MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has slapped Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente Roxas a fine of P15,000 after he was found administratively guilty of violating the Rules of Court and the New Code of Judicial Conduct in the Philippine Judiciary.
The high court also warned Roxas that his commission of any act of impropriety in the future will merit a more severe penalty.
Roxas is one of the justices embroiled in bribery scandal among CA magistrates in relation to the ownership case between the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
In its decision, SC said Roxas should be held accountable for failing to resolve the motion for reconsideration of a October 31, 2006 resolution and for causing undue delay in resolving the motion for reconsideration of a January 29, 2007 decision.
The October 31, 2006 resolution enjoined the execution for the collection of complainant, lawyer Victoriano V. Orocio, of his charging lien while the January 29, 2007 decision, of which Roxas was the ponente, limited complainants collectible attorneys fees to a maximum of P3.5 million.
The SC said that under the Internal Rules of the Court of Appeals (IRCA), the ponente has the primary responsibility on motions in cases.
Thus, there can be no action on a motion, paper or any other incident except upon the ponentes prior instruction, the high court said.
Complainant Orocio, who acted as counsel for the retired employees of the National Power Corporation (Napocor), had sought the approval of his charging lien before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, Branch 217 after Napocor and the employees arrived at an amicable settlement.
The QCRTC approved his lien and later issued a writ of execution and notice of garnishment in Orocios favor. Subsequently, two Napocor directors filed a petition for certiorari with the CA which was raffled to the CA 16th Division with Roxas as ponente.
On August 28, 2006, the CA stopped the implementation of the RTC order. Napocor also filed a separate petition for certiorari with the CA, which was later consolidated with the case earlier filed by two Napocor board directors.
Two months later, the CA issued a resolution ordering the issuance of a writ of injunction in the consolidated cases, prompting Orocio to file a motion for reconsideration of its ruling.
On January 29, 2007, Roxas annulled and set aside the assailed order and limited Orocios collectible attorneys fees to a maximum of P3.5 million. - GMANews.TV