Alumbres v Caoibes

ALUMBRES v CAOIBES Petitioners: Judge Florentino Alumbres Respondents: Judge Jose Caoibes Ponente: Melo, J.

te$p! te$p!ee- Caoi% Caoi%es es a!so a!so de!iv de!iver ered ed a ri*"t ri*"t "oo, "oo,)) *ra1in* A!u$%res2 !o.er 3a.- ne of te de!uty ser serif iffs fs !lace !lace !lace !laced d ims imsel elff bet$ bet$een een te te t$o. t$o. Alumbres s$ung at Caoibes $ile te latter $as  being led a$ay but te blo$ missed.

January 23, 2002 DOCTRINE Cano Canon n of Judii Judiia! a! Et"i Et"is: s: “A judge’ judge’ss offici official al cond conduct uct soul sould d be free free from from te te a!!ea a!!eara rance nce of  im!ro!riety and is !ersonal bea"ior, not only on te benc and in te !erformance of judicial duties,  but also in is e"eryday life, sould be beyond re!roac. #eing te "isible re!resentation of te la$ and te embodiment of o f te !eo!le’s sense of justice, e must be studiously careful imself to a"oid e"en te te slig sligt tes estt infr infrac acti tion on of te te la$ la$, lest lest it be demorali%ing e&am!le of oters.' #ACTS

Judge Judge Caoibe Caoibess $as a!!oint a!!ointed ed !resid !residing ing judge judge of  #ranc 2(3, a ne$ly created branc of )*C +asay City. e ad te !ri"ilege of recommending to te -u!reme Court te a!!ointment of is o$n coice. Judge Alumbres, $o $as ten te e&ecuti"e judge of te court, too tis as an o!!ortunity to secure A!u$%r %res es !ent !ent an em!loyment for is son. A!u$ e&eutive ta%!e to Caoi%es for "is te$porar' use . *e judges ad lunc togeter and bot agreed to te a!!ointment of Alumbres’ son as !rocess ser"er  of #ranc #ranc  2(3. 2(3. /ater /ater on, Caoi Caoibe bess $it $itdr dre$ e$ is is earl earlie ierr recom recomme menda ndati tion on of Alum Alumbr bres’ es’ son son and and instead, recommended someone else. Alumbres sent is de!uty seriff to tae bac is table from Caiobes but e refused to return te table until is office furniture $as deli"ered by te -C. Alumbres ten $ent to Caoibes’ cambers to tae  bac is table. Caoibes greeted Alumbres “(o') ano %a an* atin+ ' *e latter re!lied in an angry tone “Joe') ,u,unin ,o na an* ta%!e ,o- A,in na$an i'un) e" .' n res!onse, Caoibes !ut is left arm around Alumbres’ soulder, e&tended is rigt and and to sa saee tat tat latt latter er’’s rig rigtt and and,, say saying ing “(u.a* na$an- (a!i,a) pa*usapan natin dine- ' 1es!ite te cordial gesture, Alumbres eld Caoibes’ rigt $rist and forcefully jered it. ncensed at te fierce reaction of Alumbres, Caoibes souted /Ta /Tarantado rantado ito) ito) a"0 and s.un* "is !eft ar$ to.ards A!u$%res) "ittin* "i$ on t"e ri*"t

ISSUES4(ELD

45 67 Judge Caoibes deliberately inflicted fistic  blo$s to com!lainant Judge Alumbres Alumbres 8 5ES RATIO

45 45 Judg Judgee Caoi Caoibes bes tre tre$ $ t$o t$o !unc !unces es at Judg Judgee Alumbres, te first itting is rigt tem!le and te second, te left side of is ja$. Contrary to te claim of Alumbres, te !unces of  Caoibes $ere not se"ere as te injuries sustained by Alum Alumbr bres es $ere $ere mere mere su!e su!erf rfic icia ial, l, te te si%e si%e of a  !inead similar to a mos9uito bite. #:* tis does not not detr detrac actt from rom te gra" gra"iity of te off offense ense com committ mitted ed.. Cano Canon n 2 of te Code Code of Judi udicial cial 3ud*ee s"ou s"ou!d !d avoi avoid d Cond Conduc uctt stat states es tat tat “A 3ud* i$propriet' and t"e appearane of i$propriet' in a!! ativities-0 )ule 2.04 !ro"ides tat “A 3ud*e s"ou!d %e"ave at a!! ti$es as to pro$ote pu%!i onfidene in t"e inte*rit' and i$partia!it' of t"e 3udiiar' . Courts are looed u!on by te !eo!le $it ig res!ect and are regarded sacred !laces. Misbea"ior  $itin $itin and around around teir teir "icini "icinity ty dimini diminise sess teir  teir  sanctity and dignity. B' fi*"tin* .it"in t"e ourt pre$ pre$is ises) es) t"e t"e parti parties es "ave "ave fai!e fai!ed) d) not on!' on!' to o%serve proper deoru$ e&peted of $e$%er of  t"e 3udiiar') t"e' "ave fai!ed to pro$ote pu%!i onfide onfidene ne in t"e inte*rit inte*rit' ' and i$partia i$partia!it' !it' of  contem!tible, te altercation altercation t"e 3udiiar'3udiiar'- More contem!tible, arose out of a s9uabble in"ol"ing a mere table. DECISION

Judge Caoibes is guilty of "iolating te Code of  Judicial Conduct, $it te fine of +20,000.00 $it a $arning tat a re!etition in te future $ill be dealt $it more se"erely. C