Temporal

CASE TITLE:
Re: Inhibition of Judge Bienvenido R. Estrada, Regional Trial Court, Branch 57, San Carlos City, Pangasinan,
in Civil Case No. SCC-1822
G.R. NUMBER & DATE: A.M. No. 98-1-32-RTC. July 29, 1998

PETITIONERS:
RESPONDENTS:

NATURE OF CASE: Court’s Resolution regarding Judge Estrada’s decision to inhibit himself from the
Umengan Estate v Rural Bank of Binmaley
DOCTRINE/PRINCIPLE: Inhibition of Judges

FACTS:
 Judge Estrada inhibited himself from the “The Umengan Estate v Rural Bank of Binmaley on the
ground that he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Rural Bank of Labrador – one of the
respondents
o Court required Judge Estrada to explain why no disciplinary sanction should be imposed on him
for holding a position in the Rural Bank of Labrador
o In his answer, he said that he resigned in the Board effective May 31, 1997
o Upon investigation, OCA informed the court that Judge Estrada was transferred to the Judiciary
some time in May 17, 1994
Petitioner’s Arguments:
Respondent's Arguments:

ISSUE: WON Judge Estrada should be disciplined? YES

FALLO: WHEREFORE, Judge Bienvenido R. Estrada is hereby REPRIMANDED with the WARNING that
repetition of the same or similar acts for which he is being reprimanded will be dealt with more severely.

HELD: Yes it is double taxation.

 Circular No. 6 dated April 10, 1987 strictly enjoins all Judges, Clerks of Court and Sheriffs not to accept
the position of director or any other position in any electric cooperative or other enterprises, or to resign
immediately from such position if they are already holding the same so as not to prejudice the
expeditious and proper administration of justice.In violation of this circular, Judge Estrada, who was
appointed to the judiciary on May 17, 1994, did not resign from the Board of Directors of the Rural Bank
of Labrador until May 31, 1997
 Judge Estrada failed to comply with the directive of Circular No. 6 dated April 10, 1987. The fact that he
has already resigned as a Member from the Directorship of the Rural Bank of Labrador does not
excuse him from any administrative liability. As a Judge he should be faithful to the law and maintain
professional competence. The present controversy could have been avoided had he kept faith with the
injunction that as a member of the bench he must continuously keep himself abreast of legal and
jurisprudential developments because the learning process in law never ceases
o assuming that Judge Estrada acted in good faith in having himself appointed as a member of
the Board of Directors in the Rural Bank of Labrador and that he has already resigned from the
same, such considerations will simply mitigate his administrative liabilities but will not altogether
excuse his ignorance of the law/circulars

Notes: