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057 Guerrero v. Villamor,

G.R. Nos. 82238-42, November 13, 1989

TOP!" !#NON 11 Res$e%& 'ue &o %our&s(O!TRN)"

*a+ers, soul' bear i mi' &eir basi% 'u&, /to observe and maintain the

respect due to the courts of justice and judicial ocers and ...(to) insist on similar

conduct by others

1. Consequent to the dismissal of Criminal Cases for Qualied Theft against one Gloria

Naval by respondent Judge Adriano . !illamor" petitioner George #. Carlos" thru his

la$yer and herein %o&petitioner Antonio T. Guerrero led before the TC Cebu an a%tion

for damages" against respondent 'udge for (no$ingly rendering an un'ust 'udgment in

the aforesaid %onsolidated %riminal %ases.). The %omplaint and summons $ere served on respondent 'udge.*. +n the follo$ing day" he issued an +rder of #ire%t Contempt of Court against herein

petitioners" nding them guilty beyond reasonable doubt of dire%t %ontempt and

senten%ing them both to imprisonment of ve ,- days and a ne of /-00.00 or

'era'i &e res$e%& a' 'ii& o &e %our& &rou &e use o 'eroa&or

a' %o&em$&uous lauae beore &e %our&.. The derogatory and %ontemptuous language adverted to by respondent 'udge are the

allegations in the %omplaint in%luding2 the dismissal of %riminal %ases for qualied theft $as arrived at %ertainly $ithout

%ir%umspe%tion3$ithout any moral or legal basis

the %ondu%t of defendant 4onorable Judge3not only sho%(ing" but appalling3

-. To stop the %oer%ive for%e of the +rder of Contempt issued by respondent 'udge"

petitioners led the instant petition for %ertiorari $ith preliminary in'un%tion or

restraining order.5. 6Cissued a temporary restraining order en'oining and restraining respondent Judge

Adriano . !illamor from enfor%ing his order of #ire%t Contempt of Court.766892 :hether or not the alleged derogatory language employed in the Civil Case %omplaint

%onstitutes dire%t %ontempt.49;#2 N+

This Court sustains petitioners< %ontention that the alleged derogatory language employed in

the %omplaint in Civil Case did not %onstitute dire%t %ontempt but may only" if at all" %onstitute

indire%t %ontempt sub'e%t to defenses that may be raised by said" petitioners in the proper

pro%eedings.

6&ress mus& be $la%e' o &e a%& &a& &e sube%& $lea'i +as o& submi&&e' &o

res$o'e& u'e or i &e %rimial %ases rom +i% &e %o&em$& or'er +as

issue' bu& +as le' i ao&er %our& $resi'e' b ao&er u'e a' ivolvi a

se$ara&e a%&io, &e %ivil %ase or 'amaes aais& res$o'e& u'e.

Although the allegations in the %omplaint for damages %riti%i=ed the $isdom of respondent

'udge

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This respe%tful attitude to$ards the %ourt is to be observed" /not for the sake of the

temporary incumbent of the judicial oce, but for the maintenance of its supreme

importance./

And it is ?through a scrupulous preference for respectful language that a lawyer best

demonstrates his observance of the respect due to the courts and judicial ocers ...