The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A regional trial court judge in Roxas City, Oriental Mindoro was dismissed by the Supreme Court for corruption after his laptop was subjected to customary inspection, which revealed information on how he solicited bribes from several individuals.

In the decision of the en banc, Roxas City Regional Trial Court Branch 43 Judge Edralin Reyes was found guilty of gross and simple misconduct after his laptop was examined by the Supreme Court.

In 2018, Edralin was acting presiding judge of Branch 39 and was assigned an office laptop which was then transferred to another judge who was appointed to the branch.

In 2019, the laptop was returned by the new judge to the Management Information Systems Office of the SC for repair or replacement.

The laptop was examined as a standard procedure and backup iPhone messages showing Reyes was engaging in corrupt practices were revealed.

The MISO reported the incident to the Office of the Court Administrator which hired a forensic expert to extract data which further revealed text conversations, contact information, photos, videos, and other data.

Among the information discovered was Reyes asking for money or “pabaon from a certain lawyer whenever he attended seminars and trainings; asking another lawyer to be his dummy in a transaction involving a 900-square meter lot; and receiving money, a car, guns from private practitioners in exchange for favorable actions.

“His unethical behavior does not only damage his reputation and qualifications but also tarnishes the image of the judiciary as it sends the message that justice can be bought for a price,” the SC said in the per curiam decision.

When asked to comment during the investigation, Reyes argued that the retrieval of his private mobile phone data from the laptop was a violation of his constitutional right to privacy.

He also alleged that the messages recovered from his mobile phone were fake, altered, tampered and unreliable because another judge allegedly had an axe to grind against him.

Reyes also asserted that the data recovered from the laptop cannot be used as evidence because they were obtained in his absence and without his permission.

The Supreme Court however stressed that Reyes should not have any expectation of privacy for the electronic communications stored in the laptop.

The court also noted that it did not appear that the laptop was forcibly taken from Reyes.

“These circumstances convince this court that Judge Reyes cannot successfully claim that the State unduly intruded into a personal matter,” the court said.

The laptop audit also revealed that firearms in nine cases decided by Reyes involving violations of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Act were not turned over to the Philippine National Police.

Aside from his dismissal as a judge, Reyes also faces a fine amounting to P17,500 as well as perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The court also furnished the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with a copy of its decision for appropriate disciplinary and disbarment proceedings against Reyes and other lawyers whose names were mentioned in the data recovered from the laptop.