Judge suspended over homophobic slur
For uttering homophobic slurs against litigants in a case, a Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) judge in Manila was suspended for 30 days and fined P50,000.
Supreme Court Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa of the First Division found Manila City MeTC Branch 26 Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo guilty of simple misconduct and sexual harassment classified as a less grave offense under Section 53 (B) (3), Rule X of the Civil Service Commission Resolution 01-0940.
Lorredo was also sternly warned that a repetition of the same or similar acts in the future shall be dealt with more severely.
In an 18-page decision that Caguioa penned, the lower court judge was said to have made improper remarks during a preliminary conference by asking litigants if they were homosexuals and telling them that homosexuality is a sin.
“While judges are not completely stripped of their freedom to express, exercise, or uphold their religious beliefs and convictions, it goes without saying that in doing so, their foremost duty to obey the rule of law should not stand to suffer. As the Court has consistently said in the past, obedience to the rule of law forms the bedrock of our system of justice. If judges, under the guise of religious or political beliefs were allowed to roam unrestricted beyond boundaries within which they are required by law to exercise the duties of their office, then law becomes meaningless,” the high court said.
The Supreme Court noted that this was the second time Lorredo faced an administrative case for making improper remarks, citing a case filed on Jan. 7, 2019 where litigants Marcelino Espejon and Erickson Cabonita alleged that the judge showed bias and partiality against them and their sexual orientation by persistently asking them if they are homosexuals and telling them that homosexuality is a sin.
They also claimed that Lorredo’s treatment and conduct of their case, pending before Branch 26 of the Manila MeTC, was heavily influenced by his religious beliefs and impressions about homosexuality.
Although they filed a Motion for Voluntary Inhibition against Lorredo for being biased and showing partiality, this was denied. The judge later issued a decision that was unfavorable to them.
Lorredo denied having prejudged, saying that as a Christian, he merely tried his best to guide lawyers and litigants to arrive at a settlement with the help of the Bible. He said he had, so far, settled 101 cases using the Bible.
But the Judicial Integrity Board disagreed with the judge, saying that Lorredo had virtually prejudged the case when he should have only explained the applicable law and directed the parties to make concessions, which they may or may not accept.