A.M. No. P-13-3102 [Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 07-2562-P], September 08, 2014 - JOSE S. VILLANUEVA, Complainant, v. ATTY. PAULINO I. SAGUYOD, CLERK OF COURT VI, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 6, PANIQUI, TARLAC, Respondent.

This resolves the Complaint¹ dated March 23, 2007 filed by Jose S. Villanueva against Atty. Paulino I. Saguyod, Clerk of Court VI, Branch 67, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Paniqui, Tarlac charging the latter with violations of the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel and of Section 4 (e), Republic Act (RA) No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees.

The facts, as found by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), follow.

Complainant alleged as follows:

x x x on February 20, 2007, he received a text message from Atty. Lavezares Leomo, his employer, instructing him to get a certified photocopy of a Petition relative to Land Case No. 051-06 entitled “Petition for the Issuance of a Second Owner’s Duplicate Copy of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) of Arnel D. Morales.” On or about 8:45 in the morning of that same day, Ms. Rosalie D. Sarsagat, the assigned stenographer of the same court, advised him to return after thirty minutes because the custodian of the records is not yet around. Immediately following the lapse of that period, complainant was informed that the records being requested were in the custody of respondent but must talk to his wife, Mrs. Judith Saguyod, in order to secure the requested pleading. Complainant found out that respondent’s wife likewise holds office in the room of respondent although she is not an employee of the said court.

Complainant alleges that when he respectfully asked for a photocopy of the pleading, respondent inquired whether he has a Special Power of Attorney authorizing him to get such photocopy. Complainant showed him the text message he received from Atty. Leomo. However, respondent’s wife interrupted them and called a certain person at the Register of Deeds of Tarlac whom she asked whether complainant is allowed to be given a copy of the Petition being requested. At the end of their conversation, the wife said, “Huwag ka raw naming bibigyan ng kopya ng Petition ni Arnel D. Morales.”

In the course of their dialogue, respondent told complainant: “Pinalusot ko na nga yung pinitisyon mong apat (4) na loss (sic) title, ganiyan ka pa makipag-usap sa amin.” Complainant answered back and said, “Anong kinalaman, Sir, noong pinitisyon kong loss (sic) title, eh iniutos sa akin ng boss ko na ikuha ko siya ng kopya ng certified photocopy, at wala naman po akong ilegal na transaction na ginawa.” Upon hearing this reply, respondent stood up in his chair and challenged complainant to a fistfight while shouting this (sic) words: “Punyeta ka! Mayabang ka. Ano lalaban ka.” Complainant calmly said, “Di ako lalaban, Attorney, kung ayaw mong magbigay ng kopya. Yon na lang sasabihin ko kay Atty. Leomo.” Respondent angrily told complainant, “Tarantado ka. Mayabang ka. Di mo ako kilala kung sino ako dito.” Complainant politely replied, “Alam ko po na ikaw ang Clerk of Court dito.”

In order to avoid further arguments, complainant went out of the room and proceeded to the parking area. Respondent blocked his way and shouted, “Taga Paniqui ka, taga Victoria ako. Suntukan na lang tayo.” Complainant replied, “Hindi ako lalaban sa’yo, Attorney.” Respondent retorted, “Sino ang pinagmamalaki mo, si Atty. Leomo, shit sino ba siya dito?” Complainant answered him, “Wala akong ipinagmamalaki, Attorney. Siya lang ang nag-utos sa akin para kumuha ng kopya ng petition ni Mr. Arnel Morales.”

