The Supreme Court has reprimanded and fined Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 256 Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura for delays in handling the case of former senator Leila de Lima, Rappler reported.
In a resolution, the High Court found Buenaventura guilty of simple misconduct, violating the new code of judicial conduct, and imposed an ₱18,000 fine. Additionally, he was found guilty of simple neglect of duty, resulting in another ₱18,000 fine.
The ruling sternly warned Buenaventura that any repetition of the offense or similar misconduct would be met with harsher penalties.
Buenaventura was one of the judges who handled Criminal Case No. 17-167, one of three drug-related cases filed against De Lima during the Duterte administration. Although the cases were dismissed between 2021 and 2024, De Lima had already been granted bail in November 2023, months before the last case was officially dropped.
The Supreme Court noted that Buenaventura’s refusal to grant bail and his delayed inhibition from the case contributed to De Lima’s prolonged detention. Her lawyers filed administrative complaints against him, arguing that his actions violated her right to due process.
The complaints also cited a potential conflict of interest, as Buenaventura’s brother, Erwin Buenaventura, had assisted a key witness, Ronnie Dayan, in signing an affidavit that was later alleged to have been coerced. The Supreme Court ruled that this association made the judge vulnerable to ethical violations under the judicial code.
Furthermore, the High Court pointed out that Buenaventura failed to adhere to the required 20-day resolution period for bail petitions in drug-related cases. The court maintained that he should be held accountable for the “undue delay” in his rulings.
