Sacked ‘psychic’ judge applies for SC chief justice post
MANILA–A regional trial court judge dismissed in 2006 for being “mentally unfit” has filed before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) an application for the chief justice post that will be vacated by Supreme Court chief Justice Reynato Puno on May 17.
The application of Florentino Floro Jr., former Malabon City RTC Branch 73 presiding judge, joined two more applications and four additional nominations that reportedly made it to the Thursday deadline of the JBC.
Aside from Floro, the other applicants included deputy ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez and associate justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro.
Floro, who claims to be the fifth best psychic in the country, also nominated SC associate justices Arturo Brion and Conchita Carpio Morales and lawyers Henry Villarica and Gregorio Batiller Jr. for the position of Chief Justice.
Floro hugged the limelight when he claimed he was aided in the court by three dwarfs: Luis, Armand and Angel. He said he was the “angel of death” and that he could write while in a trance.
In 2006, Floro, then presiding judge of the Malabon City RTC Branch 73 was relieved from the service after the SC found him to be mentally unfit to continue discharging his functions.
The court found Floro guilty of seven out of 13 administrative charges lodged against him by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
The court ruled that although it is not within its authority to conclude that Floro is “insane,” it said that based on medical findings, the dismissed judge “is suffering from psychosis.”
In determining Floro’s fitness to remain in office, the Court said it considered the report of the OCA that Judge Floro proclaimed himself to be endowed with psychic powers; that he can inflict pain and sickness to people; and that he is the angel of death.
In his 26-page document submitted to the JBC, Floro said his application and possible nomination for the chief justice post is with the condition that its shortlist will be submitted by JBC “only to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”
He described himself as a “visionary and prophet” in his application.
Floro is a graduate from the Ateneo Law School. He placed 12th in the 1983 Bar exams, with the rating of 87.55 percent
