Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1999 > May 1999 Decisions > G.R. No. 134441 May 19, 1999 - INDALICIO P. CONTI v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.:




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. 134441. May 19, 1999.]

INDALICIO P. CONTI, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION and POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.

D E C I S I O N


VITUG, J.:


Petitioner Indalicio Conti would seek to nullify in this petition for certiorari and mandamus the resolution, dated 13 May 1998, of the Court of Appeals which dismissed his petition thereat for, prohibition and mandamus assailing the resolution, dated 02 November 1995, of the Civil Service Commission ("CSC"). In its aforedated resolution, CSC dismissed petitioner Conti from the service.chanroblesvirtual|awlibrary

Gathered from the pleadings, along with the annexes, and the assailed decision of the appellate court, the following sequence of events would appear to have taken place.

Sometime in 1989 the Polytechnic University of the Philippines ("PUP") appointed petitioner Indalicio P. Conti, Assistant Professor IV, under National Compensation Circular ("NCC") 33. The circular, intended to be the criteria in ranking the faculty members in state universities and colleges was issued by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges ("PASUC")

On 05 November 1992 Conti was one of the faculty members who filed with the Human Resource Management Division ("HRMD") of PUP a personal data sheet required of members of the faculty who were reclassified or promoted under NCC 68 which amended NCC 33. Conti, on the basis of points previously earned was reclassified from Assistant Professor IV to Professor I under NCC 68. For his "points" to be formally recognized that would earn his promotion to Professor I, he had to submit himself to written and oral examinations conducted by the PASUC evaluators who were tasked to make the due accreditation. The evaluation by the PASUC evaluators took place the following year.

On 05 March 1993, Conti received a memorandum from the chairman of the Accreditors/Evaluators, directing him to present himself for IAC Evaluation. He was also required to submit a personal data sheet which he forthwith did. Conti undertook the tests conducted by the accreditation/evaluation committee. The result of the accreditation/evaluation showed that Conti placed eight ("8th") among the candidates and was thereby reclassified from Assistant Professor IV to Professor I. On 01 July 1993, Dr. Zenaida A. Olonan, President of PUP, issued an appointment paper to Conti, confirming his promotional appointment with Dionisia P. Pingol, Director II of CSFO-NCR, signing below the name of Dr. Olonan for the CSC.

During the first week of December 1993, Miss Dionisia P. Pingol sent a letter dated 02 December 1993 to Dr. Zenaida Olonan asking for a copy of Conti’s MBA diploma or transcript of records in order to verify an "information" she had received to the effect that Mr. Conti was not a masteral degree holder. When furnished with a copy of the letter of Ms. Pingol, Conti sent a written reply, dated 11 December 1993, contending that a masteral degree was not a requisite for the position of Professor I under NCC 68.

On 25 April 1994. Ms Benita O. Santos, Director IV of CSC-NCR, formally charged Conti with dishonesty which, in part, read:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"That in support of your promotional appointment to the position of Professor I, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), you represented in your Personal Data Sheet that you finished Masteral degree in Business Administration (MBA), however, after verification and evaluation of your transcript of records, it was found out that you are not a graduate of MBA as you alleged. It would appear then that you misrepresented yourself to be an MBA degree holder. Such act is contrary to Civil Service law and rules." 1

Upon his receipt of a copy of the charge, Conti filed an answer with an explanation that since a masteral degree was not necessary for the promotion of a faculty member to professorial level under PASUC Evaluation Guidelines used in NCC 33, as amended by NCC 68, he had not benefited nor gained an undue advantage over other faculty members. He averred that it was given the limited time in the preparation of supporting papers for his reclassification an honest mistake on his part.

