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FLOR GILBUENA RIVERA, COMPLAINANT, VS. HON. LEANDRO C. CATALO, PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 256, MUNTINLUPA CITY, RESPONDENT.

FLOR GILBUENA RIVERA, COMPLAINANT, VS. HON. LEANDRO C. CATALO, PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 256, MUNTINLUPA CITY, RESPONDENT.

A.M. No. RTJ-15-2422 [Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 13-4129-RTJ] | 2015-07-20

SECOND DIVISION
 
DECISION
 
MENDOZA, J.:
 
"A void judgment for want of jurisdiction is no judgment at all. It neither is a source of any right nor the creator of any obligation. All acts performed pursuant to it and all claims emanating from it have no legal effect. Hence, it can never become final and any writ of execution based on it is void. It may be said to be a lawless thing which can be treated as an outlaw and slain at sight, or ignored wherever and whenever it exhibits its head."[1]
 
A judge who adheres to this principle cannot be administratively held liable and be sanctioned.

Subject of this disposition...