MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) denied the motion for reconsideration filed by retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Isaias P. Dicdican seeking to lift his preventive suspension from the practice of law and restore his pension and retirement benefits.

In 2025, the SC formally charged Dicdican with gross misconduct for his alleged involvement in the murder of Atty. Joey Luis B. Wee. Wee was shot and killed on November 23, 2020, at the ground floor of the building where his law office was located in Cebu City. The National Bureau of Investigation endorsed the case to the Cebu City Prosecution Office and/or the Office of the Prosecutor General.

Following the filing of the charge, the SC ordered Dicdican’s preventive suspension from the practice of law and the discontinuation of his pension and retirement benefits pending the resolution of his administrative case.

In its ruling, the SC stressed that the preventive sanctions are precautionary measures, not punitive.

The Court explained that preventive suspension is necessary because Dicdican, having practiced law and served as a Court of Appeals Justice in Cebu, may have influence that could obstruct ongoing criminal and administrative proceedings. Under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, preventive suspension is intended to prevent interference with an investigation, including tampering with, hiding, or destroying evidence, and intimidating witnesses.

The SC also ruled that Dicdican’s pension and retirement benefits will remain withheld until he complies with its directive requiring the personal submission of his pensioner’s survey form and other documents under Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) Circular No. 10-2017.

The circular mandates retired judges to submit proof of life and pension entitlement every January and July to ensure timely and proper release of benefits. Personal submission was required in Dicdican’s case because his whereabouts have remained uncertain for the past two years.