Complainant realized that this boorish attitude displayed by respondent was an act of vengeance because he failed to give the balance of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P1,500.00) as payment for the Certificate of Finality he issued relative to Land Case Nos. 021-P06 and 020-P06. Apparently, the four (4) lost titles which respondent is referring when he said, “pinalusot lang niya ito” pertains to the land case he initiated by virtue of the Special Power of Attorney given to him by Mrs. Charlotte Antaran. The said Petition had not been acted upon for nine months from the time it was filed on May 26, 2006 even though there is a Presiding Judge who will sign the Order commanding the Register of Deeds of Tarlac to issue the owner’s duplicate certificate of title. When complainant followed up the issuance of such Order with Mrs. Rosalie Sarsagat, the latter answered, “Hindi pipirmahan ni Atty. Saguyod ang Certificate of Finality kapag hindi ka nagbayad ng tatlong libong piso (P3,000.00).” To prevent further delay of the release of the Order, complainant gave an advance payment One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos and promised to pay the remaining balance later. Respondent Clerk of Court replied angrily, “Marami na akong narinig na pangakong ganyan pero di na bumabalik para magbayad.” Complainant answered him “Please, lang Attorney, give me a chance.” Respondent Clerk of Court stood up and said, “Siguruhin mo lang. Sige, gagawin ko na. Antayin mo na lang.” After thirty minutes, Ms. Rosalie D. Sarsagat handed the Certificate of Finality and Order dated January 5, 2007, duly signed by Judge Arsenio P. Adriano. Automatically, complainant paid One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos to Mrs. Rosalie D. Sarsagat and demanded for a receipt but the latter replied that a receipt is not being issued in this kind of transaction. She further retorted, “Gusto mo bang bawiin pa ni Atty. Saguyod ang mga dokumentong ‘yan?”

Such acts of respondent contravened Section 4(e) of R.A. 6713 and Section 2, Canon IV of the New Code of Conduct for Court Personnel. Complainant also claims that respondent violated Section 4, Canon I of the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel when he allowed his wife to use the Office of the Clerk of Court as the office of her real estate transaction. Complainant posits that in this scenario a conflict might arise between respondent’s official duty and his wife’s business dealings.

[In his Comment dated April 27, 2007, respondent denied the charges against him and claimed that:]

x x x he did not give a copy of the Petition being requested because complainant did not present a Special Power of Attorney showing his purpose and authority to get such photocopy. He could not rely on the text message received by complainant because he doesn’t know the phone number of Atty. Leomo. In fact, it is the policy of the court to require a written authority whenever a similar request is made. To his dismay, however, complainant answered back, “E, di sasabihin ko kay Atty. Leomo na ayaw mo. Eto nga yung text niya.” Upon seeing respondent’s wife who happened to drop by his office to remind him to pick up their daughter from school, complainant rudely said, “Porke ba hawak ng asawa mo yan kaya ayaw mong magbigay.” Seeing that his wife was offended, he patted and pushed complainant and emphatically said, “Pati babae pinapatulan mo.”

According to the guard on duty, complainant continued to hurl threatening words against him even when he was already outside the building. The guard reported the matter to him, hence, he went outside to confront [the] complainant. At that moment, complainant said to him, “Dayo ka lang dito sa Paniqui” to which respondent Clerk of Court replied, “E ano ngayon kung taga-Paniqui ka at taga-Victoria ako?” Nonetheless, to avoid any untoward incident, he returned to his office.

Respondent denies that his wife holds office in the Office of the Clerk of Court. He points out that complainant has no evidence to prove such charge. He explains that on that day, his wife had just passed by his office to tell him to fetch their seven-year old daughter from school. Although he admits that once in a while, his wife would drop by his office to see and talk to him – an act that is not prohibited by any law, rules or regulations. Respondent also clarifies that his wife is not a real estate agent but only a person who facilitates the processing and transfer of certificates of title of subdivision lots. Hence, his wife has nothing to do with his refusal to give complainant a copy of the petition.

Respondent explains that Land Case No. 021-06 and 022-06 were approved only after nine months from the time they were filed because then Judge Cesar M. Sotero retired on (sic) February 2006, while Judge Arsenio P. Adriano who succeeded him assumed his office as Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 63, Tarlac City only on (sic) September 2006. Moreover, complainant was also required by the court to present other supporting documents like the original copy of the Deed of Absolute Sale in his Petition.

Respondent admits that he instructed Rosalie Sarsagat to tell complainant that he has to pay the proper fees for reception of evidence as required under Section 21(e), Rule 141 of the Rules of Court and the Department of Justice (DOJ). He did not personally ask complainant to pay those fees because the latter might misconstrue it and use it against him.²

In a Resolution³ dated October 1, 2007, the Court referred the instant administrative complaint to the Executive Judge of the RTC of Paniqui, Tarlac for investigation, report and recommendation. Forthwith, the records of the case were transmitted to Executive Judge Liberty O. Castañeda in a letter⁴ dated November 9, 2007.

