The Supreme Court has penalized a woman judge from Muntinlupa City after finding her guilty of gross ignorance of the law and abuse of discretion.

In an en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, the Court found Branch 16 Judge Norma Perello of the Regional Trial Court guilty and fined P40,000 to be deducted from her retirement benefits.

Aside from Perello, court stenographers Thelma Mangilit, Cecilio Argame, Maricar Eugenio and Radigundar Laman and interpreter Paul Resurrection were found liable for simple neglect of duty and fined P5,000 each.

The administrative case against former clerk of court Luis Bucayon II was dismissed as moot following his transfer to the Public Attorney?s Office, where he was able to obtain a clearance from the Office of the Court Administrator.

?In sum, we find Judge Perello liable for ignorance of the law and jurisprudence and for abuse of discretion. These are serious charges under Section 8, Rule 140 of the Revised Rules of Court,? the decision stated.

?As the administration of justice is a sacred task, this Court condemns any omission or act that may diminish the faith of the people in the judiciary.?

The case stemmed from the judicial audit conducted by the Office of the Court Administrator in seven RTC branches in Muntinlupa, including Branch 276 then presided over by respondent Judge Perello, prompted by indications of irregular handling of petitions for habeas corpus.

In its memorandum dated Jan. 25, 2004 and submitted to the court administrator, the audit team reported that for 1998 to 2004, at least 219 petitions for habeas corpus were assigned to the sala of Judge Perello classified into hospitalization; custody of minors; illegal possession of firearms; and violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.

At least 22 case records were not presented to the audit team, while the folders of about a hundred others had no copies of the decisions of conviction. Also found was a disparity in the number of petitions for habeas corpus raffled in Branch 276 against those raffled in the other branches at the time Perello was executive judge.

Also noted were substantive and procedural lapses over disposing of habeas corpus cases, such as failure of the clerk of court to present for audit 22 case folders, and to send notices/summons to the Office of the Solicitor General or the Office of the City Prosecutor; lack of return of the writs issued to the officials of the Bureau of Corrections; absence of certificate of detention/confinement from the Bureau of Corrections; absence of copies of the judgment of conviction; failure of the court stenographer to transcribe the stenographic notes and attach the transcript to the records of each case; and failure on the part of the court interpreter to prepare the minutes of the court sessions or hearings. Rey E. Requejo