CIRCULAR
NO. 4
[1980]
TO:
JUDGES
OF INFERIOR COURTS AND COURT PERSONNEL
The attention of
the Court has been invited to the presence of some Judges in gambling
casinos
operating under Presidential Decree No. 1067-B. This is clearly
violative
of Section-5 [3-b] of said Decree. It reads as follows:
"[3-b]
Persons
not allowed to play:
(a) Government
officials
connected directly with the operation of the government or any of its
agency."
In accordance
with law
and pursuant to the Resolution of the Court en banc in
Administrative
Matter No. 1544-O dated August 21, 1980, Judges of inferior courts and
the court personnel are enjoined from playing in or being present in
gambling
casinos.
Moreover, Judges
are likewise enjoined to keep in mind the Canons of Judicial Ethics,
Paragraph
3 of which provides:
"3. Avoidance
of appearance of impropriety. - A judge's official conduct should
be
free from the appearance of impropriety, and his personal behavior, not
only upon the bench and in the performance of judicial duties, but also
in his everyday life, should be beyond reproach." (Italics
supplied)
August 27,
1980.
[Sgd.]
ENRIQUE
M. FERNANDO
Chief
Justice
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