Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=50592:am-p-07-2346-2008&amp;catid=1502&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 08:45:43+00:00

Document:
On March 17, 2006 when Elmer Rivas, Hilda's husband, went to the MTC to post bail for Hilda, he was purportedly approached by respondent Nelia P. Rosales, a utility worker in the same court. Rosales assured Elmer that she could facilitate the posting of the bond. Banking on Rosales' assurance, Elmer handed to her P8,000 in cash for Hilda's bail. She accepted the money but did not issue a receipt.
In a letter dated May 4, 2006,5 Judge Lorenza Bordios Paculdo,6 who presided over the April 17, 2006 hearing, referred Rosales' alleged administrative infraction to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA). Rosales was required to comment on the complaint.
In her undated comment, Rosales averred that it was Elmer who sought her help.7 She acknowledged receipt of the amount of P8,0008 and admitted preparing the motion to revive and post bail "[s]ince the case [had] been archived [and] there [was] a need for a motion to revive and post bail."9 The motion was signed by Hilda and filed with the court.
In its report,12 the OCA considered Rosales' acts (drafting a motion to revive and post bail and receiving money from a party-litigant to be posted as bail) as usurpation of the functions of a lawyer and a clerk of court. These were highly improper and constituted grave misconduct.
We affirm the findings of the OCA, albeit with modifications as to the penalty recommended.
A utility worker is neither authorized to draft a pleading or motion nor to receive money for bail. When he does either, it is not mere overzealousness but an ultra vires act, a usurpation of function that does not pertain to his position.
It is despicable that Rosales misrepresented herself to the Rivas couple as one who could influence or, worse, manipulate court processes favorably. Her act of not returning the money which she unlawfully received, however, was an even greater cause for disciplinary action. She acknowledged receipt of the amount yet cleverly omitted to state in her comment whether or not she returned it. She never disputed the statements of Elmer that the money he gave her was never used as cash bail, a fact bolstered by the OCA's finding that she failed to turn over the money intended as bail to an authorized court personnel.
[W]hat brings our judicial system into disrepute are often the actuations of a few erring court personnel peddling influence to party-litigants, creating the impression that decisions can be bought and sold, ultimately resulting in the disillusionment of the public. This Court has never wavered in its vigilance in eradicating the so-called 'bad eggs' in the judiciary. And whenever warranted by the gravity of the offense, the supreme penalty of dismissal in an administrative case is meted to erring personnel.
The necessity of acting with propriety and decorum is stressed in Canon 1 of the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel.
Section 1. Court Personnel shall not use their official position to secure unwarranted benefits, privileges, or exemption for themselves or for others.
WHEREFORE, respondent Nelia P. Rosales is hereby found GUILTY of grave misconduct. She is hereby SUSPENDED from the service for one year without benefits including leave credits, with a STERN WARNING that the commission of the same or similar acts shall warrant dismissal from the service.
Rosales is further ordered to PAY the amount of EIGHT THOUSAND PESOS (P8,000) to Elmer Rivas within 10 days from her receipt of this resolution.
1 These cases involve four counts of violation of BP 22 (Bouncing Checks Law).
2 The recommended bail was P2,000 for each count.
3 Letter-complaint addressed to Hon. Christopher Lock, Court Administrator of the Supreme Court, copy furnished Hon. Jose Perez, Deputy, Office of the Court Administrator, Supreme Court, and Hon. Francisco Dizon-PaÃ±o, Executive Judge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 93, San Pedro, Laguna, par. 2.
4 TSN, April 17, 2006, p. 6. The records also showed that the warrant of arrest against Hilda was lifted during this hearing.
5 Letter-complaint addressed to Hon. Christopher Lock, Court Administrator of the Supreme Court, copy furnished Hon. Jose Perez, Deputy, Office of the Court Administrator, Supreme Court, and Hon. Francisco Dizon-PaÃ±o, Executive Judge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 93, San Pedro, Laguna.
6 Presiding Judge, Municipal Trial Court, Branch 1, San Pedro, Laguna.
7 Undated Comment of Nelia Rosales, par. 2.
11 Supra note 7, par. 5.
12 Dated May 21, 2007. Evaluation, Administrative Matter for Agenda, Subject Matter: A.M. 06-5-176-MTC Re: Letter of Judge Lorenza B. Paculdo, MTC Branch 1, San Pedro, Laguna on the administrative lapses allegedly committed by Nelia, P. Rosales, Utility Worker, same court, Administrative Supervision of Courts, Supreme Court, p. 4.
13 Section 52 (A), Revised Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 1999.
14 Evaluation, supra note 12, p. 5.
15 2002 REVISED MANUAL FOR CLERKS OF COURT (Vol. 1), Supreme Court Printing Service, pp. 206-207. Par. 2, Evaluation, Administrative Matter for Agenda, Subject Matter: A.M. 06-5-176-MTC Re: Letter of Judge Lorenza B. Paculdo, MTC Branch 1, San Pedro, Laguna on the administrative lapses allegedly committed by Nelia, P. Rosales, Utility Worker, same court, Administrative Supervision of Courts, Supreme Court, p. 3.
16 Alleged Removal of the Bailbond Posted in Criminal Case No. C-67629 Committed by William S. Flores, Utility Aide II, Regional Trial Court, Branch 123, Caloocan City, A.M. No. P-05-1994, 12 October 2005, 472 SCRA 593.
17 Id. Castelo v. Florendo, 459 Phil. 597 (2003); Office of the Court Administrator v. Nitafan, 452 Phil. 6 (2003); Amosco v. Magro, A.M. No. 439-MTJ, 30 September 1976, 73 SCRA 109.
18 Rodriguez v. Eugenio, A.M. No. P-06-2216, April, 20, 2007; Hernandez v. Borja, 312 Phil. 199, 204 (1995).
19 Rodriguez v. Eugenio, supra note 18; Basco v. Gregorio, 315 Phil. 681, 688 (1995).
20 In Re: Affidavit of Frankie Calabines v. Luis N. Gnilo, et al., A.M. No. 04-5-20-SC, March 14, 2007; Mendoza v. Tiongson, 333 Phil. 510 (1996).
21 Rodriguez v. Eugenio, supra note 18; Salazar v. Limeta, A.M. No. P-04 1908, 16 August 2005, 467 SCRA 27, 34.
22 Filoteo v. Calago, A.M. No. P-04-1815, October 18, 2007; Vertudes v. Buenaflor, G.R. No. 153166, 16 December 2005, 478 SCRA 210, 233-234; Civil Service Commission v. Belagan, G.R. No. 132164, 19 October 2004, 440 SCRA 578, 599.
23 Rosales started serving in the judiciary on 22 February 1983, and is serving up to the present. Section 53 of the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (M.C. No. 19, series of 1999) provides that length of service can be appreciated as an extenuating, mitigating, aggravating or alternative circumstance.
24 Alleged Removal of the Bailbond Posted in Criminal Case No. C-67629 Committed by William S. Flores, Utility Aide II, Regional Trial Court, Branch 123, Caloocan City, supra note 16; Pizarro v. Villegas, 398 Phil. 844 (2000); Marquez v. Clores-Ramos, 391 Phil. 11 (2000); Lim-Arce v. Arce, A.M. No. P-89-312, 9 January 1992, 205 SCRA 21.

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