A.M. No. CTA-05-2 - Office of the Court Administrator v. Concepcion G. Espineda, etc.
EN BANC
[A.M. NO. CTA-05-2 : September 4, 2009]
OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. CONCEPCION G. ESPINEDA, Cashier, COURT OF TAX APPEALS, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PER CURIAM:
This case stemmed from the report of Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Presiding Justice Ernesto D. Acosta on certain irregularities in the reporting and handling of legal fees in the possession of respondent cashier. An initial investigation was conducted and a discrepancy of more than P2 million was discovered. Thus, herein respondent was relieved of her collecting and disbursing functions and was temporarily assigned in the Administrative Division of the CTA.
Acting on the report of CTA Presiding Justice Acosta, a financial audit in the CTA was conducted on November 9-19, 2004, covering the period July 1993 to October 2004. The audit team evaluated the internal control on cash management to determine whether the policies and procedures adopted by the CTA provide adequate security over handling of government money and property. The audit team also verified whether collections were correctly and completely recorded in the books of the Accountable Officer and the Subsidiary Ledger maintained by the Accounting Division of the Supreme Court and whether they have been timely deposited with the Land Bank. The accuracy of the computations of the legal fees was likewise determined.
It appears that during the conduct of the financial audit, herein respondent submitted a handwritten letter dated November 12, 2004 stating thus:
Ako si CONCEPCION G. ESPINEDA may asawa at apat na anak nagtatrabaho bilang CASHIER III ng Court of Tax Appeals na ako lahat ang may hawak ng Official Receipts at tumatanggap lahat ng mga nagbabayad ng lahat ng legal fees para sa Court of Tax Appeals.
Na inaamin ko na ako and gumawa ng mga resibo na tampered na iba ang amount sa original kay sa duplicate. Ako rin po and gumagawa ng mga report of collection na pinapadala sa Supreme Court. Ako rin po and nagcertify sa sariling kong report at hindi ko pinacertify kahit kanino. Nagawa ko po itong pagkakasala dahil may nakilala akong kaibigan na ang pangalan po ay si MYRNA CASTRO at inalok ako ng NET WORKING daw na negosyo na hindi ko alam na isang PYRAMID pala. Na hypnotize po siguro ako kung kayat malaking halaga ang nakuha sa akin at it ay umabot siguro sa halagang Dalawang Milyon at kalahati.
Humihingi po ako ng pangalawang pagkakataon para maitama ko kung ano mang mali kong nagawa. Nakahanda po ako magbalik ng halagang nakuha ko sa pamamagitan ng paghulog buwan-buwan sa loob ng isang taon.
Umaasa po ako na diringgin nyo ang aking mga paki-usap sapagkat ako po ay nasa serbisyo ng Court of Tax Appeals sa loob ng dalawamput apat na taon. Ito po lang and opisina na pinagtrabahuan mula po ako ng makatapos sa kolehiyo. Wala po akong masamang record kahit kanino man kayo magtanong sa aking pagkatao.
Ang mga pahayag na ito ay kusa kong ginawa para maipaliwanag ang mga pangyayari na kinasasangkutan ko sa opisina.
Maraming salamat po at binigyan nyo ako ng pagkakataon na makapagpaliwanag.
(Sgd).
November 12, 2004
CONCEPCION G. ESPINEDABLOCK-17 LOT-26
EXCISE ST. BIR HOUSING
WEST FAIRVIEW QC
On November 16, 18, 2004, and December 16, 2004, respondent restituted the amounts of P55,601.00, 25,000.00 and 20,000.00, respectively, or a total of P100,601.00.
On February 4, 2005, the audit team submitted its Partial Report which found that there were (a) unaccounted checks; (b) unaccounted official receipts; (c) unreported collections for the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF); and (d) undeposited collections for the JDF. The audit team likewise noted that the procedures and practices in the Cashier's Office did not provide adequate control over financial transactions.
The audit team's findings are herein reproduced as follows:
1. Unaccounted checks on hand during cash count
During the cash count on November 9, 2004, the Acting Cashier, Mr. Adrian P. Manaois presented to the Team the amount turned over by the former Cashier. Included in the cash are checks which cannot be traced to collections from the date of turn over to the date of cash count. Hence, we cannot immediately determine if there is a shortage or overage in the collection. We advised the immediate deposit of the cash and checks presented to us as follows:
FUND OR NOS. TOTAL
ACCOUNTABILITY
(Oct. 28 - Nov. 9, 2004)CASH AND
CHECKS PRESENTEDSHORTAGE
(Overage)A B A-B JDF 18938618 to 18938636 52,823.00 46,753.25 6.069.75 SAJ 9726506 to
97265255,800.00 5,800.00 0 LRF 1466001 to 1466002 484.09 484.25 (0.16) VCF 4046155 to 4046180 130.00 130.00 0 Sub-total 59,237.09 53,167.50 6,069.59 Unaccounted checks 1,398,310.40 (1,398,310.40) TOTAL CASH AND CASH ITEMS PRESENTED 1,451,477.90 2. Unaccounted Official Receipts
There are series of official receipts which were not presented to the Audit Team. Review of case folders reveals the following improper use of official receipts:
a) Triplicate copies of official receipts were blank but included in the Monthly Report of Collections and Deposits. Although the amount reported is the same as that of the amount indicated in the case folders, the following official receipts were not prepared in triplicate copies as prescribed, hence, the amount indicated is of doubtful validity.
10655001 P17,183.00 10655002 50,000.00 10655003 70.00 10655005 29,769.00 10655008 18.00 b) The following series of official receipts were reported as cancelled or missing but when traced to case folders, they were validly issued, resulting to unreported and undeposited collections.
10655637 P34,099.74 10655880 P 96.00 10655009 195.00 10655884 52,801.83 10655800 53,083.62 10655930 4,800.00 10655803 50,300.00 10655961 5,626.19 10655840 33,739.51 10655964 19,022.34 10655855 37,491.93 10655976 5,299.63 c) Triplicate copies of the following official receipts were missing from the booklet and not included in the Monthly Report of Collections but when traced to case folders, they were validly issued, resulting to unreported and undeposited collections.
10655659 P 78.00 10655758 113,600.44 18937582 18,461.97 d) Official Receipt was used twice. Both issuances were not reported.
10655762 P60.00 Per triplicate OR issued to ACCRA Law Office 52,300 Per case folder issued to El Greco Ship Manning e) Official receipts were part of the series issued for JDF collections but not included in the Monthly Report of Collections. The undetermined amounts collected were not also deposited. (See Annex A for the serial numbers of official receipts)
PERIOD NO. OF OR's 2002 42 2003 81 TOTAL 123 f) The following series of official receipts contains the same petitioner, with the same case number and amount of legal fees. The first series of official receipts (column A) were presented to the Audit Team and included in the report submitted to the SC Accounting Division. The same were not traced to the case folders. The triplicate copies of the second series of official receipts (column B) were not presented to the audit team and not included in the monthly report prepared by the Cashier. However, we were able to trace them in the case folders. The amounts (column C) were based on the amounts indicated on the case folders. Hence, we cannot determine the actual collections using these sets of official receipts.
PETITIONER CASE NO. DATE OFFICAL RECEIPTS Reported in Acctg. but did not appear in case folders OFFICAL RECEIPTS Not reported in Accounting but indicated in case folders as payment for the particular case AMOUNT (A) (B) (C) 1. Tropitek Int l. 6499 6-28-02 10655251 10655207 13,383.00 2. Sumisitshu 6500 6-28-02 10655252 10655208 28,005.00 3. Dunlop Slazenger 6501 6-24-02 10655253 10655209 7,705.00 4. Ironcorn Builders 6502 6-28-02 10655254 10655210 49,800.00 5. Tekenaka Corp. Phil. 6503 7-01-02 10655255 10655212 6,983.00 6. Metropolitan Bank 6504 7-02-02 10655262 10655218 49,800.00 7. Allied Banking 6505 7-03-02 10655263 10655219 49,800.00 8. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum 6506 7-08-02 10655265 10655221 49,800.00 9. Hyatt of Hongkong 6507 7-17-12 10655272 10655228 39,975.00 10. Bristo Myers 6508 7-18-02 10655274 10655230 49,800.00 11. ECW Joint Ventures 6509 7-18-02 10655275
P89010655231 49,800.00 12. Antam Pawnshop 6510 7-18-02 10655276
P1,002.0010655232 2,425.00 13. PNB 6511 7-18-02 10655277 10655233 41,060.00 14. UCPB 6512 7-22-02 10655284 10655240 49,800.00 15. Applied Food Ingredients 6513 7-23-02 10655285 10655241 49,800.00 16. Marubeni Phil. Inc. 6514 7-24-02 10655289 10655245 48,415.00 17. Mirant Phil. Energy 6515 7-24-02 10655290 10655246 49,800.00 18. Metroplitan Bank 6516 7-12-02 10655291 10655247 4,939.00 19. Unilever Phils. 6517 7-25-02 10655293 10655249 49,800.00 20. Gov't . of Singapore 6745 8-11-03 18937401 18937253 31,368.33 21. St. Lukes Medical 6746 8-11-03 18937404 18937254 118,363.12 22. Estate of Fidel Reyes 6747 8-12-03 18937407 18937257 51,114.18 23. Agencia Exquisite 6748 8-14-03 18937413 18937265 1,425.00 24. Public Estate 6750 8-15-03 18937415 18937268 161,466.62 25. Takenaka Corp. 6752 8-20-03 18937417 18937272 88,155.38 26. Lancaster Phil. 6753 8-21-03 18937418 18937275 53,062.46 27. Alabang Comml. 6754 8-21-03 18937419 18937276 17,043.56 28. Prudential Bank 6756 8-21-03 18937420 18937278 63,563.14 29. Orca Energy, Inc. 6757 8-21-03 18937421 18937279 51,958.13 30. Oakwook Mgt. Service 6758 8-21-03 18937422 18937281 1,526.00 31. South African Airways 6760 8-28-03 18937428 18937281 16,630.35 32. Exquisite Pawnshop 6755 8-21-03 18937423 18937282 25,874.24 33. South African Airways 6759 8-26-03 18937425 18937284 8,363.72 34. Air New Zealand 6761 8-28-03 18937429 18937288 2,425.00 35. Takenaka Corp. 6762 8-29-03 18937430 18937289 100,032.97 36. United Overseas 6764 9-10-03 18937438 18937297 45,050.73 37. Metropolitan Bank 6765 9-10-03 18937440 18937299 34,877.41 38. Quezon Power Limited 6769 9-10-03 18937442 18937351 136,171.98 39. Mem-Mara Phil. Corp. 6770 9-12-03 18937443
1893745218937352 66,361.32 40. Dow Chemical, Inc. 6768 9-12-03 18937444 18937353 99,940.43 41. Dinagat Elec. Corp. 6766 9-12-03 18937446 18937355 4,800.00 42. Siargao Electric Corp. 6767 9-12-03 18937447 18937356 18,081.14 43. Texas Instrument 6771 9-15-03 18937449
1893745818937358 30,915.19 44. V.Y. Domingo Agencia 6772 9-15-03 18937460
P998.0018937360 61,450.55 45. TFS Pawnshop 6773 9-17-03 18937464 18937364 53,887.59 46. Prulife of UK 6774 9-19-03 18937469 18937369 38,094.21 47. Pilipinas Shell 6775 9-19-03 18937470 18937370 70,364.93 48. Tambunting Pawnshop 6776 9-19-03 18937472 18937372 22,654.07 49. PEA Tollway Corp. 6777 9-19-03 18937474 18937374 171,396.10 50. Philex Mining Corp. 6778 9-22-03 18937478 18937378 53,187.12 51. Philex Gold 6779 9-22-03 18937479 18937379 1,425.00 52. Philex Mining Corp. 6780 9-22-03 18937480 18937380 813,503.81 53. Bicolandia Drug 6783 9-25-03 18937483
P1,025.0018937383 14,754.91 54. Correa Zenitaka 6784 9-26-03 18937486 18937385 51,081.14 55. Schneider Elec. Industries 6786 9-29-03 18937490 18937389 29,394.39 56. Mindanao Geothermal 6787 18937493 22,555.86 57. Mindanao Geothermal 6788 9-30-03 18937497 18937393 28,722.67 58. CBK Power Co. Ltd. 6789 9-30-03 18937495 18937394 28,467.47 59. Visayas Geothermal Power 6790 9-30-03 18937496 18937395 5,798.86 60. CE Cebu Geothermal Power 6791 9-30-03 18937497 18937396 4,800.00 61. CE Luzon 6792 9-30-03 18937498 18937397 18,247.60 3. Evaluation of procedures and practices in the Cashier's Office did not provide adequate control over financial transactions. We have noted the following deficiencies:
A. The relieved Cashier, Ms. Concepcion G. Espineda performed the collecting, recording and reporting of financial transactions of the court. She also acted as the Disbursing Officer of the Court.
