Muntinlupa Judge Fined for Misconduct in Controversial De Lima Drug Trial
DE LIMA – A Muntinlupa judge has been penalized for misconduct in the high-profile drug case involving former senator Leila de Lima.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 Judge Romeo Buenaventura is guilty of simple misconduct and neglect of duty in handling one of the drug cases against former senator Leila de Lima. In a resolution issued on November 13, 2024, the Supreme Court’s First Division imposed a fine of ?36,000 on Buenaventura—?18,000 for misconduct and another ?18,000 for neglect of duty—citing violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Respondent Romeo Buenaventura is sternly warned that a repetition of the same offense or the commission of a similar act shall be dealt with more severely,” the Supreme Court stated in its ruling.
Based on a report from Philstar, the decision stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by De Lima’s legal counsels, Teddy Esteban Rigoroso and Rolly Francis Peoro. They accused Buenaventura of breaching judicial ethics and delaying the resolution of De Lima’s bail motion in her last remaining drug-related case. Furthermore, they argued that Buenaventura should have recused himself from the case due to a conflict of interest involving his brother, Emmanuel Buenaventura.
Conflict of Interest and Judicial Violations
The Supreme Court upheld the findings of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB), which determined that Emmanuel Buenaventura’s involvement with De Lima’s aide, Ronnie Dayan, during the 2016 congressional hearings made Judge Buenaventura liable under Canon 4, Section 4 of the New Code of Judicial Conduct. This provision states that judges must not participate in a case where a family member represents a litigant or has any association with it.
While Judge Buenaventura denied knowledge of his brother’s actions and eventually inhibited himself from the case, his initial failure to do so contributed to procedural delays. The Supreme Court found his claim of ignorance unconvincing, considering the extensive media coverage of the 2016 congressional hearings.
Delayed Bail Resolution
De Lima initially filed a bail motion in December 2020 and another in March 2023. However, Buenaventura ruled on these motions only on June 7, 2023, ultimately denying them on the grounds that “the evidence of guilt is strong.” He attributed the delay to work suspensions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court dismissed this justification, pointing out that videoconferencing hearings had been available since January 2021.
De Lima’s Legal Battles
Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, was detained in February 2017 over allegations of illegal drug trading during her tenure as Justice Secretary. She was granted bail in November 2023 by another Muntinlupa court. By June 2024, she was acquitted of her final drug charge due to insufficient evidence, marking her third acquittal following similar rulings in February 2021 and May 2023.
The Supreme Court’s ruling against Judge Buenaventura underscores the judiciary’s commitment to ethical conduct and fair trial proceedings. While he has been penalized, the case highlights broader concerns about judicial impartiality and procedural efficiency in high-profile cases.
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