April 2010 - Philippine Supreme Court Resolutions
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[A.M. No. P-10-2771 [Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-3162-P] : April 28, 2010] LEAVE DIVISION-OAS, OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR V. DOLORES T. ALMEDINA, COURT STENOGRAPHER III, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 69, IBA, ZAMBALES :
[A.M. No. P-10-2771 [Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-3162-P] : April 28, 2010]
LEAVE DIVISION-OAS, OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR V. DOLORES T. ALMEDINA, COURT STENOGRAPHER III, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 69, IBA, ZAMBALES
Sirs/Mesdames:
Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated 28 April 2010:
A.M. No. P-10-2771 [Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-3162-P] (Leave Division-OAS, Office of the Court Administrator v. Dolores T. Almedina, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Branch 69, Iba, Zambales).-
In two letters dated October 23, 2008 and November 13, 2008, then Deputy Court Administrator Antonio H. Dujua directed Dolores T. Almedina, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Branch 69, Iba, Zambales, to explain three irregularities in her time cards. The morning entries on them on August 19, 2008 (7:01), September 9, 2008 (7:02), and September 22, 2008 (7:04) had traces of correction fluid before the figure 7. A superimposed horizontal line also appears above the minutes portion of the entries, indicating that Almedina logged out in the afternoon.
In her November 17, 2008 and December 8, 2008 comments, Almedina admitted to the irregularities in her morning-time entries and expressed remorse and shame for putting her 25 years of service in the judiciary in jeopardy. The presiding judge of her assigned court, Judge Josefina D. Farrales, attested tot he fact that Almedina had really been in the office on the dates. She merely forgot to time-in during the morning.
After evaluation, the Office of the Court Administrator recommended the re-docketing of the matter as a regular administrative case for dishonesty and the imposition of a fine of P2,000.00 on Almedina for tampering with her Daily Time Record with a stern warning against a repetition of the same.
This Court finds the recommendation appropriate under the circumstances. OCA Circular No. 7-2003 provides that every court official and employee must truthfully and accurately indicate the time of his or her arival at and departure from the office. In a similar case,[1] this Court held that falsification of the daily time records is patent dishonesty, reflective of one's fitness as an employee to continue in office and of the level of discipline and morale in the service. Also, under Section 21, Rule XIV of the Civil Service Rules, falsification of official documents and dishonesty are both grave offenses.
But, considering Almedina's sincere remorse, her length of service in the judiciary, her clean record prior to this case, and the good word from her superior, the Court is convinced that the recommended penalty is just.
WHEREFORE, the Court DIRECTS the RE-DOCKETING of the present administrative matter as a regular administrative complaint for Dishonesty against Dolores T. Almedina and imposes on her a FINE of P2,000.00 for tampering with her Daily Time Record. She is STERNLY WARNED that a repetition of the same or similar offense shall be dealt with more severely. Perez, J., no part due to prior action as Court Administrator.
SO ORDERED.
WITNESS the Honorable Antonio T. Carpio, Chairperson, Honorable Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro (designated additional member per Raffle dated 6 January 2010), Arturo D. Brion, Mariano C. Del Castillo and Roberto A. Abad, Members, Second Division, this 28th day of April, 2010.
A.M. No. P-10-2771 [Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-3162-P] (Leave Division-OAS, Office of the Court Administrator v. Dolores T. Almedina, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Branch 69, Iba, Zambales).-
In two letters dated October 23, 2008 and November 13, 2008, then Deputy Court Administrator Antonio H. Dujua directed Dolores T. Almedina, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Branch 69, Iba, Zambales, to explain three irregularities in her time cards. The morning entries on them on August 19, 2008 (7:01), September 9, 2008 (7:02), and September 22, 2008 (7:04) had traces of correction fluid before the figure 7. A superimposed horizontal line also appears above the minutes portion of the entries, indicating that Almedina logged out in the afternoon.
In her November 17, 2008 and December 8, 2008 comments, Almedina admitted to the irregularities in her morning-time entries and expressed remorse and shame for putting her 25 years of service in the judiciary in jeopardy. The presiding judge of her assigned court, Judge Josefina D. Farrales, attested tot he fact that Almedina had really been in the office on the dates. She merely forgot to time-in during the morning.
After evaluation, the Office of the Court Administrator recommended the re-docketing of the matter as a regular administrative case for dishonesty and the imposition of a fine of P2,000.00 on Almedina for tampering with her Daily Time Record with a stern warning against a repetition of the same.
This Court finds the recommendation appropriate under the circumstances. OCA Circular No. 7-2003 provides that every court official and employee must truthfully and accurately indicate the time of his or her arival at and departure from the office. In a similar case,[1] this Court held that falsification of the daily time records is patent dishonesty, reflective of one's fitness as an employee to continue in office and of the level of discipline and morale in the service. Also, under Section 21, Rule XIV of the Civil Service Rules, falsification of official documents and dishonesty are both grave offenses.
But, considering Almedina's sincere remorse, her length of service in the judiciary, her clean record prior to this case, and the good word from her superior, the Court is convinced that the recommended penalty is just.
WHEREFORE, the Court DIRECTS the RE-DOCKETING of the present administrative matter as a regular administrative complaint for Dishonesty against Dolores T. Almedina and imposes on her a FINE of P2,000.00 for tampering with her Daily Time Record. She is STERNLY WARNED that a repetition of the same or similar offense shall be dealt with more severely. Perez, J., no part due to prior action as Court Administrator.
SO ORDERED.
WITNESS the Honorable Antonio T. Carpio, Chairperson, Honorable Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro (designated additional member per Raffle dated 6 January 2010), Arturo D. Brion, Mariano C. Del Castillo and Roberto A. Abad, Members, Second Division, this 28th day of April, 2010.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd.) MA. LUISA L. LAUREA
Clerk of Court
(Sgd.) MA. LUISA L. LAUREA
Clerk of Court
Endnotes:
[1] Re: Report on the irregularity in the Use of Bundy Clock by Alberto Salamat, Sheriff IV, RTC, Branch 80, Malolos City, A.M. No. P-08-2494, November 27, 2008, 572 SCRA 19, 31.
