Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2016 > August 2016 Decisions > G.R. No. 200577, August 17, 2016 - CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, Petitioner, v. CAROLINA P. JUEN, Respondent.:

Before the Court is a Petition for Review on Certiorari¹ under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court assailing the Decision² dated July 8, 2011 and Resolution³ dated February 10, 2012 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 100240, setting aside the Resolution No. 061183⁴ dated July 12, 2006 and Resolution No. 071209⁵ dated June 22, 2007 of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The Resolutions of the CSC affirmed the CSC Regional Office V's (CSCRO V) Order dated January 16, 2004, finding Carolina P. Juen (respondent), Budget Officer I, Municipality of Placer, Masbate, guilty of dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Antecedent Facts

Based on a letter-complaint,⁶ the respondent was investigated by the GSCRO V for allegedly having paid another person take the Civil Service Professional Examination (CSPE) given on December 20, 1996 on her behalf. The respondent denied the allegation.⁷chanrobleslaw

However, after preliminary investigation, the CSCRO V found that there existed a prima facie case for dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against the respondent.⁸ It found that, after a comparison of the respondent's picture submitted in the Personal Data Sheet⁹ and with the picture of the person who took the exam as found in the Picture Seat Plan,¹⁰ the respondent was not the one who actually took the examination but caused somebody to take the exam on her behalf. The respondent was, thus, formally charged with dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and directed to submit an answer within 72 hours from receipt of the formal charge.¹¹chanrobleslaw

In her Answer,¹² the respondent reiterated that she personally took the CSPE on December 20, 1996 and denied that she paid someone else to take the examination for her. She stated that she was never given the chance to examine the documents which constituted the charge against her.

Initial hearing for the case was set on September 4, 2003 at the CSCRO V, Rawis, Legaspi City.¹³chanrobleslaw

When the case was called on September 5, 2003, only the prosecution appeared. It was allowed to present its evidence ex-parte and, thereafter, rested its case. At the same hearing, the respondent was directed to present their evidence on November 15, 2003 and was warned that failure to do so at the appointed day and time shall constitute as a waiver.¹⁴ The respondent failed to present her evidence on November 15, 2003.¹⁵chanrobleslaw

Ruling of the CSCRO V

In its Order¹⁶ dated January 16, 2004, the CSCRO V found the respondent guilty of dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the service. It stated:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

A careful examination of the records clearly shows that the person whose picture was pasted on the [respondent's PDS and the person whose picture was pasted on the Picture Seat Plan for the [CSPE] given on February 13, 1997, using the name of [the respondent] are two different persons.

On the other hand, [Respondent failed to explain her marked difference in physical appearance from the one who actually applied and took the December 20, 1996 [CSPE] under the name of [the respondent]. She even failed to appear before this Office when required to do so. Logically[, the r]espondent was not the person who actually applied and took the December 20, 1996 [CSPE] but caused someone to take it for and in her behalf.¹⁷chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The CSCRO V, thus, imposed the penalty of dismissal with all the accessory penalties attached thereto.¹⁸chanrobleslaw

The respondent moved for reconsideration on the grounds that: 1) her constitutional right to due process and right to be informed of the causes against her had been denied; and 2) the CSCRO V had no jurisdiction over the case. She said she was not given sufficient notice to attend the scheduled hearings.

In its Order¹⁹ dated October 12, 2004, the CSCRO V denied the motion. It stated that it had the jurisdiction to hear the complaint against the respondent by virtue of Section 6 of the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (URACCS). It found that the respondent had been given an opportunity to present her case. It stated that while it was true that the notice for the September 4, 2003 hearing was received on the same day by the respondent, her counsel received the notice of hearing. for November 13, 2003 two days prior to the scheduled hearing or on November 11, 2003. It reasoned that under Section 84 of the URACCS, receipt by counsel is valid service. Despite due notice of CSCRO V, the respondent still failed to appear.

Ruling of the CSC

On appeal,²⁰ the CSC, in its Resolution No. 061183²¹ dated July 12, 2006, affirmed the CSCRO V orders. First, it stated that the CSCRO V has jurisdiction over disciplinary cases as the CSC validly delegated to it such power pursuant to Section 12(16), Book V of Executive Order No. 292. It was under this delegation that the CSC implemented the URACCS, particularly Section 6.²²Second, it found that the respondent's claim of denial of due process is without merit. Notices were sent to and received by the respondent who failed to appear on both scheduled hearings.²³Lastly, it also found no merit in the respondent's claim that the complaint initiated against her was not under oath. The CSC cited Section 8, Rule II of the URACCS, which stated that in cases initiated by the proper disciplining authority a complaint need not be under oath.²⁴chanrobleslaw