The CSC conducted a hearing and after the parties had submitted their respective pieces of evidence, a resolution, 2 dated 02 November 1995 was issued by the CSC, certain pertinent portions of which read:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"By writing MBA in his Personal Data Sheet (PDS), respondent intended to impress upon the reader, without further qualifications like for a number of units only or without thesis, especially the evaluators of his appointment papers that he is a graduate of MBA. The defense that he did not claim completion of the aforesaid degree but only for ‘units’ of the same deserves no consideration. No proof was ever presented to substantiate his defense. At most, It was a mere afterthought, for otherwise he would have written the number of units he earned leading to said Masteral degree. Failing to do so, one cannot help but conclude that the omission is intentional, deliberate and adopted by the respondent to support his appointment as Professor I.

"On the basis of respondents misrepresentation, the Chief, Personnel Division, PUP, was led to believe that Conti is qualified for appointment to the subject position.

"Respondent ought to know the distinction between the word/phrase ‘MBA’ and ‘MBA units.’ Accomplishment or a filling up of public documents, such as the PDS must be done correctly and accurately. Any misrepresentation in a material fact made with deliberate intent to mislead and to take undue advantage is plain dishonesty." 3

Concluding, the CSC, in the dispositive portion of its resolution, held Conti guilty of dishonesty; thus:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"WHEREFORE, Indalicio P. Conti is hereby found guilty of Dishonesty. Accordingly, he is meted out the penalty of dismissal from the service with all its accessory penalties. CSC-NCR, however, is thus directed to recall the approval of said appointment of Conti as Professor I, Polytechnic University of the Philippines." 4

On 13 December 1995. Conti moved for a reconsideration of the CSC resolution.

Several letters were thereafter sent by Conti to CSC calling its attention to his pending motion for reconsideration. On 13 June 1995, Conti filed a formal motion for the resolution of his plea for reconsideration. Still the CSC had not acted. On 23 February 1998, Conti finally filed with this Court a petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus, docketed G.R. No 132531, in which he contended that —

". . . (t)he CSC acted without jurisdiction when it heard, tried, and decided the instant case as a court of origin;

". . . (t)he CSC acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it found the petitioner guilty of dishonesty, and

". . . (t)he CSC acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it has not acted for more than a year on the petitioners motion for reconsideration/new trial." 5

In a resolution, dated 03 March 1998, the Court referred the petition to the Court of Appeals. In its now challenged resolution, the appellate court dismissed the petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus for having been filed out of time, thusly.

"For having been filed out of time, this petition for certiorari prohibition and mandamus, which was originally filed with but referred to this Court by the Honorable Supreme Court must have to be DENIED DUE COURSE.

"As no less admitted in the petition itself (at page one thereof) petitioner received copy of the assailed Resolution of the respondent Civil Service Commission (CSC) on ‘06 December 1995’. Under Supreme Court (SC) Revised Circular No 1-91, as amended by SC Revised Administrative Circular No 1-95 now incorporated in Rule 43 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, appeals from judgments, final orders or resolutions or quasi-judicial agencies, like the Civil Service Commission, shall be taken to the Court of Appeals by way of a petition for review within fifteen (15) days from notice of the assailed judgment, order or resolution (Mateo v. Court of Appeals, 247 SCRA 284 [1995])

"With the very admission by the petitioner himself that copy of the challenged CSC Resolution was received by him way back on December 6, 1995, it need no belaboring to understand that the present petition which was filed only on February 23, 1996, 6 was belatedly filed. In fact, it was filed almost three (3) months passed its due date.

"We may add that the mode of appeal resorted to — certiorari, instead of a petition for review — makes the recourse even doubly dismissible." 7

Conti sought reconsideration but it was to no avail; hence, the instant recourse.

