The prominent Philippine non-governmental organization, VOLUNTEERS AGAINST CRIME AND CORRUPTION, has awarded my good friend JUDGE BIONIFACIO SANZ MACEDA the title of 2009 MOST OUTSTANDING JUDGE in the Philippines, a recognition that he truly deserves.
I personally know how hard he works to improve the local justice system in Las Pinas City. Judge Maceda is the former Executive Judge of the city.
I had the privilege of working with him in the past when we jointly established the 180-Day Express Court System in Las Pinas City, which was duly recognized by the Supreme Court as a humble effort of the local justice system and the local voluntary bar to improve the dispensation of justice in Las Pinas City.
Despite his poor health, Judge Maceda has opted not to retire early, so that he could continue to serve the Philippine justice system for the good of the community.
Below is an extensive press release about Judge Maceda prepared by his office.
LAS PINAS JUDGE INCORRUPTIBLE: VACC
Las Pinas City: - Judge Bonifacio Sanz Maceda, Presiding Judge, RTC, Branch 275, Las Pinas City was selected as Outstanding Judge for 2009 by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) for his "incorruptibility, exemplary competence and commitment to his profession." This is the second award bestowed by the VACC. The first VACC award was presented to him as Outstanding Judge for the Year 2004 for being "a genuine servant of law and justice". Judge Maceda received the 2009 award through Executive Judge Raul B. Villanueva last September 14, 2009 during Monday morning's flag raising ceremony in front of the Las Pinas Hall of Justice.
Judge Maceda was born on April 22, 1944 to pioneer hoteliers Bonifacio
Advincula Maceda, Sr. and Brigida Sanz Maceda in Tacloban City. He took the 1971 bar examinations and passed it the first time he took it. On October 30, 1986, Judge Maceda was appointed by ex-President Corazon Aquino as Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 12, San Jose, Antique where he served as Executive Judge for 6 consecutive years. The IBP, Antique Chapter unanimously passed on November 26, 1992 a resolution citing Judge Maceda as a judicial statesman.
In November 1992, he was detailed by the Supreme Court in RTC Branch
16, Naval, Biliran and RTC Branch 11, Calubian, Leyte, in concurrent capacity to straighten the topsy-turvy Branch 16. The Provincial Board of Biliran thanked Judge Maceda via Resolution No. 127 for a job well done and instilling a new moral order in the judiciary of Biliran. Leyte Governor Leopoldo E. Petilla wrote to retain Judge Maceda in Calubian Leyte's Branch 11 because the Leytenos clamor for the kind of justice he dispenses- "firm, fair and fast".
About 3 years later, the Supreme Court reassigned Judge Maceda in Branch
275 in November 1995 to diffuse the feud between two former Las Pinas RTC
Judges. A senior staff member of Branch 275 says that the reputation of Judge
Maceda as a strict and fearsome judge preceded his arrival. He introduced in Las
Pinas "Express Court: A 180-day Justice System". Las Pinas Mayor Vergel
"Nene" Aguilar supported it and said that "Judge Maceda has been a welcome
addition and a positive force in the administration of justice in the city.
Judge Maceda reduced Branch 275's docket from 474 cases when he took over in
November 1995 to 332 in June 1997 and patched-up the feud. The feuding judges
shook hands in his presence to affirm their unity.
The Supreme Court later reassigned Judge Maceda in the premier station of
RTC Makati. Former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay recommended his appoint-
ment to Makati's RTC Branch 57 and wrote that Judge Maceda "is known for
his honesty and integrity." But, he came back to Las Pinas and was appointed
in November 1999 as regular Judge in Branch 275. Senator Villar wrote: "I am
pleased that a man of unquestionable ability and integrity has been ap-
pointed to the eminent judicial post. Meanwhile, the docket of Branch 275
ballooned to 496 cases in Judge Maceda's absence.
Judge Maceda led the Las Pinas RTC Judges Association in passing on October 8, 2002
Resolution No. 02-001 initiating "Express Court: A 180-Day Justice System" to
speed-up disposition of cases in the RTC of Las Pinas City.
On January 22, 2003 the PHILJA Caseflow Management (CFM) Committee
headed by its Chancellor, Hon. Justice Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, com-
mended Judge Maceda and the Las Pinas City Bar Association led by Atty,
Manuel Laserna, Jr., Founding President and Attorney Myrna C. Mercader,
Founding Treasurer, for their initiative to expedite the disposition of cases in Las Pinas courts.
On February 18, 2004 Multi-Sectoral Representatives of the Criminal Justice
System of Las Pinas City convened to formally adopt "Express Court" in the RTC of Las Pinas and validated the initiatives taken by the Judges in the October 8, 2002 Resolution No. 02-001.
The Las Pinas City Bar Association, Inc. presented to Judge Maceda on March 26, 2004 a Plaque of Recognition through Justice Magdangal De Leon,
Chairman, and Atty. Myrna C. Mercader, President, "in recognition of his exemplary performance, wisdom and dedication as a dispenser of justice and his initiative in actively introducing the concept of The Express Court: 180-Day
Justice System, in Las Pinas City"
Judge Maceda again reduced Branch 275's docket from 496 cases when he
took over in the year 2000 to 142 cases in July 2009, a reduction of 354 cases or a 71.37% reduction.
For the period January to July 2009 alone, a total of 198 cases were added to his docket while 226 cases were deducted therefrom ending July 2009, registering
a performance rating of 114%. 226 cases were disposed in 118 trial dates or an
average of 1.92 cases disposed every trial day or about two (2) cases disposed every single working day from January to July 2009.
No less than 3 former Chief Justices commended Judge Maceda in the past.
In Antique, his first station, CJ Marcelo B. Fernan praised Judge Maceda in 1989. CJ Fernan said that: "you are better organized than most Courts, including the Supreme Court." CJ Andres R. Narvasa penned this note to Judge Maceda: "Congratulations on these fine accomplishments! Keep up the good work." CJ Hilario G. Davide, Jr. wrote to Judge Maceda: "I commend you for your dedication to the effective and efficient administration of justice. x x x. Your fortitude must be commended." Judge Maceda also received innumerable plaques and certificates of recognition from various sectors.
Judge Maceda's sterling performance has not escaped the Supreme Court En
Banc. On April 20, 1999 the High Court noted in A.M. No. 98-6-201-RTC that "Judge Maceda has been very efficient in the performance of his official duties wherever he is assigned". More can be said of him but Judge Maceda's own words in his 1995 staff meeting in Branch 275 could perhaps say it all. Judge Maceda said: "I did not come to Las Pinas to join a popularity contest. I came here to do a job and I intend to do my job well. I pay no obedience to anyone. My obedience is only to God, the Constitution and my Conscience."
