EN
BANC
THE
COURT ADMINISTRATOR,
Complainant,
A. M. No. 95-1159
March 20, 1997
-versus-
WILLIAM
C. SEVILLO, Process Server,
16th MCTC, Jordan-Buenavista-Nueva
Valencia, Guimaras,
Respondent.
D
E C I S I O N
PER CURIAM:
Pursuant to the
En Banc Resolution of 18 July
1995, the Office of the Court Administrator [OCA] filed an
administrative
complaint against William C. Sevillo, Process Server, 16th MCTC, Jordan
- Buenavista - Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, for gross dishonesty and grave
misconduct. The complaint alleges that based on a report received by
the
OCA from Ms. Elena Jabao, Clerk of Court of the same court, respondent
Sevillo was on 21 February 1995 caught stealing three [3] packages of
mail
matter from the Post Office of Jordan, Guimaras. Accordingly, a
criminal
complaint for robbery with force upon things was filed by the Jordan
PNP
against William C. Sevillo.
In his Comment
respondent Sevillo claims that
the motive of Clerk of Court Ms. Jabao in reporting him to the OCA is
the
ill feeling she harbors against him because he earlier turned down her
request to corroborate her false statements in the administrative case
she filed against their presiding Judge. Respondent further claims that
he is already suffering the punishment from the sentence imposed upon
him
for the same act by Judge Merlin D. Deloria of the Regional Trial
Court,
Br. 65, Guimaras, who convicted him of theft involving P10,000.00 and
placed
him under probation for four [4] years upon his plea of guilt.cralaw:red
Whatever
motivated Ms. Jabao to report the mail
pilferage to the OCA is of no moment. Respondent must face
administrative
sanction. His criminal act for which he pleaded guilty to the lesser
offense
of theft [estimated value of mail matter asported reduced from
P30,000.00
to P10,000.00] with the express consent of the complainants,
constitutes
grave dishonesty and grave misconduct or conduct prejudicial to the
best
interest of the service.cralaw:red
It can never be
said often enough that the conduct
of judges and court personnel must not only be characterized by
propriety
and decorum at all times but must also be above suspicion. In this
regard,
respondent Sevillo has been grossly deficient. By stealing mail matters
he has blatantly degraded the judiciary and diminished the respect and
regard of the people for the court and its personnel. Every employee of
the judiciary should be an example of integrity, uprightness and
honesty.
Lamentably, respondent has become no better than a common thief;
consequently,
he does not deserve to stay a minute longer in the judicial service.cralaw:red
WHEREFORE,
respondent WILLIAM C. SEVILLO is ordered
DISMISSED from the service for gross dishonesty and grave misconduct or
conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service effective 18
July
1995, the date of his suspension, with forfeiture of all benefits that
may otherwise be accruing to him including the money value of his leave
credits, with prejudice to re-employment in any branch or service of
the
government or any government-owned or controlled corporation.cralaw:red
SO ORDERED.
Narvasa,
C.J.,
Padilla, Regalado, Davide,
Jr., Romero, Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Vitug, Kapunan, Mendoza,
Francisco,
Hermosisima, Jr., Panganiban and Torres, Jr., JJ., concur.
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