Sunday, December 30, 2007 Lift suspension, Tormis tells SC
SUSPENDED Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Judge Rosabella Tormis is asking the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its decision suspending her for six months.
In her motion for reconsideration, Tormis told the SC to spare her from any more penalty, as she had complied with its Sept. 18, 2002 directive.
The suspension came days before the SC lifted the preventive suspension of Tormis and four other MTCC judges on their alleged involvement in the so-called “marriage scam.”
The SC suspended Tormis for gross misconduct and insubordination.
The suspension stemmed from Tormis’ failure to comply with the SC’s order to furnish Asuncion Visbal a copy of her comment on the administrative case filed by Visbal against her for allegedly making “untruthful statements.”
The SC dismissed the case on September 2002 and ordered Tormis to furnish the complainant a copy of her comment and to explain why she should not be sanctioned for appearing and defending herself in Tacloban City.
Sanctioned
Tormis reminded the SC that on Oct. 2002, she explained why she should not be sanctioned. That same day, she also furnished Visbal a copy of her comment.
The deputy court administrator found her explanation justifiable.
Tormis disclosed that on June 2003, she again furnished Visbal a copy of the document and even the SC acknowledged this in its July 2003 resolution.
She said that last March 2005, she was fined for allegedly failing to comply with the order.
“In spite of her innocence, Judge Tormis paid the SC the P2,000 fine unjustly imposed on her... Respondent had more than complied with the orders of the SC and deserves no citation of contempt, much less penalty,” read the motion of Tormis.
No pay
The judge said that for the third time, she furnished Visbal a copy of her comment and furnished her again after receiving the SC order suspending her for six months without pay.
Tormis said, “It would be the height of injustice if the SC would allow their (Visbal) persecutions to inflict more pain and suffering on the lowly trial court judge and totally paralyze her judicial functions.”
She told the SC that Visbal has an axe to grind against her because she sued her for direct assault.
Tormis won the case and the court directed Visbal to pay her P300,000 in damages. (KNT)
