THIRD DIVISION
A.M. No. MTJ-05-1615 February 22, 2006
[Formerly OCA I.P.I No. 04-1613-MTJ]
ERLINDA P. VARCAS, Complainant,
vs.
JUDGE RAFAEL P. OROLA, JR., MCTC, DAO-IVISAN, CAPIZ, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
CARPIO MORALES, J.:
By a verified letter-complaint1 in Pilipino, Erlinda P. Varcas (complainant) charges Judge Rafael Orola, Jr. (respondent) of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Dao-Ivisan, with station at Dao, Capiz, with gross ignorance of the law or procedure, classified as a serious charge under Section 8, Rule 140, as amended.
The antecedents of the case follow:
Complainant was indicted for direct assault before the sala of respondent. Her arraignment was scheduled on January 6, 2004. In late 2003, however, her counsel filed a Motion for Postponement due to conflict of schedule.
When the case was called on January 6, 2004, respondent noted and granted complainant’s counsel’s Motion for Postponement and accordingly reset the arraignment to January 16, 2004. Noting, however, the absence of complainant, respondent issued an order2 in open court directing her to explain in writing in 10 days why no warrant for her arrest should be issued "for defying the order of the court."
Complainant appears to have eventually shown up in court on January 6, 2004 during which she was notified of the above-said Order of respondent issued on even date.
On January 16, 2004, complainant was, as scheduled, arraigned. Her compliance with respondent’s order of January 6, 2004, which was due on that day, January 16, 2004, appears not to have been taken up during the arraignment, for respondent later issued on the same day, January 16, 2004, an Order3 reading verbatim:
During the hearing of January 6, 2004 the accused Erlinda Vargas4 failed to appear in court in spite receipt of notice. She was required to explain in writing why no warrant of arrest shall be issued. No explanation was received by the court. For defying the order of this court she is hereby committed to the BJMP Ivisan, Capiz for two (2) days detention.
The Provincial Prosecutor finding probable cause filed an information against the herein accused for Direct Assault.
In order not to frustrate the ends of justice, let a warrant of arrest issue. The bail for her temporary liberty is hereby fixed at P12,000.00. (Underscoring supplied)
It appears that complainant got wind of the January 16, 2004 Order of respondent on the same day. She thus posted also on the same day, January 16, 2004, a cash bond of ₱12,000 before the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan, Capiz of which she is a resident, and for which she was issued Official Receipt (O.R.) C No. 0944912.
On January 19, 2004, complainant presented the O.R. issued to her by the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan to the MCTC Clerk of Court, Norman F. Oducado, who refused to accept it, however, as allegedly respondent had instructed him that the cash bond must be deposited with the Clerk of Court who would issue an O.R. therefor, it being a matter of policy that a fiduciary fund receipt should be issued for cash bonds posted. She was advised to return the O.R. to the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan, Capiz.
The Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan later issued a Certification5 that O.R. No. 0944912 was replaced by O.R. No. 19248652 dated January 19, 2004 [issued by MCTC Clerk of Court Oducado].
By Order of January 20, 2004,6 respondent noted complainant’s posting of a cash bond under the O.R. dated January 19, 2004 and approved the same. In the same order, respondent declared that complainant "shall be allowed to enjoy provisional liberty . . ." Yet, complainant was subsequently detained at the Ivisan municipal jail for two days from January 20-22, 2004 in compliance with respondent’s Order of January 16, 2004.7
Hence, the present complaint against respondent, for gross ignorance of the law, for 1) issuing the January 16, 2004 Order faulting her for indirect contempt despite the fact that she had up to 5:00 p.m. of that day to comply with his January 6, 2004 order, thus depriving her of the opportunity to be heard thereon as called for by Section 4 of Rule 71; refusing to sign the order for her to be released on January 19, 2004; and 2) instructing the Clerk of Court not to accept the cash bond she posted at the Office of Ivisan Municipal Treasurer, despite the provision of the Rules of Criminal Procedure that the cash bond of an accused can be deposited with the nearest collector of internal revenue or provincial or municipal treasurer.
