JOHNSON LEE and SONNY MORENO, Complainants, v. HON. RENATO E.

ABASTILLAS, Judge, Regional

Trial Court, Branch 50 Bacolod City, Respondent.
JUDGE RENATO E. ABASTILLAS, Complainant, v. ATTY. ENRIQUE S. CHUA, Respondent.
Enrique S. Chua for complainants.
A.M. No. RTJ-92-863 and AC. No. 3815. July 11, 1994

FACTS:
Judge Renato E. Abastillas was the presiding judge of the Criminal Cases Nos. 10010 and 10011, where
Johnson Lee and Bonny Moreno are defendants. Judge Abastillas solicited the amount of PhP50, 000.00
from Atty. Chua to secure a favorable decision on the said criminal cases, which he communicated to his
clients (Lee and Moreno). Johnson Lee then financed the PhP20, 000.00 as a down payment and was
delivered by Atty, Chua to Judge Abastillas. Lee had 3 meetings with Judge Abastillas to discuss the
merits of the case and the payment of $5, 000.00. Lee even recorded the telephone conversation he had
with the respondent judge.
On the other hand, Atty. Chua was charged administratively for allowing himself to be used as a conduit
for illegal and immoral act.
ISSUE(s):
1. WON Judge Abastillas has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct?
2. WON Atty. Chua has violated the Code of Professional Responsibility?
HELD:
1. The Code of Judicial Conduct requires that a judge should be the embodiment of competence,
integrity and independence (Rule 1.01). He should administer justice impartially and without
delay (Rule 1.02). He should so behave at all times as to promote public confidence in the
integrity and impartiality of the judiciary (Rule 2.01).
It is peculiarly essential that the system for establishing and dispensing justice be developed to
a high degree of proficiency, to gain the absolute confidence of the public in the integrity and
impartiality of its administration, because appearance is as important as reality, so much so
that a judge, like Cesars wife, must not only be pure but beyond suspicion. The actuations of
Judge Abastillas transgressed against the high standard of moral ethics required of judges.
2. Atty. Chua is guilty of violating Rule 1.01, canon 1, of the Code of Professional Responsibility in
view of his admission that he allegedly delivered PhP20, 000.00 as bribe money to Judge
Abastillas, thereby allowing himself to be used as a conduit for an illegal and immoral act. Rule
1.01 provides that "A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful
conduct."