SC Refused To Accept Resignation Of Judge In ‘Narco List’

The high court said Judge Dagala is being investigated for other offenses.

The Supreme Court did not allow lawyer Exequil Dagala to resign as judge of Surigao after he was named by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte as one of four judges in active service involved in the illegal drug trade in the country.

SC Spokesman Atty. Theodore Te said, Dapa-Socorro, Surigao Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Dagala submitted an irrevocable resignation but the high court refused to accept it as he is still being investigated for other offenses.

SC Spokesman Theodore Te.
SC Spokesman Theodore Te.

Te further explained that even before Duterte named Dagala, the high court has subjected him in a separate investigation. In effect, the said “irrevocable” resignation is not recognized by the high court and thus making the judge remain in his post.

“In government, nobody can leave their post until they are allowed to leave their post. A resignation has to be accepted…as far as the court is concerned, it did not accept his resignation,” he said.

If the investigation will require Dagala to step away from his duties at any time, the high court will name someone to take over these.

According to reports, Judge Dagala is being investigated because of his involvements in illegal logging and immorality, beside illegal drugs.

Retired Justice Roberto A. Abad was the one in-charge of the investigation.

The high court also said that due to Duterte’s clarification that his speech naming alleged “narco-judges” was merely “information” and not an accusation, it has asked Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) head Director General Isidro Lapeña, instead of the Executive Secretary, to submit complaints or other information against four out of seven judges named by the president.

Aside from Dagala, Duterte also named and shamed Judge Adriano Savillo of RTC, Branch 30, Iloilo City; Judge Dominggo Casiple, RTC, Branch 7, Kalibo, Aklan; and Judge Antonio Reyes, RTC, Branch 1, Baguio City as involved in the widespread illegal drug trade in the country.

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