THE MERE MENTION of the judiciary translates to honesty and integrity — but not for regional trial court judge who had just been slapped with a six-month suspension for failure to disclose a pending criminal case prior to his appointment.
This comes as the Supreme Court en banc sanctioned Catbalogan City-based RTC Judge Alfonso Cinco IV who was charged for allegedly violating Republic Act 10168 (Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012).
In a decision penned by no less than Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, the Court said Cinco did not inform the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) that a complaint had been filed against him before he assumed office as presiding judge.
“ACCORDINGLY, Judge Alfonso M. Cinco IV is found GUILTY of serious dishonesty. He is hereby SUSPENDED FROM THE SERVICE for six months without pay, to take effect upon finality hereof, with a stern warning that a repetition of the same or similar act will be dealt with more severely,” reads part of the SC decision.
Records show that on May 23, 2023, the Joint Task Group Cebu of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, under the Visayas Command (Viscom) filed a complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the Community Empowerment Resources Network (CERNET) where Cinco was identified as among its officers.
Based on the complaint, CERNET allegedly provided funds to the South-Eastern Front of the New People’s Army (NPA), in violation of RA 10168, otherwise known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
Cinco was accused of violating Section 8(ii), in relation to Section 9, of RA 10168.
Court records further showed Cinco was indicted three months before he received his judicial appointment on August 30, 2024.
Cinco however maintained that he honestly believed he was not required to disclose the pending case.
“For his part, Judge Cinco argues that he was busy discharging his functions as then prosecutor; that he had been experiencing a slew of personal problems; and that he honestly believed that he need not make a report on the matter,” the Court noted.
The criminal case against Cinco is currently pending before Branch 74, Regional Trial Court, Cebu City.
