Facts:

Judge Florentino V. Floro of Branch 73, Malabon City faced a total of 13 charges calling for his

disbarment and removal from his office as a judge. Some of the charges against him were the act of

circulating calling cards containing self-laudatory statements regarding qualifications in violation of Canon

2, Rule 2.02, Canons of Judicial Conduct; for rendering resolutions without written orders in violation of

Rule 36, Section 1, 1997 Rules of Procedures; his alleged partiality in criminal cases where he declares

that he is pro-accused which is contrary to Canon 2, Rule 2.01, Canons of Judicial Conduct; for appearing

in personal cases without prior authority from the Supreme Court and without filing the corresponding

applications for leaves of absence on the scheduled dates of hearing; for violation of Canon 1, Rule 1.01

Code of Judicial Conduct when he openly criticized the Rules of Court and the Philippine justice system;

for the use of highly improper and intemperate language during court proceedings; for violation of Circular

No. 135 dated 1 July 1987.

Judge Floro also claimed that he has certain psychic powers such as the power to see the future,

the power of bilocation, the power to type letters while he is in a trance and the power to see and consult

with his little friends or the duwendes.

Issue/s:Whether or not Judge Floro is unfit to serve as a judge

Held:

Judge Floro must be relieved of his position as Judge of RTC Malabon Branch due to a medically

disabling condition of the mind that renders him unfit to discharge the functions of his office

Ratio:

With the foregoing, we find the act of Judge Floro in circulating calling cards containing self-

laudatory statements constitutive of simple misconduct in violation of Canon 2, Rule 2.02 of the Code of

Judicial Conduct. Judge Floro also violated the Code of Judicial Ethics when he declared that he was pro-

accused.

Canon 2.01 of the Code of Judicial Conduct states: "A judge should so behave at all times as to promote

public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary." This means that a judge whose duty is

to apply the law and dispense justice "should not only be impartial, independent and honest but should be

believed and perceived to be impartial, independent and honest" as well.

He is guilty of unbecoming conduct for signing a pleading wherein he indicated that he is the presiding

judge of RTC, Branch 73, Malabon City and for appending to the pleading a copy of his oath with a

picture of his oath-taking. The only logical explanation we can reach for such acts is that Judge Floro was

obviously trying to influence or put pressure on a fellow judge by emphasizing that he himself is a judge

and is thus in the right. Verily, Canon 2, Rule 2.04 of the Code of Judicial Conduct mandates that a

"judge shall refrain from influencing in any manner the outcome of litigation or dispute pending before

another court or administrative agency." By doing what he did, Judge Floro, to say the least, put a fellow

judge in a very awkward position.

A judge should avoid being queer in his behavior, appearance and movements. He must always

keep in mind that he is the visible representative of the law. Judge Floro, Jr.s claims that he is endowed

with psychic powers, that he can inflict pain and sickness to people, that he is the angel of death and that

he has unseen "little friends" are manifestations of his psychological instability and therefore casts doubt

on his capacity to carry out the functions and responsibilities of a judge.

The findings of mental and psychological incapacity are thus substantially supported by evidence.

Based on the three[3] psychological tests and evaluation of the two[2] psychiatrists, the undersigned has

no other recourse but to recommend that Judge Florentino Floro be declared unfit to discharge his duties

as a Judge, effective immediately.