SC suspends Olongapo judge over attempted bribery

The Supreme Court preventively suspended an Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Judge on allegations of attempted bribery, inefficiency, and engagement in activities that presented conflict-of-interest.

In a resolution (A.M. No. 15-02-49-RTC) dated March 9, 2015, the Court held that the preventive suspension against Judge Norman V. Pamintuan of Branch 73, Regional Trial Court, Olongapo City, Zambales, was effectively immediately.

Judge Jose L. Bautista, Jr., was designated as Acting Presiding Judge until further orders from the Court.

The High Court directed Judge Pamintuan to comment on the complaints against him, as well as show cause “why no disciplinary action should be taken against him for acts which result in conflict-of interest on his part.”

Judge Pamintuan was likewise directed to explain his failure to decide 16 cases within the mandated period despite his minimal caseload.

The preventive suspension against Judge Pamintuan stemmed from the complaints of the other first and second level court judges of Olongapo City, which were raised during the judicial audit conducted in January this year by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).

The High Court said that the matter will be treated as an administrative complaint and consolidated with another OCA complaint filed also against Judge Pamintuan.

Read more:
SC suspends Olongapo City judge on charges of bribe try, inefficiency, conflict of interest – Inquirer.net
Olongapo judge preventively suspended over alleged bribery, inefficiency – GMA News