SC dismisses judge for railroading annulments

MANILA, Philippines — A judge based in Abra and Ilocos Sur has been dismissed by the Supreme Court for railroading marriage annulments.

The high court dismissed Judge Raphiel Alzate of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1 of Bangued, Abra, for “gross ignorance of the law and gross misconduct.”

Alzate is also the acting presiding judge of the RTC Branch 58 of Bucay, Abra. He served as acting judge of the RTC Branch 24 in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, in 2016.

The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) found that Alzate granted marriage annulments for “financial considerations, in wanton disregard of the rules of procedures in the declaration of nullity of marriage cases.”

The OCA found that the number of annulment cases in Alzate’s sala rose significantly compared to previous years when he became acting judge of the Cabugao RTC in 2016.

The couples who were granted annulment were also found to be nonresidents of the municipalities under Alzate’s jurisdiction, which is a violation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines.

—Dona Z. Pazzibugan