The Supreme Court has dismissed a regional trial court judge who borrowed money from a group of persons with pending case in his court.
A press statement issued by the SC Public Information Office identified the dismissed judge as Bonifacio M. Macabaya of the RTC Branch 20 in Cagayan de Oro City.
A copy of the decision was not immediately available. It has not been posted in the SC website.
The PIO statement said Macabaya was found guilty of violating the Rules of Court and the New Code of Judicial Conduct. His retirement benefits were forfeited and he was perpetually banned from reemployment in government service.
The complaint against Macabaya was filed by Leonaria Neri, spouses Abeto Salcedo, Jr. and Jocelyn Salcedo, Evangeline Camposano, and Hugo Amorillo, Jr.
In their affidavits, the complainants said Macabaya borrowed large sum of money from them while their case was pending before the judge’s sala.
The PIO statement did not mention how much money was borrowed by Macabaya and the nature of the pending case of the complainants.
The complaint was endorsed by the Office of the Court Administrator to the SC as a full court which referred it to a Court of Appeals justice for investigation.
The PIO statement also said:
“For his defense, Judge Macabaya denied the allegations and claimed that the complainants were only coerced to file a complaint against him as part of an alleged grand design by an OCA official and other judges to discredit him.
“The SC held that Judge Macabaya’s general denial carries little weight. It stressed that judges must adhere to the highest standards of judicial conduct and public accountability lest his action erode the public faith in the Judiciary.” (Rey Panaligan)
