SC dismisses judge in illegal procurement rap

The Supreme Court has dismissed a judge of a municipal circuit trial court in Biliran for participating in the illegal procurement of medical supplies for four hospitals in Manila.

In a 22-page decision promulgated in July, the SC En Banc dismissed the judge from service with forfeiture of all his benefits, except accrued leave benefits, with prejudice to re-employment in any branch of the government.

“When judges become the transgressor of any law which they are sworn to apply, they place their office in disrepute, encourage disrespect for the law, and impair public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary itself,” the SC said.

“It is therefore paramount that the personal behavior of judges, both in the performance  of their duties and daily life, be free from any appearance of impropriety as to be beyond reproach,” it added.

This stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by the supplier before the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) against the judge for gross misconduct.

In 2016, the court said the judge offered the supplier a project worth P50 million for the supply of medicine to four hospitals in Manila.

He said his wife, who was an employee of the local government at the time, could facilitate procurement in the supplier’s favor without undergoing the bidding process.

The supplier filed the complaint when the amount he deposited reached almost P20 million without any progress in the projects.

The JIB recommended the judge’s dismissal.

According to the court, the judge later admitted that he knew his wife was engaged in an illegal manipulation of the bidding process for medical supplies. 

Despite this, the SC said he readily participated in it by acting as the “bag man” and received the bidding documents and money from the supplier. The judge also affirmed that his actions were in violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

“Here, Judge… has shown a stubborn disregard of the rules which casts doubts on his integrity and sense of propriety as shown by the totality of the circumstances relating to his participation in his wife’s illegal transactions,” the SC said.

“He did not inform his wife that as a judge, it would not be proper for him to assist her in her transactions… He should have known that family concerns are only secondary to preserving the integrity of the judiciary,” it added.

The court stressed that judges must have moral integrity and not only competence in law. —NB, GMA Integrated News