SC junks dismissal cases vs 3 CA justices

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday dismissed the administrative cases filed against three Court of Appeals (CA) justices. 

In a nine-page decision, the SC junked the administrative complaints filed by Clemente Atoc against Associate Justices Henri Paul Inting, Edgardo Camello and Pablito Perez for lack of merit. 

The three were separately charged with gross ignorance of the law, gross violations of the lawyer’s oath, Code of Professional Responsibility, Code of Professional Responsibility, Code of Judicial Conduct, Professional Ethics and Code of Judicial Ethics as well as grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, manifest partiality and violation of sections of Republic Act 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Court records showed that on Aug. 14, 2015, the Office of the Ombudsman found Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno and treasurer officer-in-charge Glenn Banez guilty of grave misconduct wherein the punishment is dismissal from government service. 

A copy of the dismissal order was sent to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for implementation. In return, Moreno and Banez filed their respective petitions for certiorari with extremely urgent prayer for temporary restraining order (TRO), with writ of preliminary injunction.

On Nov. 13, 2015, the CA issued a resolution granting Moreno and Banez’s prayer for TRO. 

Atoc, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, claimed that he was aggrieved by the CA move, prompting him to file a complaint against the justices.