Judge dismissed from service - A.M. No. RTJ-06-2014

A.M. No. RTJ-06-2014 (click link)

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The audit and physical inventory of the cases pending before Judge Dilag’s sala revealed 377 cases[20] already submitted for decision or resolution or still in various stages of proceedings, which Judge Dilag failed to decide or resolve within the reglementary period or to act upon for a considerable length of time without proper justification. In addition to not being updated, the docket books of Judge Dilag’s court contained deficient and improper entries. Returns of warrants of arrest and court orders with directives to parties were not properly monitored and attached to the records. Judge Dilag eventually decided, resolved, and/or acted upon the aforementioned 377 cases, pursuant to our Resolution of August 1, 2006; but the OCA, in its Memorandum dated October 21, 2008, still found Judge Dilag’s full compliance unsatisfactory and recommended Judge Dilag’s dismissal from the service.

Regarding the recommendation of the OCA as to Judge Dilag, we note that the OCA Memorandum dated October 21, 2008 concerns a pending incident in these consolidated administrative matters. In our Decision dated March 4, 2009 in A.M. Nos. RTJ-06-2014 and 06-07-415-RTC, we had already meted upon Judge Dilag the penalty of dismissal from the service, with forfeiture of retirement benefits, excluding accrued leave benefits, and disqualification or appointment to any public office including government-owned or controlled corporations, for gross misconduct, gross ignorance of the law or procedure, and gross negligence and inefficiency. Judge Dilag’s failure to promptly act on the cases before his sala and to supervise his staff in the proper keeping of the docket books and case records were acts that only further demonstrated Judge Dilag’s gross negligence and inefficiency for which he had already been held administratively accountable with the severest of penalties.

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