Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81203:am-p-12-3032-2013&catid=1567&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 08:59:04+00:00

Document:
RAY ANTONIO C. SASING, Complainant, v. CELESTIAL VENUS G. GELBOLINGO, Sheriff IV, Regional Trial Court, Branch 20, Cagayan de Oro City, Respondent.
This refers to a complaint1 for "Gross Neglect of Duty, Inefficiency, Incompetence in the Performance of Official Duties and Refusal to Perform an Official Duty" filed against respondent Celestial Venus G. Gelbolingo (Sheriff Gelbolingo), Sheriff IV, Regional Trial Court, Branch 20, Cagayan de Oro City, concerning the implementation of the Writ of Execution Pending Appeal2 in Civil Case No. 2010-331, entitled Annabelle N. A mores and Nelson Calandria v. Spouses Ray Antonio and Bema Sasing.
Complainant Ray Antonio Sasing (Sasing) and his wife were the defendants in Civil Action No. 2010-331, an action for ejectment instituted by Annabelle N. Amores (Amores) and Nelson Calandria (Calandria) before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 5, Cagayan de Oro City (MTCC). In its October 15, 2010 Decision,3 the MTCC rendered a verdict, unfavorable to Sasing, which he immediately appealed before the Regional Trial Court of Cagayan de Oro City (RTC). Eventually, their appeal was raffled to Branch 20, where Sheriff Gelbolingo was holding office. In the Order, dated December 10, 2010, the RTC granted the Motion for Issuance of a Writ of Execution Pending Appeal filed by Amores and Calandria, which it amended on January 31, 2011.4 Thereafter, Sheriff Gelbolingo was tasked to implement the Writ of Execution Pending Appeal5 issued on March 10, 2011.
On the day of the execution of the writ, Sasing alleged that Sheriff Gelbolingo took personal belongings supposedly exempt from execution. Thus, in a letter,6 dated March 25, 2011, Sasing wrote Sheriff Gelbolingo asking her to return the said items on March 28, 2011. As he received no response from her, Sasing wrote a letter,7 dated April 5, 2011, addressed to the Court Administrator, expressing his intention to lodge a complaint against her for her failure to turn over their belongings despite previous requests. The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) replied in a letter,8 dated April 25, 2011, advising Sasing to fill up the required form in filing an administrative case should he decide to pursue his complaint against Sheriff Gelbolingo.
Determined, Sasing formally charged Sheriff Gelbolingo with "Gross Neglect of Duty, Inefficiency, Incompetence in the Performance of Official Duties and Refusal to Perform an Official Duty" in an Affidavit-Complaint,9 dated May 20, 2011.
After a careful examination of the records of this case, the Court agrees with the findings of Judge Nery.
In this regard, the Court finds the charge baseless. Sheriff Gelbolingo did not disregard the standard procedure for implementing a writ of execution. Contrary to Sasings allegation that she levied their personal effects, it was found that she never took away their belongings. Perhaps due to confusion or other pressing matters, it appears that Sasings wife left without pulling out their personal belongings from the premises. Forced by this circumstance, Sheriff Gelbolingo took it upon herself to look for a temporary storage for the personal effects.
The Court, however, agrees that Sheriff Gelbolingos failure to properly respond to the communication of Sasing is tantamount to discourtesy. A simple note as to where their personal effects were temporarily stored could have assured him that their belongings were not confiscated but merely stored for safekeeping until the same could be properly turned over to them. The Court is fully aware that a sheriffs schedule can be hectic, but she could have easily relayed the information to the other court staff to address Sasings concerns. This simple gesture could have avoided this controversy.
Under Rule XIV, Sec. 23 of the Civil Service Law and Rules, a first offense of discourtesy, which is a light penalty, in the course of ones official duties shall be meted the penalty of reprimand. In Peñalosa v. Viscaya, Jr.,32 respondent deputy sheriff was reprimanded for gross discourtesy in connection with his actuations towards the complainant (therein private complainant in a criminal case) when the latter requested for an explanation for his failure to serve a warrant of arrest upon the accused. In Paras v. Lofranco,33 the respondent, Clerk III of a lower court, was charged with discourtesy and conduct unbecoming a court employee for her acts and utterances directed against the complainant, the counsel for the accused in a pending case before the said court. This Court found the arrogant gesture and discourteous utterances of the respondent in treating the complainant to be improper. Accordingly, it imposed on respondent the penalty of reprimand. In Reyes v. Patiag34, respondent clerk of court was censured for discourtesy for two acts, when, in a very rude manner, she denied complainant's request to see the records of a civil case and treated her as if she was not an interested party by telling complainant that she seemed to be more knowledgeable than the court because complainant asked why a "preliminary investigation," actually a preliminary examination, was necessary. Considering that this is the first offense of the respondent, we find the penalty of reprimand to be appropriate in this case.
In this case, considering that there was an effort on her part to meet with Sasing twice, but the latter did not appear on the second scheduled meeting, Sheriff Gelbolingo is hereby given the benefit of the doubt due to such mitigating circumstance and need not be penalized.
Nevertheless, the Court reminds Sheriff Gelbolingo to be more mindful of how she deals with party litigants or with anyone who comes before the court for relief The Court expects that every person with an office charged with the dispensation ofjustice to perform his duty to the best of his ability, free from any suspicion and to be, all times, at their best behavior.
WHEREFORE, respondent Celestial Venus G. Gelbolingo, Sheritl TV of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 20, Cagayan de Oro City, is hereby ADMONISHED for her discourteous acts and she is also warned that a repetition of the same or similar act will be dealt with more severely.
22 Brucal v. Desierto, 501 Phil. 453, 465-466 (2005).
24 St. Lukes Medical Center, Incorporated v. Fadrigo, G.R. No. 185933, November 25, 2009, 605 SCRA 728, 736.
25 Nedia v. Laviña, 508 Phil. 10, 20 (2005).
26 Hon. Barbers v. Judge Laguio, Jr., 404 Phil. 443, 475 (2001).
27 Manalabe v. Cabie, A.M. No. P-05-1984, July 6, 2007, 526 SCRA 582, 589; See also Adajar v. Develos, 512 Phil. 9, 24-25 (2005); Ong v. Rosete, 484 Phil. 102, 114 (2004); Datuin, Jr. v. Soriano, 439 Phil. 592, 596 (2002).
28 Geolingo v. Albayda, 516 Phil. 389, 395 (2006).
29 Fajardo v. Sheriff Quitalig, 448 Phil. 29, 31 (2003).
30 Mamanteo v. Deputy Sheriff Magumun, 370 Phil. 278, 286-287(1999).
31 436 Phil. 618, 626-627 (2002)..
32 173 Phil. 487 (1978) [as cited].
33 407 Phil. 329 (2001) [as cited].
34A.M. No. P-0 l-1528, December 7, 2001 [as cited].

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