FIRSTDIVISION

[A.M.No.MTJ051601.August11,2005]

MERCEDESG.DUDUACO,complainant, vs. JUDGE LILY LYDIA A. LAQUINDANUM, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Kabacan, North
Cotabato,respondent.
DECISION
YNARESSANTIAGO,J:

[1]
[2]
On March 4, 2002, complainant Mercedes G. Duduaco charged respondent Judge Lily Lydia A. Laquindanum of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of
KabacanCarmen,NorthCotabatowithgravemisconduct,abuseofjudicialofficeand/orgrossignoranceofthelaw.
Complainant alleged that on April 27, 2001, respondent brought her vehicle to the Toyota Service Center in Davao City (ToyotaDavao) for repairs and
replacementofpartsthatweredamagedduetoavehicularmishap.
Uponbeingadvisedthathervehicleisreadyforpickup,respondentwenttoToyotaDavaoonJune23,2001ataround11:00a.m.ShewasmetbyJesonM.
Garao,aserviceadvisor,whotoldherthatthevehiclewouldbereleaseduponpaymentofdeductiblefranchise.Respondentallegedlyrefusedtopayinsistingthat
thesamewillbepaidbytheinsurancecompany.Shethenaskedtospeakwiththemanager,hereincomplainant,butthelatterwasinameeting.
At3:00p.m.,respondentwasreferredtoRandyA.Saragoza,ToyotaDavaosAdministrationandMarketingHead.Saragozaclaimedthathetriedtoexplainto
respondentthatthepaymentofthedeductiblefranchisewasuponinstructionoftheinsurancecompanybutthelattergotangryandraisedhervoicewhiledemanding
toseethemanager.
[3]
ShewaseventuallyreferredtoVicenteU.Yez, ServiceDepartmentManager,whoallegedthatrespondentheatedlydisagreedwithhimandshoutedthatshe
was a judge and insisted on seeing the manager. Upon being told that complainant was in a meeting, respondent furiously replied that she should be given
[4]
preferentialtreatmentoversaidmeeting.
Atthispoint,respondentaskedforademandletteranduponpresentationthereof,shepaidtheamountstatedthereinunderprotest.
Thereafter,SaragozarequiredrespondenttosigntheReleaseofClaimwithSubrogationbutsheagainrefused.Sheallegedlybecameenragedandsaidthatas
ajudge,sheknewbetterthantosignablankform.Yezofferedtofillintheblanksbutrespondentcurtlyinformedhimthatshewillnotsignjustthesame.
JudgeLaquindanumlefttheservicecenterwithoutthecar.OnJuly4,2001,shefiledacaseforReplevin,DamagesandAttorneysFees,withPrayerforthe

