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No judge can choose to prolong, on his own, the period for deciding cases beyond the period authorized by law.
Thus ruled the Supreme Court En Banc in a Per Curiam Decision ordering the suspension of Judge Oscar P. Noel, Jr., (Judge Noel) Presiding Judge, Branch 35, Regional Trial Court (RTC), General Santos City, South Cotabato for Gross Neglect of Duty in his capacity as Assisting Judge (Justice on Wheels), Alabel, Sarangani Province.
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The Court cited Section 15 (1), Article VIII of the Constitution, which imposed on lower courts the duty to decide or resolve cases or matters within three months. Further, Rule 3.05, Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct mandates judges to dispose of the court’s business promptly and decide cases within the required periods. This is reiterated in Section 5, Canon 6 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary, which requires judges to perform all judicial duties, including the delivery of reserved decisions, efficiently, fairly, and with reasonable promptness.
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The Court further stressed that if judges do not possess efficiency and dedication in the prompt disposition of cases, delay is inevitable, to the prejudice of litigants. Judges must hence be imbued with a high sense of duty and responsibility in discharging their obligation to administer justice promptly.
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Suggested answer in Political Law & International Law Read here
Thus, under Rule 140 of the Rules of Court, as further amended by A.M. No. 21-08-09-SC, the offense of Undue Delay in Rendering a Decision or Order is considered Gross Neglect of Duty in the Performance or Non-Performance of Official Functions under Section 14(d), or Simple Neglect of Duty in the Performance or Non-Performance of Official Functions under Section 15(d), depending on the seriousness of the act committed.
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The Supreme Court Public Information Office will upload a copy of the Decision in A.M. No. RTJ-23-050 (Villarojo v. Noel, Jr.) once it receives the same from the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
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Read more at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-suspends-judge-for-undue-delay-in-rendering-decision-in-criminal-case/.
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