The Supreme Court (SC) has found Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Romeo Buenaventura guilty of simple misconduct and neglect of duty for delaying the resolution of former senator Leila de Lima’s bail petition in 2020.
The SC dismissed Buenaventura’s explanation that the pandemic caused the delay, emphasizing that bail proceedings should be resolved swiftly.
De Lima’s camp filed a complaint against Buenaventura after he belatedly inhibited from the case in June 2023 due to his brother’s ties with a key figure in De Lima’s prosecution.
Despite this, the SC found no reason to sanction him for those familial connections.
Buenaventura was fined P36,000 for the delayed decision, while De Lima was acquitted and released on bail in November 2023.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 4, 2025
