The Supreme Court has dismissed a retiring Barili, Cebu Regional Trial Court judge for gross misconduct, gross ignorance of the law and incompetence.
Saying that it "cannot but doubt (his) integrity," the High Court forfeited all the retirement benefits and privileges of RTC Branch 60 Judge Ildefonso Suerte and permanently banned him from employment in any government branch.
The tribunal’s judicial audit team found that Suerte violated Administrative Order No. 36-2004 issued last March 3, which "divested him of all authority" to act on newly filed cases in RTC Branch 60 as well as other cases whose pre-trial had not been terminated as of the order’s date.
Among them was the murder case against Cedrick Devinadera for the killing of Alona Bacolod, wife of cult leader Ruben Ecleo. Although the case was filed on March 29, Suerte went on to decide the case and convicted Devinadera.