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Spouses Jaime Morta, et al Vs. Judge Antonio C. Bagag?an, et al

Spouses JAIME and PURIFICACION MORTA, complainants vs. Judge ANTONIO C. BAGAG?AN, Municipal Trial Court, Guinobatan, Albay; and Sheriff DANILO O. MATIAS, Regional Trial Court, Branch 14, Ligao, Albay, respondents.

A.M. No. MTJ-03-1513 | 2003-11-12

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

Unreasonable delay in resolving motions opens a judge to administrative sanctions. Likewise, a sheriff is administratively liable for delayed implementation of a writ of execution and failure to render the required reports thereon. These are necessary lessons from the time-honored principle that "justice delayed is justice denied."

The Case and the Facts

In their Administrative Complaint[1] dated July 26, 2001, Spouses Jaime and Purificacion Morta Sr. charged Judge Antonio C. Bagagñan of the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Guinobatan, Albay with gross ignorance of the law, incompetence, bias and...