Friday, October 19, 2007
Lawyers push for Hormachuelos as Court of Appeals presiding judge
THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Cebu City is endorsing Cebuana Associate Justice Portia Hormachuelos for the vacant post of Court of Appeals presiding justice.
In a resolution approved last Monday, the lawyers’ group said that Hormachuelos’ leadership record shows nothing but the “utmost competence, unquestioned integrity and selfless dedication to duty.”
“Her outstanding performance in government service, particularly in the judiciary, has earned her several awards, among them the Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence,” the two-page resolution said.
The IBP Cebu City chapter believes it is high time that a person recognized as a “legal luminary (with) a sterling record as a public servant, proven integrity and devotion to duty” be picked.
Recommendation
Previous to this, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia also issued a letter of recommendation for Hormachuelos to the Supreme Court.
“A Cebuano of unquestioned integrity, competence and knowledge of the law, Justice Hormachuelos has been efficient and effective in performing her duties and responsibilities as a justice and has earned the respect of the members of the bench and bar,” the governor said.
“Her untarnished record is a living testament to her diligence and moral uprightness in government service,” Garcia said.
The Supreme Court (SC), earlier this year, dismissed from service a Court of Appeals (CA) associate justice for gross ignorance of the law and for undue delay in the dispensation of cases lodged before his office.
Before his dismissal, Elvi John Asuncion served the Office of the Ombudsman.
Assumption
Asuncion used to head CA’s 10th Division based in Manila. He was the first casualty in the High Court’s effort to cleanse the judiciary of erring justices, following the assumption to office of SC Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
In a per curiam decision, the SC en banc unanimously adopted the recommendations of retired SC justice Bernardo Pardo, who was tasked to conduct an investigation into the administrative complaints received by the court against Asuncion.
Aside from his dismissal, the court also ordered the forfeiture of Asuncion’s retirement benefits, except leave credits.
“While a judge is presumed to act with regularity and good faith in the performance of judicial functions, a blatant disregard of the clear and unmistakable provisions of a statute, as well as Supreme Court circulars enjoining strict compliance therewith, upends this presumption and subjects the magistrate to administrative sanction,” the decision stated. (KNR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 19, 2007 issue)
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