By Jomar Canlas, Reporter
The Supreme Court has dismissed a judge in Malabon who claims to have dwarfs as his ?spirit guides.?
In a ruling written by Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, the Court said Judge Florentino V. Floro of Branch 73 of the Malabon Regional Trial Court Jr. is unfit to stay on because of his ?medically disabling condition of the mind.?
Although it did not find Floro guilty of gross misconduct or acts of corruption, the Court said ?the findings of psychosis by the mental health professionals assigned to his case indicate gross deficiency in competence and independence.?
Examined by Court-appointed doctors, Floro admitted that he believed in ?psychic visions.? He said he had dwarf friends named ?Luis, Armand and Angel.?
Floro claimed he could write while in a trance and could be in two places at the same time.
?Angel of death?
He considered himself an ?angel of death? out to punish lawbreakers, especially corrupt court officials in Malabon.
The Court said the judge conducted healing sessions in his chamber during break time.
?Psychic phenomena, even assuming [they] exist, have no place in a judiciary duty bound to apply only positive law and, in its absence, equitable rules and principles in resolving controversies,? the Court said.
It advised Floro to look for other jobs in areas where he will be successful, but not in the judiciary.
Floro was suspended indefinitely by the Supreme Court in 1999 after it upheld the recommendation of then-Court Administrator Alfredo Benipayo, who conducted an audit of his sala. Floro was promoted to the Malabon RTC by President Joseph Estrada.
13 judicial violations
Benipayo listed 13 judicial violations of Floro, including distributing cards containing his qualifications; declaring that he is pro-accused; ordering the mental and physical examination of an accused who he said was ?slow on the uptake? and openly criticizing the Rules of Court and the judiciary.
Floro claimed that he predicted that Judicial and Bar Council member Teresita Cruz-Sison would suffer a stroke, that Supreme Court Justice Sabino de Leon would die and that Hernando Perez would be ousted as justice secretary.
Despite the dismissal, the Court awarded Floro his salaries, allowances and other economic benefits for the past three years. But it ordered him to pay a P40,000 fine for seven cases against him.
Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/200 ... 7top4.html
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