This is an administrative case against Justice of Peace Nicanor T. Halibas, of Ganassi, Bacolod, Madulu, Madamba, Pualas, and Mumu an, province of Lanao, charged with immorality. From the report of the investigation conducted by the provincial fiscal of Lanao, it conclusively appears that before the respondent was appointed to his present position, he had maintained illicit relations with one Victoria Gonzaga and when the latter gave birth, he refused to give support to their offspring and married another woman.

The conduct of a justice of the peace before and after his appointment should be above reproach and his life should be such as to insure public respect and estimation for the office he holds. To retain in a position of trust and responsibility a man who is immoral is contrary to public policy and is conducive to destroy the people ™s faith in the very ones called upon to administer justice. When the respondent was appointed justice of the peace, I was not aware of his immoral conduct, otherwise, he would not have been appointed as such.

For these reasons, and upon the recommendation of the Undersecretary of Justice, Nicanor T. Halibas is hereby ordered dismissed from the office of Justice of the Peace of Ganassi, Bacolod, Madulu, Madamba, Pualas and Mumu gan, Lanao, for the good of the service.

Done at the City of New York, U. S. A. (for the City of Manila), this fourth day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, and of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the second.