The judge who sparked nuisance raids on Philippines-based online gambling operators has been suspended without pay for two years.

Late last month, the Supreme Court of the Philippines voted 10-4-1 in favor of suspending without pay for two years Judge Zaldy Docena for gross neglect of duty in the mismanagement of search warrant applications.

Some of the Supreme Court justices had argued that the court follow the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator, which wanted Docena dismissed from all future service based on his gross ignorance of the law, gross negligence and gross misconduct, but the Court ultimately took Docena’s 30 years of government service as a mitigating factor. Regardless, Docena has been warned that he will face more severe punishment should be repeat his offenses upon his return to the bench.

Last year, the Supreme Court issued a resolution barring Docena from issuing further search warrants pending further investigation of his decision-making process. CalvinAyre.com readers will recall that Docena was the judge who issued the warrants that led to the raids on the Manila offices of a company providing support services to Philippines-licensed Bodog Asia in November 2013.