For involvement in illegal procurement
TACLOBAN CITY– The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed Judge Ateneones Bacale, presiding judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Biliran-Cabucgayan, Biliran, for gross misconduct stemming from his involvement in the illegal procurement of medical supplies for the City of Manila.
In a decision released by the SC en banc on Dec.19, the High Court found that Bacale manipulated the procurement process by facilitating a project worth P 50 million for the supply of medicines to four hospitals in Manila.
Bacale, leveraging his wife Romilda’s position as executive secretary to then-Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, promised pharmaceutical supplier Aldrin Magaoay that the procurement could be awarded to him without undergoing the required bidding process.
Between 2016 and 2019, Bacale received nearly P20 million from Magaoay through bank transfers and personal deliveries.
Magaoay also documented Bacale counting one of the payments.
When no progress was made on the promised projects despite these payments, Magaoay realized he had been deceived and subsequently filed an administrative complaint against Bacale.
During the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) investigation, Bacale claimed that his involvement was limited to acting as a messenger for his estranged wife.
He explained that he assisted her out of gratitude for helping him recover from the destruction of his home caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Meanwhile, Romilda contended that her heavy workload at the Manila Mayor’s Office led her to request Bacale’s help in collecting documents from Magaoay. She asserted that upon discovering the bidding documents were fabricated, she committed to returning Magaoay’s payments.
The JIB recommended Bacale’s dismissal, citing violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct, particularly Canon 2 on Integrity and Canon 4 on Propriety.
The Supreme Court concurred, emphasizing the critical role of judicial officers in maintaining public trust. The Court underscored that judges must not only act lawfully but also avoid any appearance of impropriety to uphold the judiciary’s integrity.
The SC ruled that Bacale knowingly participated in his wife’s illicit dealings, acting as her intermediary and directly engaging with Magaoay to secure financial transactions. His actions, the Court noted, severely undermined the public’s confidence in the judiciary.
“The deliberate involvement of a judge in corrupt practices erodes the foundation of public trust in the judiciary,” the decision read.
“Gross misconduct, as exemplified in this case, warrants the strongest disciplinary action to preserve the dignity of the judicial office,” it added.
The SC’s decision serves as a stern reminder that judges are held to the highest ethical standards, and any breach of this responsibility will not be tolerated.
JOEY A. GABIETA