Conti explains that his petition before the appellate court for certiorari prohibition and mandamus is an original action under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules on City Procedure and not an appeal under Rule 43 thereof. Accordingly he insists the petition has not been filed out of time. This stance of Conti is shared by the Solicitor General in his Manifestation in lieu of comment PUP upon the other hand argues that appeal via a petition for review under Rule 43 of the Revised Rules on Civil Procedure, and not the special civil of certiorari prohibition and mandamus, is the proper remedy anent final resolution of the CSC. Since Conti has received the CSC resolution as early as 06 December 1995, the filing of his petition only on 23 February 1998 PUP argues, has clearly been out of time inasmuch as the rules mandate that "appeal shall be taken within fifteen (15) days from notice of final order or resolution, or of the denial of petitioner’s motion for new trial or reconsideration duly filed in accordance with the governing law of the court of agency a quo."cralaw virtua1aw library

The instant petition has merit and it must be granted.

Before the advent of Revised Administrative Circular ("RAC") No. 1-95 8 and the eventual incorporation of its provisions in the 1997 Revised Civil Procedure under Rule 43 9 thereof, the established rule had been that a decision, order, or ruling of the CSC, the single arbiter of all contests relating to the civil service, was unappealable subject only to this Court’s certiorari jurisdiction. In other words, no appeal could then lie from judgments of the CSC and that a party aggrieved thereby should proceed to the Supreme Court alone on certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court within thirty (30) days from receipt of a copy thereof.

RAC No 1-95, made effective as of 01 June 1995, now mandates, however, that an appeal from judgments, final orders or resolutions of quasi-judicial agencies like the CSC, may be taken to the Court of Appeals by way of a petition for review within fifteen (15) days from notice of the assailed judgment, order or resolution. Regarding cases still pending with this Court via petitions for certiorari directed against CSC prior to the effectivity of RAC 1-95 and those that might have been filed soon thereafter, the Circular contains the following transitory provisions, viz:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"14. Transitory Provisions. — All petitions for certiorari against the Civil Service Commission and the Central Board of Assessment Appeals filed and pending in the Supreme Court prior to the effectivity of this Revised Administrative Circular shall be treated as petitions for review hereunder and shall be transferred to the Court of Appeals for appropriate disposition. Petitions for certiorari against the aforesaid agencies which may be filed after the effectivity hereof and up to June 30, 1995 shall likewise be considered as petitions for review and shall be referred to the Court of Appeals for the same purpose." (Emphasis supplied.)

Conti’s initial petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against CSC which he filed before this Court on 23 February 1998 could have thus been outrightly dismissed had there not been the attendance of an exceptional circumstance, hereinafter explained, that justified his recourse to such special remedies.

Truly, an essential requisite for the availability of the extraordinary remedies under the Rules is an absence of an appeal nor any "plain, speedy and adequate remedy" in the ordinary course of law, one which has been so defined as a "remedy which (would) equally (be) beneficial, speedy and sufficient not merely a remedy which at some time in the future will bring about a revival of the judgment . . . complained of in the certiorari proceeding, but a remedy which will promptly relieve the petitioner from the injurious effects of that judgment and the acts of the inferior court or tribunal" concerned. 10 Illustrative of such a plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law is a motion for reconsideration 11 that has thus often been considered a condition sine qua non for the grant of certiorari.

PUP capitalizes on the admission of Conti that he has a pending motion for reconsideration on the adverse resolution of the CSC, contending that his petition for certiorari is thereby premature. Ironically, it is this very argument that militates against PUP. As the Solicitor General so aptly points out, the continuous failure of respondent CSC to resolve Conti’s motion for reconsideration for so long a time has virtually amounted to a denial of his right to due process and right to the speedy disposition of his case. In fact, there is yet no indication on record that CSC has already resolved Conti’s motion for reconsideration. It cannot be gainsaid that it is the inadequacy, not the total absence, of all other legal remedies, and the danger of the failure of justice without the writ, that should determine the propriety of certiorari. 12 This Court has ruled that a recourse to certiorari is proper not only where there is a clear deprivation of petitioner’s fundamental right to due process 13 but so also where other special circumstances warrant immediate and more direct action, 14 Conti’s motion for reconsideration has been pending with the CSC for more than two years since 13 December 1995 up until his petition with this Court on 28 February 1998.

