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APerfecto v. Esidera

The document discusses a complaint filed against Judge Alma Consuelo Desales-Esidera for falsifying public documents and dishonesty. Specifically, it is alleged that the judge falsified her daughter's birth certificate by claiming to be married to her daughter's father earlier than was actually the case. The judge argues that the complaint should be dismissed for various reasons, including that the complainant did not have proper personal knowledge of the facts and obtained documents improperly. She provides explanations for her actions.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
79 views5 pages

APerfecto v. Esidera

The document discusses a complaint filed against Judge Alma Consuelo Desales-Esidera for falsifying public documents and dishonesty. Specifically, it is alleged that the judge falsified her daughter's birth certificate by claiming to be married to her daughter's father earlier than was actually the case. The judge argues that the complaint should be dismissed for various reasons, including that the complainant did not have proper personal knowledge of the facts and obtained documents improperly. She provides explanations for her actions.

Uploaded by

Megan Aglaua
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SECOND DIVISION Moreover, Judge Desales-Esidera claimed that the persons involved in obtaining

the documents "desperately want[ed] [her] out of the judiciary so that they could
[A.M. No. RTJ-15-2417. July 22, 2015.] continue their illegal activities in the o ce[,] like temporary borrowing of funds in the
O ce of the Clerk of Court . . . and the abuse of the accreditation of [Perfecto][,] whose
[Formerly known as OCA IPI No. 10-3466-RTJ] newspaper [was] not printed and circulated generally and regularly in Northern Samar."
18

ELADIO D. PERFECTO , complainant, vs. JUDGE ALMA CONSUELO D. Judge Desales-Esidera further argued that the charges against her were personal
ESIDERA , respondent. and not judicial. 19 She did not participate in the accomplishment of the birth
certi cate. 20 She had planned to correct her daughter's birth certi cate, but she and
her husband decided against it for the best interest of her daughter. 21
RESOLUTION On the question of integrity, honesty, and morality, Judge Desales-Esidera argued
that everything she did was legal and in accordance with her religious beliefs. She was,
indeed, married to her second husband on March 18, 1990, but only under recognized
LEONEN , J : p Catholic rites. 22 The priest who o ciated their marriage had no authority to solemnize
On July 15, 2010, Eladio Perfecto led an administrative Complaint 1 against marriages under the civil law.
Judge Alma Consuelo Desales-Esidera of Branch 20 of the Regional Trial Court of Further, Judge Desales-Esidera argued that while her religious marriage was
Catarman, Northern Samar for falsification of public document and dishonesty. done before the declaration of nullity of her rst marriage, the prevailing jurisprudence
Eladio Perfecto (Perfecto) alleged that Judge Alma Consuelo Desales-Esidera at that time was that "there was no need for a judicial decree to establish the invalidity
(Judge Desales-Esidera) was rst married to Richard Tang Tepace on May 7, 1987 at of void marriage." 23 She described her state of mind and motivations for her acts as
the Metropolitan Trial Court of Manila. 2 follows:
On October 3, 1990, Judge Desales-Esidera gave birth to a daughter with Renato When I got married the rst time, it was not our intention to live together
Verano Esidera at Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City. 3 Her marriage to Richard as husband and wife. It was a secret marriage solemnized by a judge. We
planned of a church wedding supposedly on my birthday of the same year.
Tang Tepace was later declared void on January 27, 1992. 4
However, Richard reasoned out that he was still confused because his mother
Based on her certi cation of marriage records dated February 21, 2009, Judge was sick while his father, a Chinese, would not agree because it was the Year of
Desales-Esidera married Renato Verano Esidera on June 3, 1992. 5 the Dragon. As established by the evidence in the annulment case (Decision,
page 4 onwards, Annex C of Complaint), I continued living with my parents and
Perfecto further alleged that Judge Desales-Esidera falsi ed her daughter's birth
using my paternal name. Never for a moment did we live together as husband
certi cate to make it appear that she and Renato Verano Esidera were married on
and wife. For some reasons we cooled off and nally called it quits. When I met
March 18, 1990 and that their daughter was a legitimate child. 6 No marriage took my second husband, I found it very much unfair to be bound in a marriage that
place on that date based on a certi cation of no marriage issued by the O ce of the was never consummated. I wanted the marriage annulled. But the annulment
City Civil Registrar of Parañaque City. 7 Judge Desales-Esidera did not take any step to process was long and I was not getting any younger. Then, I got pregnant. I
rectify the error on her daughter's birth certificate. 8 knew it was against my values but I had no choice. I heard that getting pregnant
Perfecto prays for Judge Desales-Esidera's dismissal from o ce for her alleged beyond thirty was more risky.
