIA JUCOM), Petitioners, v. THE HEIRS OF ESCOLASTICO SAVES, namely: REMEDIOS SAVES-ADAMOS, LUZ SAVES-HERNANDEZ and DODONG SAVES, and ENRIQUETA CHAVES-ABELLA, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 186652 : October 6, 2010 ATTY. ALICE ODCHIGUE-BONDOC, Petitioner, v. TAN TIONG BIO A.K.A. HENRY TAN, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 168313 : October 6, 2010 BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS, HON. ROMEO BARZA, in his capacity as the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Br. 61, FIRST UNION GROUP ENTERPRISES and LINDA WU HU, Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-06-2221 : October 5, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-7-215-MTCC) OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. RODELIO E. MARCELO and MA. CORAZON D. ESPA�OLA, MTCC, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, BULACAN, Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1580 : October 6, 2010 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 04-1608-MTJ] LOURDES B. FERRER and PROSPERIDAD M. ARANDEZ, Complainants, v. JUDGE ROMEO A. RABACA, Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 25, Manila, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-10-1769 : October 6, 2010 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 09-2145-MTJ] EDUARDO B. OLAGUER, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALFREDO D. AMPUAN, Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 33, Quezon City, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-09-1738 : October 6, 2010 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 08-2033-MTJ) CIRILA S. RAYMUNDO, Complainant, v. JUDGE TERESITO A. ANDOY, Municipal Trial Court (MTC), Cainta, Rizal, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 188650 : October 6, 2010 OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. PRISCILLA S. CORDOVA, Deputy Collector for Assessment, Bureau of Customs, Respondent.cralaw G.R. No. 187166 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE-REVENUE INTEGRITY PROTECTION SERVICE (DOF-RIPS) AND COMMISSIONER NAPOLEON MORALES, Petitioners, v. PRISCILLA S. CORDOVA, Deputy Collector for Assessment, Bureau of Customs, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 179543 : October 6, 2010 CAMPER REALTY CORP., Petitioner, v. MARIA NENA PAJO-REYES represented by her Attorney-in-Fact Eliseo B. Ballao, AUGUSTO P. BAJADO, RODOLFO PAJO and GODOFREDO PAJO, JR., Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171980 : October 6, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. OLIVE RUBIO MAMARIL, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 185020 : October 6, 2010 FILOMENA R. BENEDICTO, Petitioner, v. ANTONIO VILLAFLORES, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 180687 : October 6, 2010 ESMERALDO C. ROMULLO, PEDRO MANGUNDAYAO, MAXIMO ANES, ELVIRA BONZA, ROBERTO BELARMINO, TELESPORO GARCIA, BETH ZAIDA GIMENEZ, CELSO LIBRANDO, MICHAEL DELA CRUZ, and ROBERTO ARAWAG, Petitioners, v. SAMAHANG MAGKAKAPITBAHAY NG BAYANIHAN COMPOUND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., represented by its President, PAQUITO QUITALIG, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 153998 : October 6, 2010 JORGE L. TIANGCO, THE HEIRS OF ENRIQUE L. TIANGCO, GLORIA T. BATUNGBACAL, NARCISO L. TIANGCO and SILVINO L. TIANGCO, Petitioners, v. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 176479 : October 6, 2010 RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. PEDRO P. BUENAVENTURA, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 161934 : October 6, 2010 VARORIENT SHIPPING CO., INC., and.,d ARIA MARITIME CO., LTD., Petitioners, v. GIL A. FLORES, Respondent.cr

