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Bernie G. Miaque, Noel R. Cabobos, Rodolfo H. Divinagracia And Peter G. Jimenea vs Judge Nilo P. Pamonag, In His Capacity As Acting Judge Of The Municipal Circuit Trial Court Of Pototan-Mina, Branch 008, Iloilo Province

BERNIE G. MIAQUE, NOEL R. CABOBOS, RODOLFO H. DIVINAGRACIA AND PETER G. JIMENEA, COMPLAINANTS, VS. JUDGE NILO P. PAMONAG, IN HIS CAPACITY AS ACTING JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT OF POTOTAN-MINA, BRANCH 008, ILOILO PROVINCE, RESPONDENT.

A.M. No. MTJ-02-1412 | 2003-03-28

R E S O L U T I O N

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:

Ignorance of the law, which everyone is bound to know, excuses no one - certainly not judges. Ignorantia juris quod quisque scire tenetur non excusat. The provisions of Article 360 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No. 4363, on the persons authorized to conduct preliminary investigation in libel cases is so elementary, not to know it constitutes gross ignorance of the law.[1]

On August 27, 1998, complainants, who are connected with the Daily Informer, a widely circulated newspaper in the Western Visayas, were charged before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Pototan-Mina, Iloilo,...