Good internal control over cash requires that the collection, disbursement and recording functions should not be performed by one employee. It weakens the effectiveness of check and balance resulting to non-detection of errors in collection and remittance.
b. Some computations of legal fees were previously done over the telephone by the Records Division so that petitioners are ready with their check payment upon filing of their petitions. After payment, the details of legal fees paid are indicated on the first page of the petitions using the original copies of the official receipts as reference.
We reviewed the computations of legal fees in each case folder presented to the Team and compare the details of payment indicated on the petitions and the amount paid per triplicate official receipts. There are several cases of discrepancies resulting to underpayment of legal fees, the details of which are found in our finding relative to the accountability of the Cashier.
c. Cash payments in big amounts were received by the Cashier which could have led her or tempted her to use her collections for personal gain. Thus, payments in check for filing fees exceeding P5,000 should be firmly implemented to lessen the amount of cash held by the cashier. For payment of P50,000.00 and above, only manager's or cashier's check should be accepted. There should be a written guidelines or procedures to be followed if the private checks are dishonored by the bank for insufficiency of funds or for any other reason.ςηαñrοblεš νιr†υαl lαω lιbrαrÿ
d. The Cashier did not report cancellations of official receipts properly. We have traced several official receipts reported as cancelled and/or missing but were validly issued. Hence, there are collections which were not reported to SC Accounting Division and not deposited to the JDF depository account.
Monthly Report of Accountability for Accountable Forms detailing the series of official receipts received, issued and balances should be submitted to the Accounting Division, Supreme Court. Likewise, a report of cancelled official receipts should be prepared and submitted with the photocopies of the cancelled official receipts. All copies of the cancelled official receipts must be attached to the receipt booklet for proper inventory and audit purposes.
The Presiding Justice issued a Memorandum regarding Internal Control for Cashier's Office and other related offices dated November 11, 2004. Among the issues addressed is the designation of the Acting Cashier as the Collecting Officer and the Cash Clerk as the Disbursing Officer. Also included is the preparation of the Computation Sheet where the details of the assessment are shown vis - Ã -vis the legal fees paid. It further requires the Executive Clerk of Court or any of her two deputies to verify the computation of the filing fees.
4. Unreported Collections for the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF)
Monthly Report of Collections and Deposits must be regularly prepared and submitted within ten (10) days after the end of every month to the Chief Accountant, Supreme Court with the duplicate copies of the official receipts and validated deposit slips. This report is the basis of recording in the Subsidiary Ledger which keeps track of the accountability of the accountable officer. Hence, its accuracy is of prime importance. To determine whether all collections are completely and accurately recorded, we compared the total collections per audited triplicate copies of official receipts and the total collections per accounting records. The amounts in the triplicate official receipts were confirmed with the case folder of the particular payment. The audit reveals unreported collections of SEVEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT PESOS AND 77/100 (P7,874,628.77). Per our review, there are series of official receipts which were reported as missing or cancelled but when traced in the triplicate OR's or case folder, the official receipts were validly issued. Some amounts were altered. Others were erroneously reported. Table I summarizes the amount unreported, the details of which are shown in Annex B.
