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Miguela Bonuyan vs Judge Gaudioso Villarin

MIGUELA BONTUYAN, complainant, vs. Judge GAUDIOSO D. VILLARIN, RTC Branch 59, Toledo City (then Judge Designate, MTCC-Branch 5, Cebu City), respondent.

A.M. No. RTJ-02-1718 | 2002-08-26

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

When there are cogent reasons why a case cannot be decided within the period prescribed by law, the judge concerned should file an application for extension, stating therein why it should be granted. Otherwise, once the period lapses, the magistrate becomes administratively liable for delay in the rendition of judgments and for violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

The Case and the Facts

Miguela Bontuyan charges Judge Gaudioso D. Villarin with undue delay in rendering a decision relative to a case for theft, Criminal Case No. 34668-R entitled People of the Philippines v. Antonio Belandres. The...