dishonesty. 9 Renato and I are both religious. We both wanted to correct what we have
Judge Desales-Esidera led her Comment with Motion to Dismiss on December started wrongly. I consulted at least two priests who were knowledgeable on
30, 2010. 10 She argued that Perfecto did not comply with the requirement of personal Canon Law, a certain Fr. Albarico from San Sebastian Church and Rev. Fr. David
knowledge under Rule 140, Section 1. 11 He should have supported his Complaint "with J. Tither, C.SS.R of the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran. I also made my own
research on Catholic annulment and got a copy of the deliberations on
a davits of persons who knew her personally or with authenticated copies of
"psychological incapacity" as a ground for annulment under the Family Code. I
documents that supported his allegations." 12 Otherwise, Perfecto's allegations were
need not over emphasize that in view of the separation of the Church and the
nothing more than "tsismis" or hearsay. 13 Perfecto perjured himself when he State, civil marriages are not recognized by the Catholic Church. Couples who
subscribed to facts that were not based on his personal knowledge. 14 are civilly married are considered living in state of sin, and may be ex-
Judge Desales-Esidera brought this court's attention to the allegedly malicious communicated. They cannot receive the sacraments. Thus, my marriage to
means by which Perfecto obtained the documents supporting his allegations. 15 Richard Tang was not recognized by the Catholic Church. Moreover, in my
According to her, the documents were secured in connivance with persons involved in research I found this digest in Vol. 1, Civil Code Annotated, Ambrosio Padilla, p.
or were related to parties in other administrative cases. Perfecto also connived with 454, 1975 edition:
court employees who violated either the law or Supreme Court circulars by bringing " People vs. Whipkey , (CA) 69, O.G. 9678. — Pursuant to
court records outside the court without the judge's knowledge or consent. 16 Judge Art. 66 of the Civil Code, before a marriage license can be
Desales-Esidera claimed that this affects Perfecto's credibility and integrity. 17 obtained by a citizen or subject of a foreign country, he
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must rst present a certi cate of legal capacity to one but I took advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament
contract marriage to be issued by the diplomatic or of Matrimony. I did not, and do not live with anybody not my husband as
consular o cial of his own country. The law stresses the de ned by my Catholic faith. Chastity is a virtue. Even if one is civilly married
mandatory character of this requirement by the use of the but if there is no religious rati cation, in the eyes of my God, the spouses are
word "necessary", so that marriage license secured in living in sin and cannot take the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
violation of Article 66 of the Civil Code is a void license." From the day I saw the certi ed copy of the birth certi cate of our
I need not go into details. But anybody knows that a marriage daughter, I already planned to correct it. But, being married, anything that would
solemnized with a void license is no marriage at all. My marriage to Richard affect our family must be a conjugal decision. We decided against it, not
Tang, a Chinese, was void ab initio. If I am not mistaken, at that time, the because I am a lawbreaker, dishonest or immoral, but because not to disturb her
jurisprudence was that there was no need for a judicial decree to establish the birth record will serve her best interest and welfare. It will save her the
invalidity of void marriage. (People vs. Aragon, 100 Phil. 1033, cited on page embarrassment of being different in some way from her sisters; and the
470 of the same book). repercussion of being branded an "illegitimate" by her teachers and peers. As a
mother, I have to protect her from everything detrimental to her well-being. More
The logical conclusion, therefore, was that there was no impediment for
than a judge, I am a mother and a wife. As a lawyer, I agreed because it can
Renato and I to get married although we still need the court order to cancel the
always be corrected when the time or need comes. This case has already
registration. But we both can receive the sacrament. Our primary purpose in
affected my daughter emotionally, especially when she learned that somebody
availing of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony was to continue living in a state of
secured her birth certi cate and pretended to be "Mary Joyce." She could not
grace while waiting for the result of the annulment case which came two years
understand why she should be dragged in this controversy using her birth
later. So after consultations and a little catechesis with Fr. David Tither, he
certi cate which is supposed to be con dential. Neither do I. If the Xerox copies
nally o ciated the sacramental marriage rite in one of the confessional rooms
appended to the Complaint were perused carefully, my children, especially Mary
in the parish o ce of Baclaran Church with two other priests. Rev. Fr. Patrick J.
