G.R. No.: A.M. No. RTJ-13-2342 (consolidated with A.M. No. RTJ-12-2318) | Date: March 6, 2013
Case Parties/Title: Office of the Court Administrator vs. Judge Fernando G. Fuentes III, Regional Trial Court, Branch 49, Tagbilaran City, Bohol (consolidated with Paulino Butal, Sr. vs. Judge Fernando G. Fuentes III).

FACTS

1. On June 13, 2011, a judicial audit was conducted at the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 49, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, presided by Judge Fernando G. Fuentes III.
2. The audit revealed that as of that date, the court had 272 pending cases (138 criminal, 134 civil). Of these, 83 cases (24 criminal, 59 civil) were submitted for decision, with 70 of them already decided beyond the reglementary period. Some cases had been submitted for decision as far back as 2003. Among the delayed cases were 31 appealed from first-level courts and two criminal cases involving detention prisoners.
3. On August 22, 2011, the Supreme Court issued a resolution directing Judge Fuentes III to: (a) cease and desist from hearing cases and devote time to deciding the backlog, prioritizing cases involving detention prisoners, with his salaries and benefits withheld pending full compliance; (b) resolve 27 pending incidents/motions; and (c) explain in writing why no administrative sanction should be taken against him. The Court also designated Judge Suceso A. Arcamo as assisting judge for Branch 49.
4. In his explanation dated October 7, 2011, Judge Fuentes III offered no justification for the adverse findings but cited personal circumstances: he is a resident of Ozamis City and had to travel home on leave to visit his family, which affected his health and hampered case disposition. He committed to comply with the Court’s directives.
5. Judge Fuentes III partially complied by submitting decisions/orders for 39 civil and 21 criminal cases by March 13, 2012, and requested an extension until April 16, 2012, which was granted. On July 9, 2012, he submitted additional decisions for 23 civil and 5 criminal cases, plus 20 orders. In a July 16, 2012 letter, he requested another extension, citing his autistic son’s hospitalization and treatment in March and June 2012.
6. Separately, on September 21, 2011, the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) received a complaint from Paulino Butal, Sr., alleging delay in rendering a decision in Civil Case No. 7028, which was submitted for decision in early 2008. Judge Fuentes III admitted the delay and attached a copy of the decision rendered on October 20, 2011. This complaint was re-docketed as A.M. No. RTJ-12-2318 and consolidated with the main administrative matter.
7. The OCA recommended that Judge Fuentes III be found guilty of gross inefficiency, fined ₱50,000.00, and sternly warned.

ISSUE

Whether Judge Fernando G. Fuentes III is administratively liable for gross inefficiency due to his failure to decide cases and resolve pending incidents within the reglementary period.

RULING

The Supreme Court found Judge Fernando G. Fuentes III GUILTY of gross inefficiency.
1. Violation of Constitutional and Judicial Mandates: The 1987 Constitution mandates trial judges to decide cases within 90 days from submission. Section 5, Canon 6 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct requires judges to perform duties with reasonable promptness. This applies to both decisions and interlocutory matters. Unreasonable delay constitutes gross inefficiency.
2. Liability of Judge Fuentes III: The Court held that Judge Fuentes III failed to decide 70 cases within the reglementary period, including Civil Case No. 7028, and to resolve 27 pending incidents. His explanations—frequent travel to his family in Ozamis City, health issues, and his son’s illness—were deemed insufficient to absolve him of liability. The Court emphasized that while it is sympathetic to requests for extensions, Judge Fuentes III did not seasonably file any such requests until after the judicial audit and the Court’s directive.
3. Administrative Sanction: The Court imposed a FINE of Forty Thousand Pesos (₱40,000.00) for gross inefficiency, with a STERN WARNING that repetition of a similar offense would be dealt with more severely. The fine was to be deducted from his withheld salaries and benefits, which the Financial Management Office was directed to release after the deduction.
4. Disposition of Related Matters: The matter concerning Atty. Fara Ricarda Paras-Matuod, Branch Clerk of Court, was considered closed and terminated due to her full compliance. The designation of Judge Suceso A. Arcamo as assisting judge of RTC, Branch 49, was revoked.