To the complaint, respondent proffers the following comments: He issued the January 6, 2004 Order in accordance with Section 4 of Rule 71 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure which allows a court to motu proprio initiate proceedings for indirect contempt by an order, in view of complainant’s failure to show up for arraignment. Since the last day for complainant to file her written explanation behind her failure to show up on January 6, 1994 fell on January 16, 2004 (a Friday), "[t]o insure prompt attendance of [complainant] during court hearing and in view of the findings of probable cause by the Provincial Prosecution," he issued the questioned January 16, 2004 Order in open court, ordering her detention for two days "for defying" its order.8
As for the refusal of the Clerk of Court to accept the O.R. covering complainant’s cash bond posted before the Ivisan Municipal Treasurer, respondent denied having advised him to that effect, albeit he proffered that said Clerk’s advice for complainant to post the bond in court is in accordance with a requirement that a fiduciary fund receipt should be issued for the posting of bail.
Finally, on his refusal to approve on January 19, 2004 complainant’s release, respondent explained that the order of release was presented to him at his residence in Roxas City and not at his official station at Dao, Capiz.
OCA’s EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION
On evaluation of the case, the OCA found respondent guilty of gross ignorance of the law in this wise:
x x x His hasty order detaining complainant without awaiting her comment and without conducting the necessary hearing is a clear violation of the rules. Respondent judge should be reminded that he should not cut short the proceedings simply because the last day for complainant to file her explanation fell on a Friday or that there was a need to discipline the latter to ensure her prompt attendance in court hearings. Complainant should not be deprived of her liberty without due process of law.
While it may be said that respondent judge was merely exercising the inherent power of the court to punish for contempt, such power should be exercised with due regard to the rights of the contemner and must be exercised on the preservative, not vindictive, and on the corrective, and not retaliatory idea of punishment. The court must exercise the power to punish for contempt for purposes that are impersonal, because that power is intended as a safeguard not for the judge as persons but for the functions that they exercise.
In fine, the rule (Section 3, Rule 71, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure) violated by respondent judge is so basic that not to know it or to act as if he does not know it constitute gross ignorance of the law which is punishable by a fine or suspension from office without salary and other benefits for more than three (3) [months] but not exceeding six (6) months; or a fine of more than P20,000.00 but not exceeding P40,000.00. Considering that this is the first offense of Judge Orola Jr., a fine of P20,000.00 is commensurate.
As regards the alleged refusal to accept complainant’s cash bond, it was erroneous to have required the complainant to return the official receipt to the Municipal Treasurer of Ivisan, Capiz and post the money in court. However, such indiscretion was committed by the Clerk of Court and not respondent judge. Moreover there is no clear showing that respondent judge instructed the Clerk of Court not to accept the official receipt issued by the Municipal Treasurer. Also, respondent judge’s refusal to act on complainant’s release order and other pertinent papers in his residence is a policy which is left to the discretion of respondent judge. It will be noted however that respondent judge on the following day immediately approved her cash bond and ordered her release.9 (Citations omitted) (Underscoring supplied)
The OCA accordingly gave the following Recommendation:
(a) The instant administrative complaint be RE-DOCKETED as a regular administrative matter; and
(b) Respondent Judge Rafael P. Orola, Jr. of the 3rd MCTC, Dao-Ivisan, Capiz be ordered to pay a FINE in the amount of TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) for gross ignorance of law with stern WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall be dealt with more severely.10 (Emphasis in the original)
THIS COURT’S RULING
Respondent is indeed guilty of gross ignorance of the law in light of the following discussions.
