Digest Author: Des Ico

PeoplevsGacott,Jr.
Petition:Resolution
Petitioner:PeopleofthePhil.
Respondent:EustaquioGacott,Jr.presidingjudge,RTC,PuertoPrincesaCity;
ArneStrom,andGraceReyes
Ponente:J.Regalado
Date:13July1995
Facts:
ForfailuretoreadthetextofthecitedLOINo.2(abolishingtheAntiDummyBoard)ofthe
prosecution,theorderoftherespondentdismissingthecriminalcasewasannulledbySC.
Respondentwassanctionedwithareprimandandafineof10,000phpforgrossignoranceoflaw.
Respondentfiledamotionforreconsiderationdated1April1995
o HealsobeggedwithhumilitythatthespreadingoftheDecisiononhispersonalrecords
bereconsidered.(spreadingofadecisionisanofficialprocedureandrequirementinthe
Court!)
Healsofiledasupplementalmotionforreconsiderationdated26April1995.
CopiesofthebasicmotionandsupplementalmotionswerefurnishedbyhimtotheChiefJustice,
JBC,SolGen,DOJSec,OMB,amongothers.(copiesshouldonlybefurnishedtotheadversed
party!)
Pertinentlaws/provisions:
ARTICLEVIIISECTION111987CONSTITUTION

Issues:
1. WONrespondentjudgecommittedgraveabuseofdiscretioningrantingthemotiontoquashthe
criminalcase.
2. WONtheSecondDivisionoftheSChascompetencetoadministrativelydisciplinerespondent
judge.
Ruling:
1. Yes
2. Yes
RatioDecidendi:
MotionsDenied
1. RespondentdidnotevenbothertoreadthecitedLOIoftheprosecution.
a. Heshouldberemindedthatcourtsaredutyboundtotakejudicialnoticeofallthelawsof
theland.
b. Theerrorcouldhavebeenentirelyavoidedwereitnotforhisirresponsibilityinthe
performanceofduties.
2. Courtof2ndDivisionassuredthatSCvalidlyandsolemnlyraffledthecasetoMr.JusticeBidinof
the3rdDivisionwhowaslatertransferredtothe2ndDivision.
a. Norulethatpartiesbeinformedthatacasehasbeentransferredtoanotherdivisionas
respondentwouldwant.(Reason:concealidentityoftheponente)

Digest Author: Des Ico

RespondentinvokesthesecondsentenceofSec11Article8of1987Constiinquestioning
competenceofthe2ndDiv.(pleasechecktheConstitution)
a. The1stclauseofthesection:SCenbancshallhavethepowertodisciplinejudgesof
lowercourts,
EnBancwasusedbecauseallinternalprocedural,adminmatters,and
ceremonialfunctionsaredecidedbyorconductedintheCourtenbanc.
Theclauseisadeclarationofthegrantofdisciplinarypowerto,andthe
determinationoftheprocedureintheexercisethereofby,theCourtenbanc.
Butitwasnotintendedthatadministrativedisciplinarycasesshouldbeheardand
decidedbythewholeCourtsinceitwouldresulttoabsurdity.
b. The2ndclauseofthesectionwhichisintentionallyseparatedbyacomma:ordertheir
dismissalbyavoteofMajorityoftheMemberswhotookpartinthedelibsontheissues
inthecaseandvotedtherein.
DeclaresthatadmincasesmustbedeliberatedanddecidedbythefullCourt
itself.
c. Pursuantto1stclause,Courtenbancresolutionwasadoptedwhichrequireenbanc
decisiononlywherethepenaltytobeimposedisthedismissalofajudge,officeror
employeeofJudiciary,disbarmentofalawyer,oreitherthesuspensionofanyofthem
foraperiodofmorethan1yearorafineexceeding10,000orboth.
BecausetorequiretheentireCourttodeliberateinalladmincaseswouldresult
inacongesteddocketandunduedelayintheadjudicationofcasesintheCourt.
d. CourtalsopromulgatedCircularNo.289
AdecisionorresoofaDivisionoftheCourtwhenconcurredbymajorityof
memberswhotookpartinthedelibsisadecisionorresooftheSC.(Section4
par3Article81987Consti)
Opinions:
NONE
Principles(connectiontosyllabusheading):AdecisionorresoofaDivisionoftheCourtwhen
concurredbymajorityofmemberswhotookpartinthedelibsisadecisionorresooftheSC.(Section4
par3Article81987Consti)