The CSC stated:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

The Commission carefully evaluated the evidence on record and is fully convinced that the person appearing in the pictures attached to the PSP during the [CSPE] held on December 20, 1996, and the PDS on one hand, are not one and the same. This is so, despite the fact that the two are different pictures taken at different times, with the person wearing different hairstyles and in the photo pasted on the PDS was groomed with cosmetics. Moreover, the loops and strokes of the handwriting and signatures on the two documents are starkly different. It is, thus, unmistakable that said signatures belong to different persons. These discrepancies are conclusive that impersonation was committed, an act which is inimical to the integrity and credibility of Civil Service Examinations.²⁵cralawredchanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The CSC, thus, affirmed the ruling of the CSCRO V finding substantial evidence to hold the respondent guilty of dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.²⁶chanrobleslaw

The respondent moved for reconsideration²⁷ on August 16, 2006, but the same was denied in CSC Resolution No. 071209²⁸ dated June 22, 2007. The dispositive portion reads:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

WHEREFORE, the motion for reconsideration of [the respondent] is hereby DENIED. Accordingly, [CSC] Resolution No. 06-1183 dated July 12, 2006, which affirmed the [CSCRO V] Order dated January 16, 2004 finding her guilty of Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and imposing upon her the penalty of dismissal from the service with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from entering the government service and from taking future Civil Service examinations, forfeiture of retirement benefits and cancellation of Civil Service eligibility, STANDS.²⁹chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The respondent, thus, filed an appeal³⁰ before the CA.

However, on April 1, 2009, the respondent's counsel informed the CA that the respondent died from ovarian cancer on December 23, 2008.³¹ The respondent's counsel, however, manifested that the respondent's heirs are very much interested in the outcome of the petition because they will be benefited by whatever claims and benefits the respondent may be entitled to should a favorable judgment be rendered.³² The Office of the Solicitor General, on behalf of the CSC, agreed that the case should continue on the ground that the "death of respondent in an administrative case does not preclude a finding of administrative liability."³³chanrobleslaw

Ruling of the CA

In its Decision³⁴ dated July 8, 2011, the CA found that the CSC did not afford the respondent a hearing where she could present her case and submit evidence to support it. The CA stated:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

The [respondent] cannot be faulted for her being absence [sic] during the hearings set by the [CSCRO V]. It is of record that notice for the first hearing set on September 4, 2003 was received on the same day, while the notice for the second hearing was received by [the respondent] on November 11, 2003, or only two days before the hearing. [The respondent's] counsel was in Cebu City and the hearing was to be conducted in Legaspi City, it would be extremely unreasonable to expect [the respondent's] attendance. Evidently, [the respondent] was not given enough time to be present and her counsel before the [CSCRO V]. She was unlawfully deprived of her right to adduce evidence for her defense.³⁵ (Citations omitted)

The CA stated that, pursuant to the Court's ruling in Ang Tibay and National Worker's Brotherhood v. The Court of Industrial Relations and National Labor Union, Inc.³⁶ and Abella, Jr. v. CSC,³⁷ the CSCRO V should have given the respondent another opportunity to present her evidence. Since the CSCRO V hastily admitted the evidence against the respondent, the documentary evidence which it based its findings on cannot be relied upon.³⁸ It, thus, set aside Resolutions No. 061183 and 071209 of the CSC.

The CSC moved for reconsideration,³⁹ but the same was denied in Resolution⁴⁰ dated February 10, 2012 of the CA.

Hence, this petition by the CSC arguing that the CSCRO V complied with all the requirements of due process and praying that the resolutions of the CSC be reinstated. It stated that the respondent may be served summons through her counsel.⁴¹chanrobleslaw

The questions for the Court's consideration therefore are: 1) whether the death of the respondent rendered the appeal moot and academic; and 2) whether the CA erred in finding that the respondent was not afforded due process.

Ruling of the Court

While, as a general rule, the Court has held that the death of the respondent does not preclude a finding of administrative liability, it is not without exception. The Court stated in Office of the Ombudsman v. Dechavez⁴² that from a strictly legal point of view and as held in a long line of cases, jurisdiction, once it attaches, cannot be defeated by the acts of the respondent, save only where death intervenes and the action does not survive.⁴³ In Mercado, et al. v. Judge Salcedo (Ret.),⁴⁴ the Court reiterated its rule with respect to the death of the respondent in an administrative case:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

The death of the respondent in an administrative case, as a rule, does not preclude a finding of administrative liability. The recognized exceptions to this rule are: first, when the respondent has not been heard and continuation of the proceedings would deny him of his right to due process; second, where exceptional circumstances exist in the case leading to equitable and humanitarian considerations; and third, when the kind of penalty imposed or imposable would render the proceedings useless. x x x.⁴⁵ (Citation omitted and italics in the original)

Otherwise stated, the death of the respondent in an administrative case precludes the finding of administrative liability when: a) due process may be subverted; b) on equitable and humanitarian reasons; and c) the penalty imposed would render the proceedings useless. The Court finds that the first exception applies.

Here, the case was pending appeal with the CA when the respondent passed away. The CA was duty bound to render a ruling on the issue of whether or not the respondent was indeed administratively liable of the alleged infraction. However, in its decision, the CA found that the respondent was deprived of her right to due process.

The Court has, in a long line of cases, stated that due process in administrative proceedings requires compliance with the following cardinal principles: (1) the respondents' right to a hearing, which includes the right to present one's case and submit supporting evidence, must be observed; (2) the tribunal must consider the evidence presented; (3) the decision must have some basis to support itself; (4) there must be substantial evidence; (5) the decision must be rendered on the evidence presented at the hearing, or at least contained in the record and disclosed to the parties affected; (6) in arriving at a decision, the tribunal must have acted on its own consideration of the law and the facts of the controversy and must not have simply accepted the views of a subordinate; and (7) the decision must be rendered in such manner that the respondents would know the reasons for it and the various issues involved.⁴⁶chanrobleslaw

After a careful review, the Court agrees with the conclusion of the CA especially when it stated:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

The [respondent] cannot be faulted for her absence during the hearings set by the [CSCRO V]. It is of record that notice for the first hearing set on September 4, 2003 was received in the same day, while the notice for the second hearing was received by [the respondent] on November 11, 2003, or only two days before the hearing. [The respondent's] counsel was in Cebu City and the hearing was to be conducted in Legaspi City, it would be extremely unreasonable to expect [the respondent's] attendance. Evidently, [the respondent] was not given enough time to be present and her counsel before the [CSCRO V]. She was unlawfully deprived of her right to adduce evidence for her defense.

x x x x

The filing of a motion for reconsideration and appeal is not a substitute to deprive the [respondent] of her right to due process. The opportunity to adduce evidence is essential in the administrative process, as decisions must be rendered on the evidence presented, either in the hearing, or at least contained in the record and disclosed to the parties affected. x x x.⁴⁷ (Citations omitted)

Since the case against the respondent was dismissed by the CA on the lack of due process, the Court finds it proper to dismiss the present administrative case against the deceased under the circumstances since she can no longer defend herself.

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. The Decision dated July 8, 2011 and Resolution dated February 10, 2012 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 100240 are AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED.chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary

Velasco, Jr., (Chairperson), Peralta, and Perez, JJ., concur.
Brion,^*J., on leave.

Endnotes:

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^* Additional Member per Raffle dated September 2, 2015 vice Associate Justice Frarcis H. Jardeleza. On leave.

¹Rollo, pp. 26-54.

² Penned by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, with Associate Justices Magdangal M. De Leon and Socorro B. Inting concurring; id. at 11-19.

³ Id. at 21-24.

⁴ Penned by Commissioner Cesar D. Buenaflor, with Chairman Karina Constantino-David and Commissioner Mary Ann Z. Femandez-Mendoza concurring; id. at 134-143.

⁵ Id. at 148-151.

⁶ Id. at 100. Received by the CSCRO V on December 16, 2002.

⁷ Id. at 105.

⁸ Id. at 106.

⁹ Id. at 101-102.

¹⁰ Id. at 103.

¹¹ Id. at 106-107.

¹² Id. at 108-110.

¹³ Id. at 111.

¹⁴ Id. at 112.

¹⁵ Id. at 114.

¹⁶ Id. at 114-115.

¹⁷ Id. at 115.

¹⁸ Id.

¹⁹ Id. at 121-124.

²⁰ Id. at 125-133.

²¹ Id. at 134-143.

²² Id. at 139.

²³ Id. at 140.

²⁴ Id.

²⁵cralawred Id. at 141.

²⁶ Id. at 143.

²⁷ Id. at 144-147.

²⁸ Id. at 148-151.

²⁹ Id. at 151.

³⁰ Id. at 152-162.

³¹ Id. at 15.

³² Id. at 15-16.

³³ Id. at 16.

³⁴ Id. at 11-19.

³⁵ Id. at 18.

³⁶ 69 Phil. 635 (1940).

³⁷ 485 Phil. 182 (2004).

³⁸Rollo, p. 19.

³⁹ Id. at 73-78.

⁴⁰ Id. at 21-24.

⁴¹ Id. at 28-29.

⁴² 721 Phil. 124 (2013).

⁴³ Id. at 136

⁴⁴ 619 Phil. 3 (2009).

⁴⁵ Id. at 32.

⁴⁶Department of Health v. Camposano, 496 Phil. 886, 898-899 (2005).

⁴⁷Rollo, p. 18.