[5]
IssuanceofaWritofReplevin.
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InherComment, respondent denied that she threw her weight around and abused her judicial authority. She claimed that upon being informed by Garao
aboutthedeductiblefranchise,sheinstructedthelattertocommunicatewithherinsurer.Afterthelapseoftwo(2)hours,Garaotoldherthathecouldnotcontactthe
insurersofficebecauseitwasclosedonSaturdays.ShewasreferredtoSaragozaandYezbutwhennoagreementwasreached,shesuggestedthattheyputin
writingthedemandforthedeductiblefranchisebeforeshewouldpay.
[7]
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Sheeventuallypaid thedeductiblefranchiseunderprotest.Sheaverredthatsherequestedfortheexecutionofademandletter toserveasproofofher
claimforrefund.Thereafter,Garaobroughtoutthevehicleandgavethekeytoherdriver,whoinspectedthecartomakesurethateverythingisinorder.Shethen
[9]
directedSalvadorCaducoytotransferherbelongingsfromanothervehicle.
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When respondent and her party were about to leave, Garao ran after them and told her that she needed to sign a release form.
She was given a blank
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ReleaseofClaimwithSubrogation
formwhichsherefusedtosign.WhenSaragozaadvisedherthatthevehiclewillnotbereleased,sheretortedthatshewill
onlysigniftheformhasbeenproperlyfilledup.ThepartieswereatanimpassewhenYezangrilysaiddifillupan!,thentookbacktheformandwenttohisoffice
[12]
butdidnotreturn.
[13]
It was already 6:50 p.m. and respondent was still at the ToyotaDavao premises. She wrote a letter
to complainant detailing her ordeal. The letter was
[14]
receivedbyaladyemployeewhogaveheranotherdemandletter
statingthatinadditiontothepaymentofdeductiblefranchise,sheisalsorequiredtosigna
releaseformwhichsherefusedbecausesomeportionswereblank.SheleftToyotaDavaowithouthercar.
OnJuly19,2001,Yez,SaragozatogetherwithcomplainantandJoeLinaza(Linaza)fromFEBMitsuiMarineInsurance,Co.,cametoseerespondentinher
[15]
salatoapologize.
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Inhisreport,theInvestigatingJusticeoftheCourtofAppealsrecommended
thedismissalofthecomplaintforlackofmerit,insufficiencyofevidenceand
reasonable doubt. He observed that respondents refusal to pay the deductible franchise was not intended to violate the law. No fault can be attributed on
respondent for refusing to sign a blank form. Had respondent grossly humiliated or berated Garao, Yez or Saragoza, they would not have gone to her office,
togetherwithcomplainantandLinaza,toapologize.
The OCA adopted the Investigating Justices recommendation with modification that complainant Duduaco be fined in the amount of P10,000.00 for filing this
baselessharassmentsuit.TheOCAopinedthatcomplainantsinsistenceonpursuingherunsubstantiatedchargesdespitelackofpersonalknowledgewastedthe
timeandresourcesnotonlyofrespondentbutalsooftheInvestigatingJusticeandthisCourt.
WeagreewiththerecommendationsoftheOCA.

[17]
In administrative proceedings, complainants have the burden of proving by substantial evidence the allegations in their complaints.
Administrative
proceedingsagainstjudgesarebynature,highlypenalincharacterandaretobegovernedbytherulesapplicabletocriminalcases.Thequantumofproofrequired
[18]
tosupporttheadministrativechargesshouldthusbemoresubstantialandtheymustbeprovenbeyondreasonabledoubt.
Toconstitutegrossignoranceofthelaw,theactscomplainedofmustnotonlybecontrarytoexistinglawandjurisprudencebutweremotivatedbybadfaith,
[19]
fraud, dishonesty and corruption.
On the other hand, misconduct is any unlawful conduct on the part of a person concerned in the administration of justice
prejudicialtotherightsofpartiesortotherightdeterminationofthecause.Itgenerallymeanswrongful,improperorunlawfulconductmotivatedbyapremeditated,
[20]
obstinateorintentionalpurpose.
Respondents refusal to pay the deductible franchise was justified. Her insistence that the demand to pay be in writing, together with her refusal to affix her
signatureintheblankform,didnotamounttogravemisconduct,abuseofjudicialofficeorgrossignoranceofthelaw.Shewasonlyexercisingherlegalright.Had
respondentsignedtheblankform,shewouldbedeemedtohavewaivedherearlierprotestandwouldhavelosttherighttoclaimforrefund.
We agree with OCAs recommendation that complainant be sanctioned for filing this unfounded complaint. Indeed, no person should be penalized for the
[21]
exerciseoftherighttolitigate.Thisright,however,mustbeexercisedingoodfaith.
[22]
Duringtheformalinvestigation,sheadmittedthatshewasabsentwhentheeventtranspiredonJune23,2001,
whichmeansthatshehasnopersonaland
direct knowledge of the incident. Yet, in the verification portion of the complaint, she claimed that all the allegations therein were true and correct of her own
[23]
knowledgeandbelief.
Significantly,shealsowenttorespondentsofficeandapologized.
Humannaturedictatesthatredressforawrongdoneisordinarilysoughtbytheaggrievedwithzeal.Yet,itappearsthatitwasmorethaneight(8)monthsafter
theincidentthatcomplainantandToyotaDavaofiledthiscomplaintagainstanallegederringmemberofthebench.Verily,thedelaymilitatesagainsttheveracity
oftheirallegations.
Moreover, complainant filed the instant administrative case after ToyotaDavao lost possession of the vehicle in favor of respondent and after she refused to
settlethereplevinsuitshefiledagainstthem.Morespecifically,theinstantcomplaintwasfiledonlyonMarch4,2002orabouteight(8)monthsafterrespondentfiled
[24]
thereplevincaseandsecuredthewritonJuly4,2001.AstheInvestigatingJusticefittinglyobserved,thetimingcouldntbeworse.
[25]
Thefilingoftheinstantadministrativecomplaintwasnotdoneingoodfaith.IncomplainantsletterdatedJanuary21,2002,
sheinformedthisCourtabouta
similar complaint filed before the Judicial and Bar Council for the purpose of objecting to (respondents) application for appointment as Regional Trial Court in
Midsayap, North Cotabato or elsewhere. Clearly, this administrative case was filed not for the purpose of obtaining justice to the aggrieved persons, however
mistakenitmaybe,butforthesolepurposeofdegradingrespondentsreputationandexposinghertopublicridicule.Thisshouldnotbecountenanced.
[26]
InRetuya v. Gorduiz,
this Court penalized respondentlawyer for filing a groundless suit against a former client in order to harass and embarrass her by
suspendinghimfromthepracticeoflawforsix(6)months.

[27]
In Industrial Insurance Company, Inc. v. Bondad,
we affirmed the award of moral damages, exemplary damages, attorneys fees and litigation expenses
imposedagainstpetitionerforfilinganunfoundedsuitinbadfaith.
ThefineofP10,000.00,asrecommendedbyOCA,iscommensurateunderthecircumstances.
ThisCourtwillnotshirkfromitsresponsibilityofimposingdisciplineuponerringmembersofthebench.Atthesametime,however,theCourtshouldnothesitate
toshieldthemfromunfoundedsuitsthatonlyservetodisruptratherthanpromotetheorderlyadministrationofjustice.ThisCourtcouldnotbetheinstrumentthat
[28]
woulddestroythereputationofanymemberofthebench,bypronouncingguiltonmerespeculation.
WHEREFORE,inviewoftheforegoing,theadministrativecomplaintagainstrespondentJudgeLilyLydiaA.Laquindanum,nowPresidingJudgeoftheRegional
TrialCourt,Midsayap,CotabatoCity, Branch24,isDISMISSEDforlackofmerit.ComplainantMercedesG.DuduacoisFINEDintheamountofP10,000.00for
havingfiledthisbaselessandunfoundedsuit.
SOORDERED.
Davide,Jr.,C.J.,Quisumbing,Carpio,andAzcuna,JJ.,concur.
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[9]

Rollo,pp.002008.
AlsoreferredtoasLydiaLily,Lydia,andLilyintherecords.
AlsospelledasYnezintherecords.
Rollo,p.009.
Id.at1827.
Id.at195201.
OfficialReceiptNo.93006dated23June2001,Exhibit4,Rollo,p.333.
Exhibit3,Rollo,p.332.
Rollo,pp.822823.

[10]
[11]

Id.at823.
Id.at459.

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Id.at824825.
Id.at334335.
Id.at336.
Id.at839841.
Id.at1328.
Susav.Pea,A.M.No.P031740,17September2003,411SCRA182,186187.
InreImpeachmentofHorrilleno,43Phil.212,215(1922).
NegrosGracePharmacy,Inc.v.Hilario,A.M.No.MTJ021422,21November2003,416SCRA324,328329.
Wabev.Bionson,A.M.No.P031760,30December2003,418SCRA479,486.
IndustrialInsuranceCompany,Inc.v.Bondad,386Phil.923,926(2000).
Rollo,pp.531532.
Id.at8.
Id.at1327.
Id.at43.
Adm.CaseNo.1388,28March1980,96SCRA526,529530.
Supraat932935.
Ongv.Rosete,A.M.No.MTJ041538,22October2004,441SCRA150,160161.