Executive judge steps down

Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes yesterday stepped down as  leader of the Cebu City judiciary,  an administrative  post he’s held for two years.

He tried to hold back tears as  he turned over  his functions as executive judge to Judge Sylvestre Maamo Jr.  ,  who is next in line.

Paredes  and RTC Judge Bienvinido Saniel were held administratively liable in a decision by the Supreme Court (SC) for incompetence and undue delay in the resolution of a motion in a civil case over unpaid bills.

Both judges were fined P10,000 each.

Paredes expressed dismay over the ruling that he said was  “grossly unfounded and erroneous.” He and Saniel are seeking  reconsideration of the High Court’s decision.

Paredes, who was appointed in December 2008,  announced his resignation at  a meeting with other RTC judges, lawyers, and officials of the Palace of Justice.

“I’m very disappointed. I felt I am a victim of injustice. I am not guilty of undue delay. The records of the branch of the court where I am the presiding judge will bear  me out,” Paredes said.

The case  stemmed from an administrative complaint filed  by lawyer and former  regional director Florencio Villarin of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7).

Villarin earlier  accused  Paredes, Saniel and three other RTC judges of  failing to resolve pleadings in a civil suit he filed in court against a stevedoring company and a shipping company over an unpaid P1.4 million obligation.

Villarin, who  retired from NBI, has a stevedoring business.   For failing to get his  money claim within a reasonable time, Villarin charged the five judges and filed a case of disbarment against the defendant’s lawyer Bernardito Florido.

The Supreme Court’s 3rd Division   affirmed  the findings  of the Office of the Court Administrator, which investigated the judges.

With this,   Paredes said he  had to “automatically divest” himself of his position.

“Dili ko kapit tuko. (I won’t cling  to my position) Whether or not the decision against us is erroneous, I have to set the  example for others,” he said.

“Without hesitation, I have to resign.”

Paredes said that  he couldn’t resolve the pleadings filed by Villarin because the other party in the case had yet to answer them.

Paredes’  two-year term as executive judge should have ended last December 2010 but was extended by the High Court. He remains presiding judge of Branch 13.

Three other judges—Ireneo Lee-Gako, Anacleto Caminade and Aproniano Taypin—have already retired. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol