Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83699:57838&catid=1588&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 04:24:08+00:00

Document:
A.M. No. P-14-3217 (Formerly OCA IPI NO. 14-4252-RTJ), October 08, 2014 - RE: ANONYMOUS LETTER, Complainant, v. JUDGE CORAZON D. SOLUREN, PRESIDING JUDGE, AND RABINDRANATH A. TUZON, LEGAL RESEARCHER II, BOTH OF BRANCH 91, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BALER, AURORA, Respondents.
RE: ANONYMOUS LETTER, Complainant, v. JUDGE CORAZON D. SOLUREN, PRESIDING JUDGE, AND RABINDRANATH A. TUZON, LEGAL RESEARCHER II, BOTH OF BRANCH 91, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BALER, AURORA, Respondents.
Before the Court is an Anonymous Letter1 dated January 15, 2011 filed by purported concerned citizens of Aurora, Quezon complaining about the alleged illegal acts of respondents Judge Corazon D. Soluren (Judge Soluren) and Legal Researcher II Rabindranath A. Tuzon (Tuzon), both of the Regional Trial Court of Baler, Aurora, Branch 91 (RTC).
Since the case against Judge Soluren had already been closed and terminated in view of her compulsory retirement on January 29, 2012, the only issue left for the Court’s present resolution is whether or not Tuzon should be held administratively liable for the charge of Grave Misconduct as recommended by the OCA.
The Court, however, disagrees with the OCA’s appreciation of the misconduct’s gravity. Considering the absence of any proof that Tuzon’s actions were tainted with corruption, or with a clear intent to violate the law, or would constitute a flagrant disregard of an established rule – say for instance, by the actual misappropriation of any amount which came to his possession – Tuzon cannot be held liable for Grave Misconduct but only for Simple Misconduct which is punishable by suspension for a period of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months at the most21 without pay.22 That being said, the Court deems it proper to impose the maximum of the foregoing penalty.
WHEREFORE, respondent Rabindranath A. Tuzon, Legal Researcher II of the Regional Trial Court of Baler, Aurora, Branch 91, is found GUILTY of Simple Misconduct and, hence, meted with the penalty of SUSPENSION for a period of six (6) months without pay, commencing upon notice of this Decision, with warning that a repetition of the same or similar act shall be dealt with more severely.
On the other hand, the Court reiterates its Resolution dated June 18, 2014 that the administrative complaint against respondent Judge Corazon D. Soluren of the same court is hereby considered CLOSED and TERMINATED in view of her compulsory retirement on January 29, 2012.
2Namely People v. Orgas, et al. (Crim. Case No. 4246), People v. Espinosa, et al. (Crim. Case Nos. 4255-56), People v. Valdez (Crim. CaseNo. 2839), and People v. De Asis (Crim. Case No. 4393), among others. See id. at 2 and 88.
4 Id. at 3. Signed by Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva.
7 Id. See also id. at 8-15.
9 Id. at 12 and 14-15. See also id. at 89.
10 Id. at 12-14. See also id. at 89-90.
12 Id. at 88-93. Signed by Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez and Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino.
16OCA v. Musngi, A.M. No. P-00-3024, July 17, 2012, 676 SCRA 525, 530, citing Alenio v. Cunting, 555 Phil. 146, 155 (2007).
17 See Echano, Jr. v. Toledo, G.R. No. 173930, September 15, 2010, 630 SCRA 532, 535, citing Bureau of Internal Revenue v. Organo, 468 Phil. 111, 118 (2004).
18 Dated March 8, 2002.
19 See Apita v. Estanislao, A.M. No. P-06-2206, March 16, 2011, 645 SCRA 367, 371.
20 See Eufemio v. Madamba, 489 Phil. 79, 84 (2005), citing Madrid v. Ramirez, A.M. No. P-94-1039, March 6, 1996, 254 SCRA 376, 383.
21 See Section 46 (D) of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (November 8, 2011).
22 See Section 51 (C) of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (November 8, 2011).
23 See OCA v. Acampado, A.M. Nos. P-13-3116 and P-13-3112, November 12, 2013, 709 SCRA 254, 273.

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