Panganiban v. Francisco

VITUG, J.:

In the instant administrative matter, Domingo G. Panganiban has charged Judge Pablo B. Francisco of the Regional Trial Court ("RTC") of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Branch 26, and Acting Clerk of Court Liwayway Abasolo of the same court with "malversation/estafa, bribery, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act." The case stems from a mayoralty protest filed in July 1995 by Enrique Bautista contesting the election and proclamation of herein complainant Domingo Panganiban as being the duly elected municipal mayor of Sta.

Cruz, Laguna. The protest, docketed Election Contest No. SC-10, was raffled to the sala of Judge Hilario F. Corcuera of Branch 27. Another election protest, docketed Election Contest No. SC-11, was also filed by Grace Vergara, Lito F. Noroña, Rolando L. Unison, and Alberto E. Pabellon, the unsuccessful candidates for the Sangguniang Bayan of Sta.

Cruz, Laguna, against the proclaimed winners in the local elections. Election Contest No. SC-11 was raffled to the sala of respondent Judge. The two cases were later consolidated and assigned to Judge Francisco, who then constituted five Revision Committees, each with three members with substitute watchers, for the revision of ballots.

Four committees were organized for Election Contest No. SC-11, and a cash deposit of P229,200.00 was fixed therefor, broken down, as follows: one (1) chairman P100.00 one (1) revisor for the protestants P100.00 one (1) revisor for the protestees P100.00