Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=49750:am-p-07-2327-2007&amp;catid=1494&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 12:41:45+00:00

Document:
A.M. No. P-07-2327 - Formerly OCA-I.P.I. No. 04-1934-P - Nena Gimena Sol Way v. Ariel R. P Ascasio et al.
NENA GIMENA SOLWAY, Complainant, v. ARIEL R. PASCASIO, Sheriff III, MTCC, Branch 5, Olongapo City, MICHAEL P. UCLARAY, Sheriff III, MTCC-OCC-Olongapo City and BENJAMIN M. TULIO, Sheriff III, MTCC-OCC-Olongapo City, Respondents.
This administrative matter pertains to a complaint1 dated 5 April 2004 filed by Nena Gimena Solway (complainant) against Ariel R. Pascasio (Pascasio), Michael P. Uclaray (Uclaray) and Benjamin M. Tulio (Tulio), charging them with Abuse of Authority and Harassment before the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA). Pascasio holds the position of Sheriff III, Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 5, Olongapo City, while Uclaray and Tulio are both employed as Sheriff III of MTCC-OCC.
Ely Palenzuela (Palenzuela) is the owner of a building in Baloy Beach, Bo. Barretto, Olongapo City. She leased it to complainant, who opened at the premises an establishment called Mynes Inn and Restaurant. Complainant paid a monthly rental of P13,200.00. Prior to the expiration of the lease contract on 1 August 2003, the parties agreed on its renewal for five (5) years with a ten percent (10%) increase in rentals or P15,000.00 monthly, but no formal contract was executed because Palenzuela had left for Hawaii. Upon Palenzuela's return, she increased the monthly rental to P25,000.00 and shortened the period of lease to one year. The parties failed to reach an agreement. Hence, the matter was referred to the Office of the Lupong Tagapamayapa (Lupon) of Barangay Barretto.
Before the Lupon, the parties signed an Amicable Settlement2 dated 28 January 2004, wherein it was agreed that the monthly rental is P20,000.00; that complainant will pay P240,000.00 as rental for one year after the finalization of the contract, and; that the contract will be renewed yearly.
On 9 February 2004, Palenzuela went to complainant's restaurant. She produced a copy of a Notice of Execution3 signed by Barangay Chairman Carlito A. Baloy, who turned out to be Palenzuela's brother, and forced complainant to sign the same. Complainant refused to do so. The following day, Pascasio and Uclaray, with the same copy of the Notice of Execution in tow, also forced and threatened complainant to sign. Out of fear, complainant relented and signed the Notice of Execution.
In their Joint Comment/explanation,8 respondents admitted their presence in complainant's establishment. According to them, they were there to provide assistance in securing compliance with the Amicable Settlement. Professing innocence of any act of harassment or abuse of authority, they further claimed that they were instructed by Clerk of Court and City Sheriff Alexander Rimando to observe the implementation of the arbitration award. They were thus mere witnesses to complainant's refusal to comply with the settlement process which was under the control and supervision of the barangay chairman. Respondents accordingly prayed for the dismissal of the complaint.
SEC. 417. Execution. The amicable settlement or arbitration award may be enforced by execution by the [L]upon within six (6) months from the date of the settlement. After the lapse of such time, the settlement may be enforced by action in the proper city or municipal court.
Clearly, the implementation of the Notice of Execution was then outside the legitimate concern of the MTCC, of any of its officers or of any other judicial officer. The barangay chairman's letter to the MTCC seeking assistance in the enforcement of the Amicable Settlement is not by any measure the court action contemplated by law as it does not confer jurisdiction on the MTCC over the instant dispute. Such could be accomplished only through the initiation of the appropriate adversarial proceedings in court in accordance with Section 417 of the Local Government Code. The OCA correctly stated that there is no justiciable case filed before the MTCC that could have prompted respondents to act accordingly.
Mere presence of a sheriff in a place of execution where the court has no business is frowned upon. Such act elicits the appearance of impropriety.14 Participation or intervention in the process is a more grievous act which exacts a more stringent sanction. And whether it is unexplained presence or active participation, the act gives rise to the impression that the execution of the Amicable Settlement is upon lawful order of the court.
