On March 8, 2001, the Judicial Audit Team of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) submitted a Report on the audit conducted in the Regional Trial Court, Branch 46, Bacolod City, then presided by Judge Emma C. Labayen who retired compulsorily on January 26, 2000.

On the basis of the Report of the Judicial Audit Team, and upon the recommendation of Deputy Court Administrator Zenaida N. Elepaño, then Acting Court Administrator, this Court in a Resolution dated June 4, 2001, directed retired Judge Emma C. Labayen to explain within ten (10) days from notice why a portion of her retirement benefits should not be forfeited as a fine for her failure to: (a) decide within the reglementary period Civil Case Nos. 97-9787, 94-8237, 94-8189, 98-10200, and 00-11174; (b) resolve seasonably the pending incidents in Civil Case Nos. 6168, 97-9935, 97-10096, 98-10416, 97-10030, 97-9985, 99-10944, 99-10928, and Cadastral Case No. 00-1092; and (c) comply with the Resolution of this Court En Banc dated February 15, 2000 in A.M. No. 00-1-02-RTC directing her to explain why no administrative sanction should be imposed on her for failure to decide on time the cases mentioned therein.

In compliance with this Court's Resolution, Judge Labayen filed her letter-explanation dated July 20, 2001.

For her failure to decide the following cases within the reglementary period, she explains: 

1) Civil Case No. 97-9787 She could not decide this case for lack of transcript of stenographic notes. In fact, she directed the court stenographer to finish the transcription. 

2) Civil Case No. 94-8237 She overlooked this case because at the time she was to decide it, she was scared her cancer might recur. 

3) Civil Case No. 94-8189 This case is between brothers and sisters together with their mother. The latter kept on requesting the court to hold in abeyance the disposition of the case as "she will see to it that her children will come to terms with each other." 

4) Civil Case No. 98-10200 The transcript of stenographic notes were not available despite the court's order to the stenographer to transcribe the same. 

5) Civil Case No. 00-11174 Could not yet be decided in view of a pending Motion to Admit Memorandum dated March 14, 2001 as well as the Opposition thereto dated March 21, 2001.

For her failure to decide the pending incidents in the following cases within the reglementary period, Judge Labayen explains as follows: 

1) Civil Case No. 6168 The Clerk of Court never called her attention to this case. 

2) Civil Case No. 97-9935 She tried to exhaust all avenues for settlement. Both parties are about to submit their compromise agreement. 

3) Civil Case No. 97-10096 She thought she had already disposed of this case as the issue is very simple. "Age and sickness must be catching upon me." 

4) Civil Case No. 98-10416 Since there was overture from the parties for settlement, the court allowed them to settle amicably. 

5) Civil Case No. 97-10030 The incident was submitted at the time she had major operation^[1] of her breast cancer, ovary, cervix, and fallopian tube; and operation for fistula of the anus up to the intestine. "[The] general anesthesia must have caused my forgetfulness." 

6) Civil Case No. 97-9985 The incident was filed at the time her cancer was recurring. 

7) Civil Case No. 99-10944 She held in abeyance the resolution of the incident as the parties manifested their intent to settle the case. 

8) Civil Case No. 99-10928 The stenographic notes were not yet transcribed. She directed the court stenographer to transcribe the notes, and ordered that his one month salary be withheld. 

9) Cadastral Case No. 00-1092 Not yet submitted for decision for there was still a pending opposition to the petition.

For her failure to comply with the Resolution of this Court En Banc dated February 15, 2000 in A.M. No. 00-1-02-RTC, directing her to explain why no administrative sanction should be imposed on her for failure to decide within the reglementary period Civil Case Nos. 6123, 6972, 7602 and Criminal Case Nos. 8262, 9535, 10686, 11286, 11287, 11288, 11289, 11290, 11291, 11292, 11293, 11596, 11914, 11915, 11916, 12708, 12709, 13165, 14214,^[2]  15233 which were all partly tried by her, Judge Labayen explains that when she verified her files, it appeared she had already complied with the said Resolution. In fact, in her explanation herein, she insists that she had submitted her compliance. However, the records at the OCA do not indicate that she filed the required explanation. What she furnished this Court was only the status of the cases, the alleged dates of the decisions, sans any explanation why there has been delay in rendering her resolutions or decisions.