Joyce, would have been saved from emotional shock and trauma. Being
Deane, C.SS.R and Rev. Fr. Desmond de Souza, C.SS.R., as witnesses. Our
appointed to the Judiciary is not a license to pry on our personal life before I
second marriage on June 3, 1992 was again in a religious ceremony but with all
became a judge and criticize our wisdom.
the formalities required by law.
Finally, my life and the status of our rstborn could not have escaped the
That pregnancy was very complicated. In fact, it was diagnosed as
scrutiny of all those involved in the selection process in the appointment to the
ectopic pregnancy. After two sessions with Fr. David Tither, also a known healer
Judiciary, including those who conducted the background investigation. It is
and exorcist, the fetus nally went down from the fallopian tube to the womb
personal and has nothing to do with my professional life then, and now, with my
but was born prematurely. It was also di cult and painful giving birth to her.
judicial life. My love story is the best proof of my morality and my honesty. I
So, my husband Renato took charge of everything, including the preparation for
never kept it a secret; but I cannot allow it also to be publicized unnecessarily.
the registration of the baby.
The rst civil marriage was never consummated because of our agreement to
Complainant accuses me of falsifying the birth certi cate of my have a church wedding rst. The second marriage was purely a sacramental rite
daughter, Mary Joyce. However, her certi cate of live birth form was in obedience to the Law of God, so that my husband and I would continue living
accomplished by her father in his own handwriting and signed by him. My together without offending our God until the annulment process was nalized.
husband Renato is not a lawyer. To him, what matters is that our union is The third marriage was made to nally formalize our status in the eyes of the
blessed by God and that before the eyes of the Almighty, our daughter is law of man.
legitimate.
The reason for these administrative cases is that I cannot be like my
The date of marriage which my husband supplied in the birth certi cate accusers. I cannot join them because I value my dignity and my peace of mind.
of our daughter, Mary Joyce, is the date we received the Sacrament of Holy
We all have our stories to tell. Nobody's perfect. What is important is we
Matrimony on March 18, 1990. Fr. David Tither had no license to solemnize
learn from our mistakes, amend our lives and avoid further wrongdoings. If the
marriage from the National Archives or from the civil government. . . . It was a
Honorable Court Administrator, through the Legal O ce, would only conduct
purely sacramental marriage rite, without legal effect but de nitely valid and
discreet investigation on the life of my accusers and their lifestyles, the O ce
recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. It is called "matrimoña de
would realize who among us is leading an immoral life. 24 (Emphasis in the
conciencia". All he could give us was a blank certi cate of marriage but signed
original)
by him and the two priest witnesses, a certi cation and a covering letter (Annex
E, F and G). The need referred to in the covering letter did not arrive because our On September 29, 2014, the O ce of the Court Administrator recommended
second marriage (June 3, 1992) came before Mary Joyce attended the pre- that Judge Desales-Esidera be found guilty of disgraceful, immoral, or dishonest
school, so the form remained blank up to this date. If I were as scheming as my conduct and that she be suspended from judicial service for 15 days with the warning
accusers, I should have lled it up a long time ago. But I am too honest and that a repetition of a similar offense would be dealt with more severely. 25
honorable to do that.
The O ce of the Court Administrator found that Judge Desales-Esidera
According to the Order to comment, I am also accused of immorality. The condoned the misrepresentation made on her child's birth certificate. 26
basis of morality is generally the do's and don'ts set by the Church of whatever
religion. As Catholics, we have the Ten Commandments. I have sinned against The O ce of the Court Administrator also found that Judge Desales-Esidera
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engaged in an "illicit affair" and contracted a second marriage while another marriage neutral in matters of religion; governmental reliance upon religious justi cation
subsisted. 27 She contracted the second marriage knowing that there were legal is inconsistent with this policy of neutrality. 40
impediments to that marriage. 28 Judge Desales-Esidera "did not comport herself The O ce of the Court Administrator recommended that we nd respondent
according to her Roman Catholic faith." 29 judge guilty of immoral conduct based on, among others, her alleged affair and her
We nd that Judge Desales-Esidera's omission to correct her child's birth failure to comport herself according to the Roman Catholic faith.
certi cate is not su cient to render her administratively liable under the This court may not sit as judge of what is moral according to a particular religion.
circumstances. The error in the birth certi cate cannot be attributed to her. She did not We do not have jurisdiction over and is not the proper authority to determine which
participate in lling in the required details in the document. The birth certi cate shows conduct contradicts religious doctrine. We have jurisdiction over matters of morality
that it was her husband who signed it as informant. 30 only insofar as it involves conduct that affects the public or its interest.
