Supreme Court Dismisses and Disbars Judge Convicted of Murdering Fellow Magistrate

The Supreme Court (SC) has officially removed and disbarred Presiding Judge Oscar Tomarong of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 28 in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte following his conviction for the murder of a fellow magistrate. The SC Office of the Spokesperson announced on Tuesday, December 23, that the SC En Banc issued a ruling ordering Tomarong's dismissal from service, forfeiture of retirement benefits, disbarment from legal practice, and permanent disqualification from government employment.

The court emphasized that "murder is a crime involving moral turpitude, a serious offense that warrants dismissal under the Rules of Court." Further, the ruling underscored that "no one, not even members of the Bench, is above the law. Judges are embodiment of law and justice... The judiciary's task of maintaining the people's trust is undermined whenever judges neglect their duties, and worse, violate the laws that they are supposed to uphold. This case is the Court's proof of its commitment to the public that no judge who callously breaches the law and perpetrates an injustice will go unpunished."

The decision follows a 2022 RTC verdict finding Tomarong guilty of orchestrating the murder of Judge Reymar Lacaya, who was fatally shot on May 9, 2019, outside the Liloy RTC building. During the criminal proceedings, Tomarong's aide, Juliber Cabating, testified that Tomarong directed him to hire assassins to carry out the killing. Cabating further revealed that Tomarong paid the hired gunmen P250,000 as payment for the crime.