In Re: Judge Ferdinand J.

Marcos
A.M. No. 97-2-53-RTC July 6, 2001
Complainant: Mrs. Rotilla A. Marcos and Her Children
Respondent: Judge Ferdinand J. Marcos
FACTS: In 1996, complainant, the wife of respondent Judge Ferdinand J. Marcos,
and their children filed a complaint against respondent for his failure to sufficiently
support the family and for having an illicit relationship with a law student.
Complainants prayed that all remuneration due respondent be directly released to
them but the complaint was later withdrawn and dismissed.
In 2000, Chief Justice Hilario Davide recommended for the suspension of
respondent after a scandalous incident during an exclusive Fun Run sponsored by
the Philippine Judges Association where respondent brought along a woman. When
Chief Justice pulled respondent aside to validate the facts about the latter's illicit
relationship with the woman, respondent candidly admitted that he had been living
with the woman named Mae Tacaldo, for three (3) years already.
During investigation, respondent denied all the allegations. However, the
evidences including a phone bill addressed to the respondent not to their conjugal
dwelling but to the address of the alleged mistress, a birthday card which read MT
cares a lot, you know and a vehicle and its insurance policy under the name of
both the respondent and his alleged mistress, among others, proved respondents
infidelity. The matter of the illicit relationship was even published in the
newspapers.
ISSUE: Whether or not respondent violated the Code of Judicial Conduct
HELD: YES. Canon 2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct mandates that the conduct of
a judge must be free of a whiff of impropriety not only with respect to
his performance of his judicial duties, but also to his behavior outside his sala and
as a private individual. The Code dictates that a judge, in order to promote public
confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, must behave with
propriety at all times. Being the subject of constant public scrutiny, a judge should
freely and willingly accept restrictions on conduct that might be viewed as
burdensome by the ordinary citizen.
Keeping a mistress is certainly not an act one would expect of a judge who is
expected to possess the highest standard of morality and decency. If a judge
fails to have high ethical standards, the confidence and high respect for the
judiciary diminishes as he represents the judiciary.
Judge Ferdinand J. Marcos has demonstrated himself to be wanting of moral
integrity. He has violated the code of Judicial Conduct, which requires every judge
to be the embodiment of competence, integrity, and independence and to avoid
the appearance of impropriety in all activities as to promote public confidence in

the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

Having tarnished the image of the Judiciary, respondent was ordered dismissed
from service.