Judge Labayen's explanation is not satisfactory. Age, illness, non-transcription of stenographic notes, oversight. The parties' request to hold in abeyance the resolution to allow amicable settlement, or inadvertence by the clerk of court, cannot relieve her of administrative sanction. At most, these merely serve to mitigate her liability.

Section 15(1) of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution requires first level judges to dispose of all cases or matters within three months.^[3] Rule 3.05 of Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct admonishes all judges to dispose of the court's business promptly and decide cases within the period fixed by law.^[4] Judge Labayen failed to decide cases and resolve pending incidents within the time constraint.

It is the sworn duty of judges to administer justice without undue delay under the time-honored precept that justice delayed is justice denied. The present clogged dockets on all levels of our judicial system cannot be cleared, unless each and every magistrate earnestly, painstakingly and faithfully complies with the mandate of the law.^[5] Any delay in the disposition of cases undermines the people's faith in the judiciary. Hence, judges are enjoined to decide cases with dispatch. Their failure to do so constitutes gross inefficiency and warrants the imposition of administrative sanctions against them.^[6]

The OCA recommended that a fine of P5,000.00 be imposed upon respondent Judge, the amount to be deducted from the P50,000.00 withheld from her retirement benefits, for failure (1) to decide Civil Case Nos. 97-9787, 94-8237, 94-8189, 98-10200 and (2) to resolve the pending incidents in Civil Case Nos. 6168, 97-9935, 97-10096, 98-10416, 97-10030, 97-9985, 99-10944, 99-10928 within the reglementary period.

Under the amended Rule 140^[7] of the Revised Rules of Court, undue delay in rendering a decision or order is considered a less serious charge  punishable by a fine of more than P10,000.00 but not exceeding P20,000.00. We consider the recommended fine of P5,000.00 by the OCA in order.

WHEREFORE, the Court finds Judge Emma C. Labayen liable for undue delay in rendering decisions/orders and imposes upon her a fine of P5,000.00 to be deducted from her withheld retirement benefits.

SO ORDERED.

Puno, (Chairman), Panganiban, Corona, and Carpio Morales, JJ., concur.
 

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^[1] The clinical records were submitted to the Court.

^[2] Should be Criminal Case No. 14814; see Annex "H".

^[3] Prosecutor Robert M. Visbal vs. Judge Rodolfo C. Ramos, A.M. No. MTJ-00-1306, promulgated Mach 20, 2001; Atty. Vicente B. Montes vs. Judge Arnulfo O. Bugtas, RTC of Borongan, Eastern Samar (Branch 2); Angel A. Gil vs. Judge Leoncio M. Janola, Jr., RTC, Branch 264, Pasig City.

^[4] Eduardo Ma. Quintero and Paz G. Quintero vs. Judge Rodolfo C. Ramos, MTC, Jaro, Leyte, A.M. No. MTJ-00-1263, promulgated October 3, 2000, citing Re: Report of Justice Felipe B. Kalalo, 282 SCRA 61, 73 (1997); Jesus Guillas vs. Judge Renato D. Muñez, RTC, Cadiz City, Branch 60, A.M. No. RTJ-00-1571, promulgated August 28, 2001; Gallego vs. Doronila, 334 SCRA 339 (2000); Renato H. Sanchez vs. Judge Geminiano A. Eduardo, A.M. No. MTJ-00-1322, promulgated July 17, 2001; Ricolcol vs. Camarista, 312 SCRA 468 (1999).

^[5] Office of the Court Administrator vs. Sayo, Jr., A.M. No. RTJ-00-1587, May 7, 2002.

^[6] Office of the Court Administrator vs. Quizon, A.M. No. RTJ-01-1636, February 13, 2002; Echaves vs. Fernandez, A.M. No. RTJ-00-1596, February 19, 2002; Bangco vs. Gatdula, A.M. No. MTJ-00-1297, March 7, 2002; Arap vs. Mustafa, A.M. No. SCC-01-7, March 12, 2002.

^[7] See A.M. No. 01-8-10-SC.