A.M. No. P-01-1486 - JUDGE LORETO D. DE LA VICTORIA, COMPLAINANT, VS. HON. LEOPOLDO V. CAÑETE[*], FORMERLY BRANCH CLERK OF COURT, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 6, CEBU CITY AND NOW JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 27, LAPU-LAPU CITY, AND TEOFILO M. MENDEZ, FORMERLY COURT INTERPRETER, SAME COURT.D

Ruling

WHEREFORE, judgment is rendered as follows: (1) The complaint against respondent Teofilo M. Mendez, former Court Interpreter of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Cebu City is DISMISSED for being moot and academic, without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate criminal or civil case for the loss of the exhibits in question as may be warranted. For this reason, the Office of the Court Administrator is directed within thirty (30) days from notice to study the feasibility of bringing such action and report to the Court within five (5) days thereafter, (2) Respondent Leopoldo V. Cañete is REPRIMANDED for being remiss in the performance of his administrative duty as Branch Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Cebu City, resulting in the loss of court exhibits. (3) The Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Cebu City is hereby ordered to see to it that Branch Clerk of Court Myrna Valderrama-Limbaga complies with the herein directive to her to prepare an inventory of all cases and the exhibits therein now pending before said court and submit a copy of the same and a list of those missing to this Court within thirty (30) days from notice, furnishing a copy to the Presiding Judge of that court. SO ORDERED.