Judge Desales-Esidera is also not guilty of disgraceful and immoral conduct Thus, for purposes of determining administrative liability of lawyers and judges,
under the Code of Professional Responsibility. "immoral conduct" should relate to their conduct as o cers of the court. To be guilty of
Morality refers to what is good or right conduct at a given circumstance. In "immorality" under the Code of Professional Responsibility, a lawyer's conduct must be
Estrada v. Escritor , 31 this court described morality as "'how we ought to live' and why." so depraved as to reduce the public's con dence in the Rule of Law. Religious morality
32 is not binding whenever this court decides the administrative liability of lawyers and
Morality may be religious, in which case what is good depends on the moral persons under this court's supervision. At best, religious morality weighs only
prescriptions of a high moral authority or the beliefs of a particular religion. Religion, as persuasively on us.
this court de ned in Aglipay v. Ruiz , 33 is "a profession of faith to an active power that Therefore, we cannot properly conclude that respondent judge's acts of
binds and elevates man to his Creator." 34 A conduct is religiously moral if it is contracting a second marriage during the subsistence of her alleged rst marriage and
consistent with and is carried out in light of the divine set of beliefs and obligations having an alleged "illicit" affair are "immoral" based on her Catholic faith. This court is
imposed by the active power. not a judge of religious morality.
Morality may also be secular, in which case it is independent of any divine moral We also do not nd that respondent judge's acts constitute immorality for
prescriptions. What is good or right at a given circumstance does not derive its basis purposes of administrative liability. Under the circumstances, respondent judge's
from any religious doctrine but from the independent moral sense shared as humans. second marriage and her alleged affair with her second husband were not of such
The non-establishment clause 35 bars the State from establishing, through laws depravity as to reduce con dence in the Rule of Law. Respondent judge and her rst
and rules, moral standards according to a speci c religion. Prohibitions against husband never really lived together as husband and wife. She claimed that her rst
immorality should be based on a purpose that is independent of religious beliefs. When husband did not want to have a church wedding. She and her husband did not have a
it forms part of our laws, rules, and policies, morality must be secular. Laws and rules of child. She claimed that this marriage was not recognized by her church. Eventually, their
conduct must be based on a secular purpose. 36 marriage was declared void, 41 and she was wed civilly to her second husband, with
whom respondent judge allegedly had an affair.
In the same way, this court, in resolving cases that touch on issues of morality, is
bound to remain neutral and to limit the bases of its judgment on secular moral Moreover, respondent judge's acts were not intrinsically harmful. When
standards. When laws or rules refer to morals or immorality, courts should be careful respondent judge married her second husband, no harm was in icted upon any one, not
not to overlook the distinction between secular and religious morality if it is to keep its even the complainant. There was no evidence on the records that the first husband, who
part in upholding constitutionally guaranteed rights. 37 was the most interested person in the issue, even objected to the second marriage.
There is the danger of "compelled religion" 38 and, therefore, of negating the very While we do not nd respondent judge administratively liable for immorality, we
idea of freedom of belief and non-establishment of religion when religious morality is can determine if she is administratively liable for possible misconduct. The Code of
incorporated in government regulations and policies. As explained in Estrada v. Professional Responsibility directs lawyers to obey the laws and promote respect for
Escritor: 39 the law. 42
Otherwise, if government relies upon religious beliefs in formulating public We cannot conclude that, for purposes of determining administrative liability,
policies and morals, the resulting policies and morals would require conformity respondent judge disobeyed the law against bigamy when she and her second husband
to what some might regard as religious programs or agenda. The non-believers conducted a marriage ceremony on March 18, 1990.
