Biliran judge dismissed for scam

THE Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of a judge for procurement fraud.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by pharmaceutical supplier Aldrin Magaoay against Biliran Municipal Circuit Trial Court Presiding Judge Ateneones Bacale.

Court records said that in 2016, Bacale approached Magaoay for a P50 million medical supply procurement deal for four hospitals in Manila.

The judge promised that Magaoay would secure the contract because his estranged wife, Romilda, then the executive secretary of former Manila mayor Joseph Estrada, could find a way to bypass the mandatory bidding process.

Over the next three years, Bacale asked nearly P20 million in grease money from Magaoay remitted through various means, including bank transfers and cash deliveries.

However, the promised deal never materialized, prompting Magaoay to file an administrative complaint against Bacale for gross misconduct.

The Judicial Integrity Board concluded that Bacale’s actions constituted gross misconduct, recommending his dismissal from the judiciary.

The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling, noting high standards of integrity and propriety were required of judges.

The Court said Bacale’s involvement in the scheme undermined public trust in the judiciary and violated the principles outlined in Canon 2 and Canon 4 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct.

The ruling was highlighted by several key points: Bacale’s failure to dissuade his estranged wife from engaging in an illegal scheme, his direct involvement as a “bag man,” facilitating the transfer of documents and money between Magaoay and Romilda, and Magaoay’s reliance on Bacale’s position as a judge that created a veneer of legitimacy for the fraudulent arrangement.

“Judges must not only act with the highest standards of conduct but must also avoid any appearance of impropriety,” the Supreme Court said.