OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR VS.

SARDILLO
FACTS:

Judge Sardido decided a case involving Falsification of Documents. Since one of the
defendants in a case is an RTC judge, he removed the name of the RTC judge from the
roster of the defendants. Judge Sardido's basis for removing the name of the RTC judge is
Supreme Court Circular No. 3-89. The Circular says that "the IBP shall forward to the
Supreme Court for appropriate action, all cases involving judges of lower courts and justices
xxx" In the case, Judge Sardido referred the criminal aspect together with the administrative
aspect to the SC.

ISSUE:

whether the criminal aspect of the case is cognizable by the SC.

RULING:

No. Only the administrative aspect of the case is what must be forwarded to the Supreme
Court. The trial courts retain jurisdiction to try the criminal aspect of a case involving judges.
SC Circular 3-89 refers to administrative cases not to criminal cases.