“Basically, a case once raffled to a
branch belongs to that branch unless reraffled or otherwise transferred to
another branch in accordance with established procedure. When the Presiding
Judge of that branch to which a case has been raffled or assigned is
transferred to another station, he leaves behind all the cases he tried with
the branch to which they belong. He does not take these cases with him even if
he tried them and the same were submitted to him for decision. The judge who
takes over this branch inherits all these cases and assumes full responsibility
for them. He may decide them as they are his cases, unless any of the parties
moves that his case be decided by the judge who substantially heard the
evidence and before whom the case was submitted for decision. If a party
therefore so desires, he may simply address his request or motion to the
incumbent Presiding Judge who shall then endorse the request to the Office of
the Court Administrator so that the latter may in turn endorse the matter to
the judge who substantially heard the evidence and before whom the case was
submitted for decision.
This
will avoid the "renvoir" of records and the
possibility of an irritant between the judges concerned, as one may question
the authority of the other to transfer the case to the former.” (People of the Philippines vs.
Ocfemia, G.R. No. 185383, September 25, 2013.)
