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Balleza vs. Judge Astorga

SOFIA P. BALLEZA, complainant, vs. MUNICIPAL JUDGE JOSE R. ASTORGA of Ajuy, Iloilo, respondent.

A.M. No. 202-MJ | 1976-04-30

R E S O L U T I O N
 
FERNANDO, Acting C.J:

It is highly-prized ideal in adjudication announced in Gutierrez v. Santos 1 that a party to a trial "is entitled to nothing less than the cold neutrality of an impartial judge." 2 Accordingly, Rule 137 of the Rules of Court, for disqualification of judicial officers, provides: "No judge or judicial officer shall sit in any case in which he, or his wife or child, is pecuniarily interested as heir, legatee, creditor or otherwise, or in which he is related to either party within the sixth degree of consanguinity or affinity, or to counsel within the fourth degree, computed...