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Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) vs. Judge Mantua

OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE CELSO L. MANTUA, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 17, PALOMPON, LEYTE, RESPONDENT.

A.M. No. RTJ-11-2291 | 2012-02-08

SECOND DIVISION
 
DECISION
 
CARPIO, J.:
 
The Case
 
A.M. No. RTJ-11-2291 originates from a judicial audit of the case records of Branch 17, Regional Trial Court, Palompon, Leyte (Branch 17) conducted from 25 to 27 November 2008 by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA). At the time of audit, the presiding judge of Branch 17, Hon. Celso L. Mantua (Judge Mantua), was on official leave in Manila. Judge Mantua retired on 9 January 2009.
 
The Facts
 
 
 
Travel Order No. 103-2008 dated 11 November 2008 ordered the conduct of a judicial audit in Branch 17 from 24 to 25 November 2008. The judicial audit team1...