would therefore be compelled to conform to a standard of conduct buttressed Respondent judge claimed that this marriage was merely a sacramental marriage
by a religious belief, i.e., to a "compelled religion" anathema to religious
entered into only to comply with the requirements of their religious beliefs. It was valid
freedom. Likewise, if government based its actions upon religious beliefs, it
only under the Roman Catholic Church but has no legal effect. Their solemnizing o cer
would tacitly approve or endorse that belief and thereby also tacitly disapprove
contrary religious or non-religious views that would not support the policy. As a
was not licensed to solemnize marriage from the National Archives or from the civil
result, government will not provide full religious freedom for all its citizens, or government. 43
even make it appear that those whose beliefs are disapproved are second-class Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code prohibits a second or subsequent
citizens. Expansive religious freedom therefore requires that government be marriage before the legal dissolution of a first marriage:
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Art. 349. Bigamy . — The penalty of prision mayor shall be imposed marriage was the recognition from the Roman Catholic Church. She stated that:
upon any person who shall contract a second or subsequent marriage before
Fr. David Tither had no license to solemnize marriage from the National
the former marriage has been legally dissolved, or before the absent spouse has
Archives or from the civil government. Hence, he was not under obligation to
been declared presumptively dead by means of a judgment rendered in the
register our marriage. It was a purely sacramental marriage rite, without legal
proper proceedings.
effect but de nitely valid and recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. It is
The second or subsequent marriage contemplated under this provision is the called "matrimoña de conciencia." 46
marriage entered into under the law. Article 1 of the Family Code de nes marriage as "a However, Article 350 may be of doubtful constitutionality when applied to
special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in religious exercise and expression insofar as it prescribes upon individuals and religious
accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life[.]" communities formal requirements for the conduct of their religious ceremonies. It puts
Thus, the validity of the second marriage, if not for the subsistence of the rst a burden 47 upon the exercise of beliefs by criminalizing marriages performed in
marriage, is considered one of the elements of the crime of bigamy. The elements of accordance with those beliefs, but lacks some or all the requisites of a valid marriage
bigamy are: under the law. These requirements include not only age and consent, but also formal
(a) the offender has been legally married; (b) the marriage has not been requisites such as marriage license and civil authority of the solemnizing o cer even
legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is absent, the absent spouse could though violence, fraud, or intimidation was not present under the circumstances. It may,
not yet be presumed dead according to the Civil Code; (c) that he contracts a therefore, limit religious exercise and expression to the formalities of law.
second or subsequent marriage; and (d) the second or subsequent marriage has Thus, unless respondent judge's act of participating in a marriage ceremony
all the essential requisites for validity. The felony is consummated on the according to her religious beliefs violates other peoples' rights or poses grave and
celebration of the second marriage or subsequent marriage. It is essential in the imminent danger to the society, 48 we cannot rule that respondent judge is
prosecution for bigamy that the alleged second marriage, having all the administratively liable for her participation in her religious marriage ceremony. 49
essential requirements, would be valid were it not for the subsistence of the rst
marriage. 44 (Emphasis supplied, citations omitted) I n Estrada, 50 this court ruled that in religious freedom cases, the test of
benevolent neutrality should be applied. Under the test of benevolent neutrality,
Respondent judge's act of participating in the marriage ceremony as governed
religious freedom is weighed against a compelling state interest:
only by the rules of her religion is not inconsistent with our law against bigamy. What
the law prohibits is not second marriage during a subsisting marriage per se. What the Benevolent neutrality recognizes that government must pursue its secular goals
law prohibits is a second marriage that would have been valid had it not been for the and interests but at the same time strives to uphold religious liberty to the
subsisting marriage. Under our law, respondent judge's marriage in 1990 was invalid greatest extent possible within exible constitutional limits. Thus, although the
because of the solemnizing officer's lack of authority. morality contemplated by laws is secular, benevolent neutrality could allow for
accommodation of morality based on religion, provided it does not offend
Marriages entered into in accordance with the law may or may not include compelling state interests. 51 (Emphasis in the original)
marriages recognized in certain religions. Religious marriages are recognized in and
We nd that there is no compelling state interest that may limit respondent
may be governed by our laws only if they conform to legal requirements. Religious
judge's right to participate in religious and merely ceremonial acts that are non-violative
marriages that lack some or all the requirements under the law are invalid. 45 They are
of other people's rights and with no legally binding effect. The institution of marriage is
not considered to have been entered into. They do not enjoy the bene ts,
not threatened when we accommodate respondent judge's freedom to participate in
consequences, and incidents of marriage provided under the law.
such ceremonies even if they have secular counterparts under our laws.
