A Quezon City judge on Monday inhibited himself from handling the nullification case filed by businessman Reghis Romero II against his son and rival claimant, Michael Romero.
Branch 97 Judge Bernelito Fernandez directed his staff to forward the civil suit of declaration of nullity of deeds of assignment, injunction and other reliefs with prayer for issuance of a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction filed by the older Romero to the Office of the Clerk of Court for a re-raffle.
“The Presiding Judge must maintain and preserve the trust and faith of the parties-litigants. He must hold himself above reproach and suspicion. At the very first sign of lack of faith and trust in his action, whether well-grounded or not, the judge has no other alternative but to inhibit himself from the case. The better course for the judge under the circumstances is to disqualify himself,” his ruling read.
“That way, he avoids being misunderstood; his reputation for probity and objectivity is preserved [Konrad and Conrado Rubin vs. Judge Evelyn Corpus-Cabochan OCA I.P.I. No. 11-3589 RTC July 29, 2013].”
According to Fernandez, Michael Romero’s doubts were “nothing but his own creation.”
He denied having any interest in the instant case, saying that he “has acted only in accordance with the merits of the same.”
Four days ago, the camp of Michael Romero urged Fernandez to stay away from hearing the Harbour Port Terminal ownership dispute where he is pitted against his father.