THE Supreme Court has reminded judges to be mindful of what they post on social media after reprimanding a La Union Regional Trial Court judge for posting on his Facebook account photos showing him half-dressed and revealing his tattoos on his upper body.
In a September 2021 ruling but only posted on its website last May 13, the SC warn Agoo, La Union RTC Branch 31 Judge Romeo Atillo Jr. “to be more circumspect in his professional and personal dealings on social media,” saying his conduct is unbecoming of a judge.
The SC said a repeat of his conduct will be dealt with more severely.
“The Court once again reminds judges to be mindful of what they communicate in social networking sites–regardless of whether it is a personal matter or a part of his or her judicial functions–as such content indubitably creates and contributes to the public’s perception not only of the concerned judges, but, more importantly, of the Judiciary as a whole,” the decision penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting said.
The administrative case against Atillo stemmed from the printed copies of pictures that he allegedly posted and used as “cover photos” and “profile pictures” in his Facebook account that were received by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
In his defense, Atillo explained that his account was hacked in 2019, during which his account privacy setting was switched from private to public.
He said the subject pictures showing his tattoos were “exclusively meant for his own viewing pleasure and for his Facebook friends only and never posted for public consumption.”