  • G.R. No. 190381 : October 6, 2010 COCA-COLA BOTTLERS PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. RODRIGO MERCADO, ANTONIO VILLERO, LUISITO MANTIBE, MARCELO FABIAN, EDMUNDO YALUNG, EDILBERTO GUEVARRA, MICHAEL GUICO, ANGEL FERNANDO, ERNESTO DELA CRUZ, EFREN FERNANDO, ROBERTO TORRES, JIMMY DUNGO, WILLY OCAMPO, SANDRO DIZON, ALLAN OCAMPO, CARLITO MANABAT, CARLITO SINGIAN, JAY MANABAT, ERIC AQUINO, RODRIGO DAVID, NICOLAS LUQUIAZ,* LUCIO MANTIBE, PRUDENCIO PALALON, RAFAEL CABRERA, ROMMER SINGIAN,** ROGELIO MALIT, ALVIN ANDAYA, EMERITO B. DUNGCA, ALMIRANTE GORAL,*** AND NICOLAS CURA, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 169067 : October 6, 2010 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. ANGELO B. MALABANAN, PABLO B. MALABANAN, GREENTHUMB REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and THE REGISTRAR OF DEEDS OF BATANGAS, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 184823 : October 6, 2010 COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. AICHI FORGING COMPANY OF ASIA, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 175573 : October 5, 2010 OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. JOEL S. SAMANIEGO1cra1aw , Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 184769 : October 5, 2010 MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY, ALEXANDER S. DEYTO and RUBEN A. SAPITULA, Petitioners, v. ROSARIO GOPEZ LIM, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. CA-10-50-J : October 5, 2010 [formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-152-CA-J] 3-D INDUSTRIES, INC. and SMARTNET PHILIPPINES, INC. Complainants, v. JUSTICES VICENTE Q. ROXAS and JUAN Q. ENRIQUEZ, JR., Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-06-2221 : October 5, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-7-215-MTCC) OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. RODELIO E. MARCELO and MA. CORAZON D. ESPA�OLA, MTCC, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, BULACAN, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 178552 : October 5, 2010 SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ENGAGEMENT NETWORK, INC., on behalf of the South-South Network (SSN) for Non-State Armed Group Engagement, and ATTY. SOLIMAN M. SANTOS, JR., Petitioners, v. ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE, THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 178554 KILUSANG MAYO UNO (KMU), represented by its Chairperson Elmer Labog, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS-KILUSANG MAYO UNO (NAFLU-KMU), represented by its National President Joselito V. Ustarez and Secretary General Antonio C. Pascual, and CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, represented by its Executive Director Daisy Arago,Petitioners, v. HON. EDUARDO ERMITA, in his capacity as Executive Secretary, NORBERTO GONZALES, in his capacity as Acting Secretary of National Defense, HON. RAUL GONZALES, in his capacity as Secretary of Justice, HON. RONALDO PUNO, in his capacity as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, in his capacity as AFP Chief of Staff, and DIRECTOR GENERAL OSCAR CALDERON, in his capacity as PNP Chief of Staff, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 178581 BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN), GENERAL ALLIANCE BINDING WOMEN FOR REFORMS, INTEGRITY, EQUALITY, LEADERSHIP AND ACTION (GABRIELA), KILUSANG MAGBUBUKID NG PILIPINAS (KMP), MOVEMENT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (MCCCL), CONFEDERATION FOR UNITY, RECOGNITION AND ADVANCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (COURAGE), KALIPUNAN NG DAMAYANG MAHIHIRAP (KADAMAY), SOLIDARITY OF CAVITE WORKERS, LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS (LFS), ANAKBAYAN, PAMBANSANG LAKAS NG KILUSANG MAMAMALAKAYA (PAMALAKAYA), ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED TEACHERS (ACT), MIGRANTE, HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (HEAD), AGHAM, TEOFISTO GUINGONA, JR., DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA, RENATO CONSTANTINO, JR., SISTER MARY JOHN MANANSAN OSB, DEAN CONSUELO PAZ, ATTY. JOSEFINA LICHAUCO, COL. GERRY CUNANAN (ret.), CARLITOS SIGUION-REYNA, DR. CAROLINA PAGADUAN-ARAULLO, RENATO REYES, DANILO RAMOS, EMERENCIANA DE LESUS, RITA BAUA, REY CLARO CASAMBRE, Petitioners, v. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in her capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECRETARY RAUL GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERTO ROMULO, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTING SECRETARY NORBERTO GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY RONALDO PUNO. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SECRETARY MARGARITO TEVES, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER NORBERTO GONZALES, THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA), THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ISAFP), THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL (AMLC), THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE GEN. OSCAR CALDERON, THE PNP, including its intelligence and investigative elements, AFP CHIEF GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 178890 KARAPATAN, ALLIANCE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, represented herein by Dr. Edelina de la Paz, and representing the following organizations: HUSTISYA, represented by Evangeline Hernandez and also on her own behalf; DESAPARECIDOS, represented by Mary Guy Portajada and also on her own behalf, SAMAHAN NG MGA EX-DETAINEES LABAN SA DETENSYON AT PARA SA AMNESTIYA (SELDA), represented by Donato Continente and also on his own behalf, ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE (EMJP), represented by Bishop Elmer M. Bolocon, UCCP, and PROMOTION OF CHURCH PEOPLE'S RESPONSE, represented by Fr. Gilbert Sabado, OCARM, Petitioners, v. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in her capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, EXECUTIVE SECRETARTY EDUARDO ERMITA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECRETARY RAUL GONZALEZ, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERTO ROMULO, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTING SECRETARY NORBERTO GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY RONALDO PUNO, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SECRETARY MARGARITO TEVES, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER NORBERTO GONZALES, THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA), THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ISAFP), THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL (AMLC), THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE GEN. OSCAR CALDERON, THE PNP, including its intelligence and investigative elements, AFP CHIEF GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 179157 THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES (IBP), represented by Atty. Feliciano M. Bautista, COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTY (CODAL), SEN. MA. ANA CONSUELO A.S. MADRIGAL and FORMER SENATORS SERGIO OSME�A III and WIGBERTO E. TA�ADA, Petitioners, v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA AND THE MEMBERS OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL (ATC), Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 179461 BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN-SOUTHERN TAGALOG (BAYAN-ST), GABRIELA-ST, KATIPUNAN NG MGA SAMAHYANG MAGSASAKA-TIMOG KATAGALUGAN (KASAMA-TK), MOVEMENT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (MCCCL), PEOPLES MARTYRS, ANAKBAYAN-ST, PAMALAKAYA-ST, CONFEDERATION FOR UNITY, RECOGNITION AND ADVANCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (COURAGE-ST), PAGKAKAISA'T UGNAYAN NG MGA MAGBUBUKID SA LAGUNA (PUMALAG), SAMAHAN NG MGA MAMAMAYAN SA TABING RILES (SMTR-ST), LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS (LFS), BAYAN MUNA-ST, KONGRESO NG MGA MAGBUBUKID PARA SA REPORMANG AGRARYO KOMPRA, BIGKIS AT LAKAS NG MGA KATUTUBO SA TIMOG KATAGALUGAN (BALATIK), SAMAHAN AT UGNAYAN NG MGA MAGSASAKANG KABABAIHAN SA TIMOG KATAGALUGAN (SUMAMAKA-TK), STARTER, LOS�OS RURAL POOR ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS & EQUALITY, CHRISTIAN NI�O LAJARA, TEODORO REYES, FRANCESCA B. TOLENTINO, JANNETTE E. BARRIENTOS, OSCAR T. LAPIDA, JR., DELFIN DE CLARO, SALLY P. ASTRERA, ARNEL SEGUNE BELTRAN, Petitioners, v. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in her capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECRETARY RAUL GONZALEZ, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERTO ROMULO, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTING SECRETARY NORBERTO GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMEN T SECRETARY RONALDO PUNO, DEPARTMENT OF FINCANCE SECRETARY MARGARITO TEVES, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER NORBERTO GONZALES, THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA), THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ISAFP), THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL (AMLC), THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE GEN. OSCAR CALDERON, THE PNP, including its intelligence and investigative elements, AFP CHIEF GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, Respondents.cralaw

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