The reports were prepared by the Cashier alone. Nobody reviewed or certified its correctness before its transmittal to the Supreme Court.
TABLE I
PERIOD AMOUNT PER AUDIT AMOUNT PER SUBSIDIARY LEDGER UNREPORTED COLLECTIONS 1994 1,493,610.00 1,493,610.00 1995 1,430,046.00 1,430,046.00 1996 1,278,112.85 1,277,512.85 600.00 1997 1,147,233.93 1,147,233.93 1998 2,812,466.14 2,792,666.94 19,799.20 1999 6,591,007.47 6,590,302.47 705.00 2000 7,659,617.82 7,315,834.82 343,783.00 2001 4,724,224.50 4,840,904.50 (116,680.00) 2002 8,832,323.50 7,227,613.56 1,604,709.94 2003 24,490,052.44 21,268,085.74 3,221,966.70 2004 96,726,670.46 93,926,925.53 2,799,744.93 TOTAL 157,185,365.11 149,310,736.34 7,874,628.77 5. Undeposited Collections for the Judiciary Development Fund
Collections were not deposited intact. For the CY 1985 to 1993, where deposit slips were not presented to us, comparison of the amount of collections and deposits as recorded in the SC Accounting Division, show a balance of P343,302.53 accumulated as follows:
TABLE II
PERIOD COLLECTIONS PER ACCOUNTING RECORDS DEPOSITS PER ACCOUNTING RECORDS BALANCE 1986 91,070.00 90,995.00 75.00 1987 299,942.00 274,277.00 25,655.00 1988 194,601.00 163,786.00 30,815.00 1989 258,890.00 199,110.00 59,780.00 1990 329,667.00 94,174.50 235,492.50 1991 3,243,923.75 3,245,263.72 (1,339.97) 1992 1,675,057.99 1,670,237.99 4,820.00 1993 1,177,826.00 1,197,086.00 (19,260.00) TOTAL 7,474,354.74 7,131,312.21 343,302.53 For CY 1994 to August 2004, comparison of the amount in the triplicate copies of the official receipts and the amount deposited as recorded in the Accounting Division, Supreme Court shows a balance of P8,351,276.03.
TABLE III
PERIOD AMOUNT PER AUDIT DEPOSITS PER SUBSIDIARY LEDGER UNREPORTED COLLECTIONS 1994 1,493,610.00 1,495,710.00 (2,100.00) 1995 1,430,046.00 1,404,391.00 25,655.00 1996 1,278,112.85 1,294,372.85 (16,260.00) 1997 1,147,233.93 1,148,266.93 (1,033.00) 1998 2,812,466.14 2,450,332.14 362,134.00 1999 6,591,007.47 6,766,294.47 (175,287.00) 2000 7,659,617.82 7,480,666.02 178,951.80 2001 4,724,224.50 4,892,042.50 (167,818.00) 2002 8,832,323.50 7,172,273.94 1,660,049.56 2003 24,490,052.44 20,643,853.45 3,846,198.99 2004 96,726,670.46 94,085,885.78 2M640,784.68 TOTAL 157,185,365.11 148,834,089.08 8,351,276/03 The totals of Table II and III amounting to EIGHT MILLION SIX HUNDRED NINETY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT AND 56/100 (P8,694,578.56) represent the undeposited collections for the Judiciary Development Fund. This amount also includes the unreported collections we mentioned in the preceding finding.
The Presiding Justice and other concerned personnel of the Court of Tax Appeals have been apprised of these discrepancies during the Exit Conference held on November 19, 2004 for purposes of getting their comments to our preliminary observations. Prior to this, in an affidavit prepared by the former Cashier on November 12, 2004 (Annex C) Ms. Concepcion G. Espineda admitted sole responsibility of the infractions committed above. She then restituted the partial amount of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED ONE PESOS (P100,601.00) on three occasions as evidenced by the acknowledgment receipts of the Acting Cashier and validated deposit slips (See Annex D). The amount was deposited to the Judiciary Development Fund. The Presiding Justice temporarily assigned Ms. Espineda in the Administrative Division of the Court. However, she did not report for work since her relief as Cashier, thus, incurring absences without pay.