The lack of authority of the o cer that solemnized respondent judge's marriage
In any case, respondent judge did not ask that she and her husband be given the
in 1990 renders such marriage invalid. It is not recognized in our law. Hence, no second
same rights as civilly married partners before their civil wedding in 1992. She does not
marriage can be imputed against respondent judge while her first marriage subsisted.
ask that our laws recognize her marriage in 1990 as valid. Respondent judge also does
However, respondent judge may have disobeyed the law, particularly Article 350 not seem to be against civil marriages. She and her husband were even civilly wed after
of the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits knowingly contracting marriages against the her marriage with her first spouse was declared void.
provisions of laws. Article 350 of the Revised Penal Code provides:
However, benevolent neutrality and claims of religious freedom cannot shield
ART. 350. Marriage contracted against provisions of laws. — The penalty respondent judge from liability for misconduct under our laws. Respondent judge
o f prision correctional in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed knowingly entered into a civil marriage with her rst husband. She knew its effects
upon any person who, without being included in the provisions of the next under our laws. She had sexual relations with her second husband while her rst
preceding article, shall contract marriage knowing that the requirements of the marriage was subsisting.
law have not been complied with or that the marriage is in disregard of a legal
impediment. (Emphasis supplied) Respondent judge cannot claim that engaging in sexual relations with another
person during the subsistence of a marriage is an exercise of her religious expression.
Respondent judge knew that the solemnizing o cer during her and her
Legal implications and obligations attach to any person who chooses to enter civil
husband's marriage in 1990 had no civil authority to solemnize marriages. It is clear
marriages. This is regardless of how civil marriages are treated in that person's religion.
from her Comment that she and her husband's only consideration for their 1990
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Moreover, respondent judge, as a lawyer and even more so as a judge, is
expected to abide by the law. Her conduct affects the credibility of the courts in
dispensing justice. Thus, in nding respondent judge administratively liable for a
violation of her marriage obligations under our laws, this court protects the credibility
of the judiciary in administering justice. In the words of Justice Carpio in his dissenting
opinion in Estrada:
Court employees, from the highest magistrate to the lowliest clerk, are expected
to abide scrupulously with the law. They are held to a higher standard since they
are part of the judicial machinery that dispenses justice. . . . [T]here exists a
compelling state interest to hold Escritor to the same standards required of
every court employee. If unsanctioned, Escritor's unlawful conduct would
certainly impair the integrity and credibility of the judiciary. 52
Lawyers are not and should not be expected to be saints. What they do as
citizens of their faiths are beyond this court's power to judge. Lawyers, however, are
o cers of court. They are expected to care about and sustain the law. This court's
jurisdiction over their actions is limited to their acts that may affect public con dence
in the Rule of Law. Our state has secular interests to protect. This court cannot be
expected to condone misconduct done knowingly on account of religious freedom or
expression.
Finally, the O ce of the Court Administrator and the Administrators of lower
courts should look into the motives of persons who le complaints against our judges
and o cers of court when allegations point to possible administrative violations. This
is not to say that complainants' motives are relevant to their causes of actions.
However, complainants who come to court with unclean hands should not be spared
from liability just because they were the first to submit their accusations.
WHEREFORE , we nd respondent Judge Alma Consuelo Desales-Esidera guilty
of violating Canon 1 of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Respondent Judge
Desales-Esidera is SUSPENDED from judicial service for one (1) month with a warning
that repetition of a similar offense will be dealt with more severely. She is STERNLY
WARNED that repetition of the same violations in the future will be dealt with more
severely.
The O ce of the Court Administrator is ORDERED to conduct an investigation
regarding respondent's claims of illegal court activities.
SO ORDERED.
Carpio, Brion, Del Castillo and Mendoza, JJ., concur.
Footnotes

1. Rollo, p. 1.
2. Id. at 1 and 4. Attached to the Complaint as Annex "A" is a photocopy of a certification
dated February 21, 2009, which appears to have been issued by the Office of the Civil
Registrar General. It shows that the name Alma Consuelo De Sales Esidera yielded
two (2) matches in the National Indices of Marriages: (1) a marriage between Alma
Consuelo Balitbit Desales and Renato Verano Esidera on June 3, 1992 in Paco,
Manila; and (2) a marriage between Alma Consuelo Desales and Richard Tepace
Tang on May 7, 1987 in Ermita, Manila.

3. Id. at 1 and 5. Attached to the Complaint as Annex "B" is a photocopy of a birth certificate
of one Mary Joyce Desales Esidera. The copy indicates that Mary Joyce Desales
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