When an accused fails to appear when required, like during arraignment, Section 21 of Rule 114 of the Rules provides:
Sec. 21. Forfeiture of bail. - When the presence of the accused is required by the court or these Rules, his bondsmen shall be notified to produce him before the court on a given date and time. If the accused fails to appear in person as required, his bail shall be declared forfeited and the bondsmen given thirty (30) days within which to produce their principal and to show cause why no judgment should be rendered against them for the amount of their bail. Within the said period, the bondsmen must:
(a) produce the body of their principal or give the reason for his non-production; and
(b) explain why the accused did not appear before the court when first required to do so.lavvph!1.net
Failing in these two requisites, a judgment shall be rendered against the bondsmen, jointly and severally, for the amount of the bail. The court shall not reduce or otherwise mitigate the liability of the bondsmen, unless the accused has been surrendered or is acquitted. (Italics in the original; underscoring supplied)
Respondent did not, however, follow the above-quoted rule. Instead, he issued a bench warrant for complainant’s arrest and detention, with the requirement that she post a bailbond of ₱12,000 "for temporary liberty."
Complainant did post a cash bond of ₱12,000 alright, but respondent still enforced his order for her to be detained for two days. For what then was she supposed to be posting the ₱12,000 bond if she was still going to be detained? Did not complainant post bail under Section 1 of Rule 114, upon arrest following the filing of the information "to guarantee his appearance?"
In another vein, if complainant’s failure to show up during the scheduled arraignment on January 6, 2004 constituted indirect contempt as respondent believed, albeit incorrectly, why did he not follow the procedure therefor under Section 3 of Rule 71 of the Revised Rules of Civil Procedure which reads:
Sec. 3. Indirect contempt to be punished after charge and hearing. - After a charge in writing has been filed, and an opportunity given to the respondent to comment thereon within such period as may be fixed by the court and to be heard by himself or counsel, a person guilty of any of the following acts may be punished for indirect contempt:
x x x x
(b) Disobedience of or resistance to a lawful writ, process, order or judgment of a court, including the act of a person who, after being dispossessed or ejected from any real property by the judgment or process of any court of competent jurisdiction, enters or attempts or induces another to enter into or upon such real property, for the purpose of executing acts of ownership or possession, or in any manner disturbs the possession given to the person adjudged to be entitled thereto;
x x x x (Italics in the original, underscoring supplied)
In his Notes under above-said Section 3 of Rule 71, Justice Regalado states:
1. With some minor changes in the phraseology, this provision is a reproduction of the former Sec. 3 of this Rule. It is now specified that the respondent should (a) be given an opportunity to comment on the charge within such period fixed by the court, and (b) be heard thereon by himself or counsel.
Thus, the procedural requisites for indirect contempt proceedings are (a) a charge in writing or an order of the court to appear and explain, and (b) an opportunity for the respondent to comment on the charge and to appear and explain his conduct.11 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
In the present case, respondent did not comply with the second requisite. He gave complainant 10 days from receipt of the order or until January 16, 2004 to comply therewith. Yet respondent issued on January 16, 2004 his questioned order, despite the fact that complainant had until the afternoon of that day to comply with it. If complainant had filed via registered mail on January 16, 2004 her explanation in writing but that said explanation had not been received by the court, she certainly did not fail to comply with the January 6, 2004 Order on January 16, 2004, hence, the issuance by respondent of the January 16, 2004 was premature and, therefore, erroneous, to say the least.
By respondent’s issuance of the questioned Order of January 16, 2004, complainant was deprived of the opportunity to comment on the charge and to appear and explain her side.
There being no record that respondent had previously been faulted administratively, the recommended penalty of FINE in the amount of ₱20,000 is well-taken, with warning that a repetition of the same or similar infraction shall be dealt with more severely.
WHEREFORE, for gross ignorance of the law, respondent, Judge Rafael P. Orola, Jr., of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Dao-Ivisan, Capiz, is FINED in the amount of Twenty Thousand (₱20,000) Pesos, with warning that a repetition of the same or similar charge shall be dealt with more severely.
SO ORDERED.
CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING
Associate Justice
Chairperson
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice |
DANTE O. TINGA
Asscociate Justice |
Footnotes
1 Rollo, pp. 1-4.
2 Id. at 22.
3 Id. at 7.
4 Should have been Varcas.
5 Rollo, p. 68.
6 Id. at 20.
7 Certification dated January 26, 2004, Id. at 9.
8 Rollo, p. 32.
9 Id. at 93-94.
10 Id. at 94.
11 I Regalado, Remedial Law Compendium (2002), p. 819.
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