The situation at bar did not involve any court order. The execution was undertaken only under the authority of the barangay chairman, not even that of the Lupon. Even if it was done under the auspices of the Lupon, the presence of respondents would still not be warranted. Both the barangay chairman and the Lupon are components of the local government unit which, in turn, is subsumed under the executive branch of government. As the intended execution of the settlement in this instance was inherently executive in nature and, therefore, extrajudicial, it necessarily follows that judicial officers cannot participate in the exercise. The misdeeds of respondents unnecessarily put the integrity of the court to which they are assigned and the dignity of the institution that is the judiciary on the line.
The fact of willful participation is penalized especially when the acts of the judicial officer concerned are not within his or her legal authority. Complainant alleged that respondents actually participated in the execution of the Amicable Settlement and the OCA observed that these allegations were not sufficiently refuted by respondents.15 More tellingly, the defense of respondents that they were acting under the order of the Clerk of Court is belied by the directive16 issued by the latter directing respondents to explain their presence at the site of the implementation of the Notice of Execution.
2.2.4.4 performs such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Judge, Presiding Judge and/or Branch Clerk of Court.
Nothing in this Rule justifies their participation in the implementation of the Notice of Execution. Clearly, respondents were not acting within their authority. This further lends credence to complainant's claim that their presence was only meant to instill fear on her to make her sign the Notice of Execution.
Under the Civil Service Rules,21 simple misconduct is punishable by suspension of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months.
WHEREFORE, respondents Ariel R. Pascasio, Sheriff III, Branch 5, MTCC, Olongapo City, Michael P. Uclaray, Sheriff III, MTCC-OCC, and Benjamin M. Tulio, Sheriff III, MTCC-OCC, Olongapo City, are found GUILTY of misconduct and are hereby SUSPENDED for a period of three (3) months without pay, with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar act will be dealt with more severely.
In the event that the settlement fails despite with the effort exerted by my office the complainant and the respondent disagrees with the solution thereto and the higher level of the government agency who has jurisdiction over that matter recommend to issue a motion of execution to once and for all settle the differences by issuing such notice of execution.
NOW, THEREFORE, in behalf of the Lupong Tagapamayapa and by virtue of the powers vested upon me and the Lupon by the Katarungang Pambarangay Law and Rules, I shall cause to be realized from the goods and personal property of NENA GIMENA & PATRICK SOLWAY the sum of Php. 240,000.00 agreed upon in the said amicable settlement (or adjudged in the said arbitration award), unless voluntary compliance of said settlement or award shall have been made upon receipt hereof.
4 It does not appear from the record whether a lease contract was finalized or formally executed.
14 Robles v. Baloloy, A.M. No. P-07-2305, 3 April 2007.
16 Rollo, p. 38. There is a visible discrepancy between the signature of Clerk of Court Rimando in this directive and that purporting to be his in the letter relied upon by respondents (see id. at 17).
17 Donton v. Loria, A.M. No. P-03-1684, 10 March 2006, 484 SCRA 224, 231, citing Macalua v. Tiu, 341 Phil. 317, 323-324 (1997).
18 Flores v. Falcotelo, A.M. No. P-05-2038, 25 January 2006, 480 SCRA 16, 26, citing Zarate v. Untalan, A.M. No. MTJ-05-1584, 31 March 2005, 454 SCRA 206; Raymundo v. Calaguas, A.M. No. P-01-1496, January 28, 2005, 449 SCRA 437; Alabastro v. Moncada, Sr., A.M. No. P-04-1887, 16 December 2004, 447 SCRA 42; Caja v. Nanquil, A.M. No. P-04-1885, 13 September 2004, 438 SCRA 174.
19 Lachica v. Tormis, A.M. No. MTJ-05-1609, 20 September 2005, 470 SCRA 206, 214; Office of the Court Administrator v. Duque, A.M. P-05-1958, 7 February 2005, 450 SCRA 527, 532.
20 Pan v. Salamat, A.M. No. P-03-1678, 26 June 2006, 492 SCRA 460, 468.
21 Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 19-99 (1999), entitled Revised Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.