THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court (SC) denied a judicial clemency request filed by a municipal trial court judge earlier found guilty of indirect contempt for lawyering for himself in two criminal cases.
Narciso P. Mingua of the Santol, La Union Municipal Trial Court (MTC) was penalized by the SC in August 2016 for filing a motion for reconsideration (MR) in two criminal cases without first obtaining formal authorization from the provincial prosecutor.
At the time, the SC declared that his actions in representing the People of the Philippines and himself were illegal under the New Code of Judicial Conduct and the Revised Rules of Court, which prohibited judges from practicing law while in office.
In his letter-application for judicial clemency in February 2020, Mr. Mingua insisted that he did not engage in the unauthorized practice of law and that the SC misapplied the law in his case. He also pledged to conduct himself honorably in his official capacity and personal life.
However, the ruling stated that he failed to comply with further standards for judicial clemency, including admitting guilt and demonstrating remorse and rehabilitation.
“The tenor of respondent’s letters does not demonstrate his remorse and reformation. Rather, his letters display his attitude of selfrighteousness, and even vindictiveness, which unquestionably renders him undeserving of judicial clemency,” the decision read. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