Acting on the findings and recommendation of the audit team and the Office of the Court Administrator, the Court issued on February 14, 2005, a Resolution resolving to:
(a) DOCKET the subject partial report of the Financial Audit conducted on the book of accounts of the Court of Tax Appeals as a regular administrative matter against Cashier Concepcion G. Espineda;
(b) DIRECT Cashier Espineda to: (1) EXPLAIN in writing within ten (10) days from notice hereof, her failure to deposit her collections on time; her falsely reporting that an Official Receipt has been cancelled or missing when in fact and in truth it has not been so cancelled or missing, thereby resulting to unreported and undeposited collections; for issuing two sets of official receipts for sixty one (61) payments of filing fees thus concealing the true amounts of court collections; and for issuing one official receipt in two transactions and not reporting the amount collected in both instances; (2) RESTITUTE within ten (10) days from notice, the amount of P8,593,977.56 representing the net collections in the JDF which were not remitted (P8,694,578.56 less restitutions of P100,601.00) by depositing the amount to JDF Account No. 0591-0116-34 with the Land Bank of the Philippines and furnish the Court, thru the Office of the Court Administrator, with machine validated deposit slips as proof of such deposits; and (3) ACCOUNT within ten (10) days from notice, for the missing Official Receipts which are part of the series issued for the JDF found in Annex A;
(c) SUSPEND Ms. Concepcion G. Espineda from Office pending resolution of this administrative matter;
(d) ISSUE a Hold Departure Order against Cashier Concepcion G. Espineda to prevent her from leaving the country;
(e) DIRECT Presiding Justice Ernesto D. Acosta to strictly monitor the financial transactions of the Cashier of the Court of Tax Appeals if the guidelines prescribed by the Court in handling funds are properly implemented and see to it that the responsibility of collecting, recording and reporting of financial transactions shall not be left alone to one (1) personnel; andcralawlibrary
(f) DIRECT the Legal Office to file appropriate criminal charges against Ms. Concepcion G. Expineda.
Pursuant to the above Resolution, the Court on February 24, 2005, directed the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation and the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs to include in their Hold Departure List herein respondent Espineda effective immediately and to enjoin her departure from the country until further orders of the Court.
On March 16, 2005, the Court noted the undated Reply of respondent where she requested for copies of the audit reports to be used as reference in the preparation of her explanation. She also requested that the 10-day period within which to file her explanation be reckoned from the time of her receipt of said copies of audit reports.
In a Resolution dated June 6, 2005, the Court (a) directed the Court Management Office to furnish respondent with all the pertinent schedules and documents relative to said office's initial findings as a result of its financial audit in the books of accounts of the CTA; (b) granted the request of respondent for a period of 10 days within which to explain in writing all the charges against her, counted from receipt of all the requested copies of the audit reports and schedules; and (c) directed said respondent to fully comply with all the directives of the Court in the February 14, 2005 Resolution. The filing of the criminal action against herein respondent was deferred until after the determination of her administrative liability based on the final financial report that will be submitted by the Court Management Office.
In a letter dated October 25, 2005, respondent acknowledged receipt of copies of all pertinent schedules and documents relative to the audit findings furnished her by the Court Management Office. At the same time, she requested for the Office of the Court Administrator to order a review of all the material entries in the audit findings in her presence. She also asked for another extension of 30 days within which to comply with the Court's directives.
On November 23, 2005, the Court granted respondent's request for an extension of 30 days to comply with the directives contained in the February 14, 2005 Resolution of the Court. However, in a letter dated January 31, 2006, respondent against requested for an extension of 30 days within which to review/re-examine the audit findings.
On March 6, 2006, the Court allowed respondent to review/re-examine the material entries in the audit findings. At the same time, she was directed to coordinate with the Fiscal Monitoring Division of the Court Management Office - OCA to facilitate her re-examination of the audit report.
