SC fines judge in Baguio parking spat

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A judge who figured in a parking controversy in this city last year has been ordered to pay a fine of P11,000.

Cabanatuan City Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 Judge Nelson Largo was found guilty of simple misconduct, according to a decision issued by the Supreme Court’s (SC) First Division received by the city mayor’s office on Wednesday.

The high tribunal issued a ”stern warning” that a repetition of a similar act would be ”dealt with more severely.”

The SC ruled on the letter of Mayor Benjamin Magalong informing the court of the “grievance” of traffic enforcers in the city.

The case stemmed from an incident on Oct. 25, 2019 when traffic enforcers led by Bernard Batnag removed the license plate of Largo’s car parked in front of the public market and issued a citation ticket.

After three days, Largo issued a subpoena for Batnag and his colleagues, whom the judge cited for indirect contempt.

Largo claimed the time he spent to claim his license plate delayed the hearings of the cases he was handling.

The Baguio City council declared Largo persona non grata, saying the traffic enforcers were only performing their duties.