CABANATUAN Judge Nelson Largo has been declared persona non grata by the Baguio City Government.
During the regular council session Monday, the entire City Council unanimously declared Largo as persona non grata for unacceptable behavior in the city.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said actions of the judge is unwanted and unacceptable and the declaration is both a condemnation and a manifestation of support for the embattled traffic enforcer.
Olowan said enforcer Bernard Batnag deserves the full support of the city as well as any legal needs he may now require.
Last week, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong sent a letter to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta for what he described as an unprofessional and arrogant display of judicial power by Largo.
The judge committed two traffic infractions in the city of Baguio on October 25; illegal parking of his motor vehicle at the PUJ loading area at Kayang and a violation of the city number coding ordinance.
Largo then issued an order directing Baguio Peace and Order Safety Division (POSD) officer Batnag and the Chief of the Traffic Enforcer of the market to explain within 72 hours why they should not be cited for indirect contempt of court.
Magalong has brought to the attention of the chief justice the actions of the judge saying “our traffic law enforcers who were lawfully and regularly performing their duties and functions but were charged by Judge Nelson Largo for indirect contempt in his own court at the Cabanatuan city trial court to be heard on November 29.”