A.M. No. RTJ-08-2149 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 08-2787-RTJ) - LYDIA A. BENANCILLO, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE VENANCIO J. AMILA, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 3, TAGBILARAN CITY.R E S O L U T I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, respondent Judge Venancio J. Amila is hereby found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a judge. In particular, he violated Sections 1 and 6, Canon 4 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary. Conduct unbecoming of a judge is classified as a light offense under Section 10, [10] Rule 140 of the Rules of Court. It is penalized under Section 11C [11] thereof by any of the following: (1) A fine of not less than P1,000.00 but not exceeding P10,000.00; (2) Censure; (3) Reprimand; and (4) Admonition with warning. In as much as Judge Amila was previously found guilty of gross ignorance of the law in connection with his Decision in Criminal Case Nos. 14988 and 14989 which was docketed as A.M. No. RTJ-07-2071 where he was ordered to pay a fine of P20,000.00 and warned that a repetition of the same or similar act would be dealt with more severely, the penalty of fine of P21,000.00 is deemed appropriate in the instant case. WHEREFORE , we find Judge Venancio J. Amila GUILTY of Conduct Unbecoming of a Judge, and FINE him P21,000.00. SO ORDERED.