Given the circumstances, it should behoove the appellate court to resolve the case on its merits.

WHEREFORE, the case is REMANDED to the Court of Appeals for further proceedings. No costs. cdti

SO ORDERED.

Davide, Jr., C.J., Romero, Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Kapunan, Mendoza, Panganiban, Quisumbing, Pardo, Gonzaga-Reyes and Ynares-Santiago, JJ., concur.

Purisima and Buena, JJ., are on leave.

Endnotes:



1. Rollo, p. 54.

2. Rollo, pp. 41-42.

3. Rollo, p. 42.

4. Ibid.

5. Rollo, p. 29.

6. Records show that petitioner filed his petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus before the Supreme Court on February 1998 and not on 23 February 1996 (p. 5, Rollo).

7. Rollo, pp. 13-14.

8. Rules Governing Appeals to the Court of Appeals from Judgments or Final Orders of the Court of Tax Appeals and Quasi-Judicial Agencies.

9. Appeals from the Court of Tax Appeals and Quasi-Judicial Agencies to the Court of Appeals.

10. Silvestre v. Torres, 57 Phil. 885.

11. Mayol v. Blanco, 61 Phil. 547.

12. Echauz v. Court of Appeals, 199 SCRA 381; Jaca v. Davao Lumber Co., 113 SCRA 107.

13. Detective & Protective Bureau v. Cloribel, 26 SCRA 255.

14. Matute v. Court of Appeals, 26 SCRA 768.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






May-1999 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. 118331 May 3, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. RODRIGO AGSUNOD, JR

  • G.R. No. 121621 May 3, 1999 - WESTIN PHIL. PLAZA HOTEL v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 127367 May 3, 1999 - GOLD LOOP PROPERTIES, ET AL. v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 109618 May 5, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ANTONIO BEA, JR.

  • G.R. No. 122058 May 5, 1999 - IGNACIO R. BUNYE v. SANDIGANBAYAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 125185 May 5, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. VIRGILIO BORREROS

  • G.R. Nos. 125967-70 May 5, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JUAN PANAGA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 126148 May 5, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. AGAPITO QUIÑANOLA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 127159 May 5, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. REMEDIOS ENRIQUEZ

  • G.R. No. 131359 May 5, 1999 - MANILA ELECTRIC CO. v. PROVINCE OF LAGUNA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 132607 May 5, 1999 - CEBU SHIPYARD AND ENGINEERING WORKS v. WILLIAM LINES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 130612 May 11, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. BERNARDINO DOMANTAY

  • A.M. No. MTJ-99-1189 May 12, 1999 - FE T. BERNARDO v. AMELIA A. FABROS

  • G.R. No. 117422 May 12, 1999 - NEOMENIA PETILLA PIMENTEL v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 124980 May 12, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. FREDDIE BALISORO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 127573 May 12, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JOSE SILVESTRE

  • G.R. No. 128147 May 12, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ESTANISLAW JABERTO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 129978 May 12, 1999 - FELICIDAD M. ROQUE, ET AL. v. ANIANO DESIERTO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 120466 May 17, 1999 - COCA COLA BOTTLERS PHILS. v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 108311 May 18, 1999 - JOSE GABISAY, ET AL. v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 108595 May 18, 1999 - ELPIDIO C. CERVANTES v. SANDIGANBAYAN

  • G.R. No. 109472 May 18, 1999 - DAVID MAGLAQUE, ET AL. v. PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 112043 May 18, 1999 - ADMIRAL REALTY CO. v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 120469 May 18, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ROTELDO TORION

  • G.R. No. 124301 May 18, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. EDUARDO MELCHOR, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 124927 May 18, 1999 - MORE MARITIME AGENCIES, INC., ET AL. v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 126830 May 18, 1999 - NEMESIA T. VERACRUZ, ET AL. v. BASILIO V. DUMAT-OL, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 128104 May 18, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. HERNANI SANDICO

  • G.R. No. 128345 May 18, 1999 - PHIL. NAT’L CONSTRUCTION CORP. v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 129251 May 18, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. PEDRO ACADEMIA

  • G.R. No. 130576 May 18, 1999 - CONRADO G. AVILA v. SANDIGANBAYAN, ET AL.

  • A.M. No. P-99-1290 formerly OCA IPI No. 96-190-P May 19, 1999 - FRANCISCO NICOL, ET AL. v. JOSE BLANCA

  • G.R. No. 122092 May 19, 1999 - PAPER INDUSTRIES CORP. OF THE PHIL. ET AL. v. MAXIMIANO C. ASUNCION, ET AL.

  • G.R. Nos. 124366-67 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JOSE PEREZ

  • G.R. No. 126391 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ALAN K.C. KHOR

  • G.R. Nos. 127023-25 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. REYNALDO ACALA

  • G.R. No. 129723 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. DANILO T. MORADA

  • G.R. No. 129866 May 19, 1999 - WESTMONT BANK v. SHUGO NODA & CO. LTD., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 130716 May 19, 1999 - FRANCISCO I. CHAVEZ v. PCGG, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 130931 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ERICK MACAHIA

  • G.R. No. 131347 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. RODRIGO MALDO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 131787 May 19, 1999 - CHINA BANKING CORP., ET AL. v. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 132102 May 19, 1999 - MILAGROS TINIO, ET AL. v. NELLIE MANZANO

  • G.R. No. 132166 May 19, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. GLENN LOTOC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 134441 May 19, 1999 - INDALICIO P. CONTI v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 135136 May 19, 1999 - DELFIN A. BRION v. SOUTH PHIL. UNION MISSION OF THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 121905 May 20, 1999 - VITARICH CORP., ET AL. v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 116737 May 24, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. EDUARDO SUMALLO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 122838 May 24, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ROMEO HILLADO

  • G.R. No. 126787 May 24, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. MANOLITO MONSAYAC

  • G.R. No. 128789 May 24, 1999 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. RENATO CAPARANGA JOSE

  • A.M. No. MTJ-99-1197 May 26, 1998 - BENALFRE J. GALANG v. ABELARDO H. SANTOS

  • G.R. No. 99869 May 26, 1998 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ROMEO BELARO

  • G.R. No. 130010 May 26, 1998 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. VICENTE RABANILLO

  • G.R. No. 135083 May 26, 1998 - ERNESTO S. MERCADO v. EDUARDO BARRIOS MANZANO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 138268-69 May 26, 1998 - JURRY ANDAL, ET AL. v. PEOPLE OF THE PHIL., ET AL.

  • A.M. No. 99-5-05-SC May 28, 1998 - RE: LETTER OF BRIG. GEN. (RET.) RAFAEL D. GOSECO

  • A.M. No. RTJ-99-1441 May 28, 1998 - ROMULO F. MANUEL v. DEMETRIO D. CALIMAG, JR.

  • G.R. No. 113600 May 28, 1998 - RIZALINA LAMZON v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 123737 May 28, 1998 - CARLOS G. LIBRES v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 125016 May 28, 1998 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. NOMER VELASCO

  • G.R. No. 126283 May 28, 1998 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. RUBEN ESTEPANO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 127516 May 28, 1998 - AG&P CO. OF MANILA v. NLRC, ET AL.

  • A.M. No. P-97-1238 May 31, 1998 - RURAL BANK OF FRANCISCO F. BALAGTAS (BULACAN) v. FLORENCIO B. PANGILINAN

  • G.R. No. 109966 May 31, 1998 - ELISCO TOOL MANUFACTURING CORP. v. COURT OF APPEAL, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. 119724 May 31, 1999 - METRO TRANSIT ORGANIZATION v. NLRC, ET AL.