The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed from the service a fugitive regional trial court (RTC) judge who had been charged with attempted rape, rape, and acts of lasciviousness, and against whom an arrest order had been issued.
Dismissed was RTC Judge Jaime E. Contreras of the Naga City RTC. The SC has also ordered the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to initiate disbarment proceedings against him.
Due to the gory details of the alleged crime committed by Contreras and the person who filed the cases against him, Manila Bulletin decided to omit details of the charges.
Contreras’ dismissal arose from the administrative complaint filed before OCA in 2014 by the judge’s alleged victim of sexual molestation and rape.
The complainant alleged that she was first molested by Contreras in 1994 when she was barely 14 years old. She alleged that the molestation became worse and more frequent.
In 2004, she claimed that the judge brought her to a motel and raped her. She also said the judge even took pictures when she was naked and threatened to expose the photographs if she would tell anyone of what transpired between them.
In 2014, she decided to file criminal and administrative charges against the judge.
In its report to the SC, OCA said that the RTC in Daet, Camarines Norte had issued an arrest order against Contreras who had remained at large.
In its decision, the SC said: “This Court shall refrain from making any pronouncements as regards the serious accusations of rape and sexual abuse against respondent (Contreras) since these matters remain pending before the trial court.”
The SC also said:
“By becoming a fugitive from justice, respondent committed grave misconduct. Moreover, his clear intent to violate the law and flagrant disregard of the legal processes are not merely indicative of his reprehensible conduct; worse, his continued evasion of the orders for his arrest makes it appear that he is immune to or above ordinary judicial processes, thus bringing dishonor to the Judiciary.
“Respondent's flight from justice is fully incompatible with his judicial office and underscores lack of respect and defiance of the law, in contradiction to the very core of his position. Evasion of arrest is anathema to a career in the Judiciary; it renders respondent unfit and unworthy of the honor and integrity attached to his office.
“Obedience to the dictates of the law and justice is demanded of every judge. A sitting magistrate cannot mete out justice when he himself undermines the court's authority.
“A judge cannot be an exemplar of upholding the law if he refuses to follow a judicial directive. In the Judiciary, moral integrity is more than a cardinal virtue, it is a necessity.
“The exacting standards of conduct demanded of judges are designed to promote public confidence in judicial processes. A judge embodies the law; he cannot be above it.
“We find that respondent’s (Contreras’) refusal to follow lawful orders and evasion of arrest are glaring proofs of his disinterest to remain in the Judiciary.
“WHEREFORE, the foregoing premises considered, the Court finds respondent Judge Jaime E. Contreras GUILTY of grave misconduct. He is hereby DISMISSED from the service, with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits, and with perpetual disqualification from holding public office or re-employment in any branch of the government, including government-owned and controlled corporations.
“The case against respondent Judge Jaime E. Contreras is REFERRED to the Office of the Bar Confidant for the purpose of initiating disbarment proceedings against him. Let a copy of this Decision be included in said respondent's files that are with the Office of the Bar Confidant, the Office of the Court Administrator for distribution to all courts, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.”