The Supreme Court (SC) directed Camarines Norte Rep. Joefina Tallado to explain why she should not be held for indirect contempt of court, requesting a judicial audit of two judges.
This, as the high bench dismissed an administrative complaint against two Camarines Norte judges filed by Tallado.
In its 18 February decision posted 18 June, the SC en banc said Tallado’s complaint is questioning the judges’ adjudicative functions, which are not the subject of an administrative case.
But even assuming the orders were wrong, it said there was no showing of fraud, dishonesty and corruption, gross ignorance, bad faith, or deliberate intent to do an injustice.
The SC agreed with the Judicial Integrity Board’s (JIB) finding that Tallado’s request for a judicial audit of the two judges was “a ploy to intimidate, harass, demoralize and influence them.”
The complaint was filed by Tallado in January 2021 against Daet, Camarines Norte Regional Trial Court Judges Winston Racoma and Arniel Dating, requesting a judicial audit and alleging that they had been the subject of reports of anomalous issuances of temporary restraining orders (TRO).
After an investigation, the Office of the Executive Director (OED) recommended that the complaints against the judges be dismissed for involving judicial issues and for lack of merit.
The JIB agreed with the OED and said judicial remedies are available to question the issues regarding the judges’ issuance of TROs.
It also said the orders had factual and legal bases and were issued in accordance with procedure.
In finding that Tallado’s complaint was meant to harass the judges, the SC noted that her husband is one of the respondents in a civil case Racoma is handling, which shows that she is an interested party in the matter.
The court likewise pointed out that Tallado, as Camarines Norte representative, is occupying an influential position where Racoma and Dating were stationed.
It also said that the judges were absolved in the other administrative complaints filed by individuals related to Tallado and her husband.