PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT JURISPRUDENCE

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Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila

SECOND DIVISION

SOLEDAD MORADO, Complainant, vs. JUDGE HERNANDO AGUILAR, Respondent.

FERNANDEZ, J.:

This is an administrative complaint for immorality and failure to give support filed by Soledad Morado against Municipal Judge Hernando Aguilar of Baleno Masbate.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

This complaint was referred by the Department of Justice to the executive judge, CFI, Masbate, for "appropriate action." In a return 4th indorsement, CFI Judge Abraham R. Castañeda recommended "dismissal", for the complainant who was cited to appear "failed to come and refused to acknowledge the notice of hearing ...." These same charges were previously ordered dismissed by CFI Judge Pedro Singson Reyes when the same complainant herein "withdrew her complaint." chanrobles virtual law library

In compliance with the directive in a 5th indorsement of the Department of Justice, directing a "full-dress investigation ... considering the gravity of the charges ...," CFI Judge Pedro C. Quitain, after the formal investigation, submitted his report dated December 12, 1972, containing his findings, on the basis of which he recommended that:

WHEREFORE, it is respectfully recommended that: chanrobles virtual law library

1 - For having maintained an illicit relation with the complainant while the incumbent Municipal Judge of Baleno, Masbate, and being a married man, resulting in the complainant's having become a mother without being a wife, the respondent should be dismissed from the service. Considering the circumstance, however, that the respondent is soon retiring and the further circumstance that he must have tendered his resignation as required by the President, let the law be tempered with mercy and so let his resignation be recommended for acceptance without prejudice to all the retirement benefits that he might be entitled to under existing laws.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

2 - As regards the children, the case should not be considered terminated. The innocent children must be helped and the help must be immediate taking into account the fact that the respondent is soon retiring. If there is a legal way of withholding his monetary retirement benefits let it be so withheld until the children, with the assistance of a duly appointed Guardian Ad Litem will have filed in Court such action as might be justified considering the best interest of the children..

In a 6th indorsement to the President of the Philippines dated January 4, 1973, the Secretary of Justice concurred with the findings and recommendation of the investigating judge.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

It appears, however, that the respondent judge is no longer in the service. According to the death certificate submitted to this Court, he died on April 28, 1974.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

In view of the death of the respondent, the administrative complaint filed against him is hereby dismissed.