On March 26, 2006, respondent's request for an extension of 30 days within which to review/re-examine the audit findings was again granted by the Court. Notwithstanding said extensions, respondent still failed to coordinate with the Fiscal Monitoring Division of the Court Management Office - OCA. Worse, on June 7, 2006, she again requested for another extension of 30 days.
Consequently, on January 24, 2007, the Court required respondent to show cause why she should not be held in contempt for failure to comply with the Court's directives. At the same time, she was directed to comply with the February 14, 2005 Resolution within five days.
Instead of complying with the show cause order, respondent requested for another 30-day extension which the Court denied considering that she had been given sufficient time to comply. The Court also imposed upon her a fine of P1,000 or a penalty of imprisonment of five days if said fine is not paid. She was likewise directed to comply with the February 14, 2005 Resolution.
On June 1, 2007, respondent paid the P1,000 fine. In a Resolution dated April 9, 2008, the Court required respondent to submit an explanation relative to the accusations against her. Still, respondent did not comply. Instead, she asked for another extension of 30 days which the Court granted but this time with warning that no further extension will be given.
As of March 9, 2009, respondent has failed to submit her explanation hence the Court resolved to deem respondent to have waived the filing of an explanation and to resolve the case on the basis of the pleadings/records already filed and submitted.
Gleaned from the foregoing, it is clear that respondent wasted all the opportunities given to her by this Court to submit an explanation. Despite her unsubstantiated and self-serving assertion of deteriorating health condition and constant bout of hypertension, the Court still showed its benevolence towards her plight by providing her sufficient time to answer the charges against her. However, respondent did not take advantage of this opportunity; instead, she stretched this Court's patience to the limit.
We find respondent guilty of misappropriating judiciary funds - which act constitutes dishonesty and grave misconduct. Respondent did not deny committing the irregularities imputed against her or submit an explanation thereof despite several opportunities given her. In her letter dated November 12, 2004, respondent acknowledged sole responsibility over said infractions and admitted using the missing judiciary funds for her personal gain; she even offered to restitute the undeposited collections. Respondent's offer to restitute the whole amount would not serve to exonerate her from administrative liability; much more in this case where out of the total missing amount of P8,694,578.56, respondent only returned the measly sum of P100,601.00. The infraction had been committed; it could not be erased by mere offer of restitution.
Dishonesty and grave misconduct are classified as grave offenses. Under Section 22(a), (b) and (c) of Rule XIV of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order No. 292 and Other Pertinent Civil Service Laws, the penalty for these offenses is dismissal, even if committed for the first time. Respondent's employment record of more than 24 years would not serve to mitigate her liability. On the contrary, it even serves to aggravate the same because with her long years of service in the judiciary, she is presumed to be familiar and conversant with the Court's circulars particularly with regard to the handling of judiciary funds. Yet, by her acts, she disregarded these guidelines and circulars which contributed to the erosion of the public's faith in the Judiciary.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Court finds respondent Concepcion G. Espineda, Cashier III, Court of Tax Appeals, GUILTY of dishonesty and grave misconduct. She is hereby ordered DISMISSED from the service with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, excluding accrued leave credits, with prejudice to reemployment in any government office, including government owned and controlled corporations. She is further ordered to RESTITUTE within thirty (30) days from notice, the amount of P8,593,977.56 representing the net collections in the Judiciary Development Fund which were not remitted.
The Employees Leave Division, Office of the Administrative Services of the Office of the Court Administrator, is DIRECTED to compute the balance of respondent's earned leave credits and forward the same to the Finance Division, Fiscal Management Office of the Office of the Court Administrator, which shall compute its monetary value. The amount, as well as other benefits she may be entitled to, shall be applied as part of the restitution of the shortage.
Finally, the Legal Office of the Office of the Court Administrator is AUTHORIZED to file the appropriate criminal charges against respondent Concepcion G. Espineda.
SO ORDERED.
Puno, C.J., Quisumbing, Ynares-Santiago, Carpio, Corona, Carpio Morales, Chico-Nazario, Velasco, Jr., Nachura, Leonardo-De Castro, Brion, Peralta, Bersamin, Del Castillo, and Abad, JJ., concur.