In her Reports and Findings⁵ dated March 26, 2011, Judge Castañeda recommended that the complaint against respondent be dismissed for lack of merit.

However, in a Resolution⁶ dated September 12, 2011, the Court nullified Judge Castañeda’s Reports and Findings, considering that she made the same while she was under preventive suspension from office. Thus, the Court referred the administrative complaint to Acting Presiding Judge Alipio C. Yumul, Branch 67, Paniqui, Tarlac for investigation, report and recommendation.⁷

In his Report⁸ dated February 7, 2012, Judge Yumul recommended that the case be dismissed.

In a Resolution ⁹dated June 18, 2012, the Court referred said Report to the OCA for evaluation, report and recommendation.

In its Memorandum¹⁰ dated October 5, 2012, the OCA recommended as follows:

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, it is respectfully recommended to the Honorable Court that:

1. the present administrative case against respondent Atty. Paulino I. Saguyod, Clerk of Court VI, Branch 67, Regional Trial Court, Paniqui, Tarlac be RE-DOCKETED as a regular administrative matter: and,
   
   
2. respondent be: (a) ADMONISHED for Violation of the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel and of Section 4(e) of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees, and WARNED that a repetition of [the] same or similar act will be dealt with severely in the future; and, (b) SUSPENDED from the service for one (1) month and one (1) day for simple misconduct for demanding from complainant the amount of P3,000.00 as commissioner’s fee and appearance fee in Land Case Nos. 021-P06 and 020-P06.¹¹

The issues for our resolution are:

whether or not respondent indirectly demanded and received from complainant an amount of Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00) for the issuance of the Certificate of Finality;

whether or not respondent’s receipt of commissioner’s fee for reception of evidence is legal and proper;

whether or not respondent extended prompt and courteous service to complainant when the latter requested for a photocopy of a certain pleading; and

whether or not the wife of respondent holds office in the Office of the Clerk of Court.¹²

Let us discuss the issues in seriatim.

The first and second issues shall be discussed jointly as they are interrelated.

In his Comment, respondent claimed that he should be exonerated from the charges against him since the amount he demanded from complainant for the release of the Certificate of Finality relative to Land Case Nos. 021-P06 and 020-P06 covers the appearance fee required under pertinent circulars of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the commissioner’s fee under Section 21(e), Rule 141 of the Rules of Court.

We do not agree.

To begin with, clerks of court are important officers in the judicial system. Their administrative functions are vital to the prompt and sound administration of justice. They cannot be allowed to overstep their powers and responsibilities. Their office is the hub of adjudicative and administrative orders, processes and judicial concerns. They perform a very delicate function as custodian of the court’s funds, revenues, records, property and premises. They are specifically imbued with the mandate to safeguard the integrity of the court as well as the efficiency of its proceedings, and to uphold the confidence of the public in the administration of justice. As such, this Court cannot countenance any act or omission of any court personnel that would violate the norm of public accountability and diminish the faith of the people in the Judiciary.¹³

Here, it appears that respondent went beyond his responsibilities when he demanded the payment of P3,000.00 from complainant. Such act violates Chapter VI, Section D, par. 1.2.12 of the 2002 Revised Manual for Clerks of Court which states that branch clerks of court who are directed by the judge to receive evidence ex parte shall not demand and/or receive commissioner’s fees. In fact, only the amount of P500.00 may be collected pursuant to Section 21(e), Rule 141 of the Rules of Court.

Time and again, we have held that clerks of court are not authorized to demand and/or receive commissioner’s fees for reception of evidence ex parte.¹⁴ To be entitled to reasonable compensation, a commissioner must not be an employee of the court. Section D (7), Chapter IV of the Manual for Clerks of Court provides that “The Court shall allow the commissioner, other than an employee of the court, such reasonable compensation as the circumstances of the case warrant to be taxed as costs against the defeated party, or apportioned, as justice requires.”¹⁵ Accordingly, respondent, as a court employee, has no authority to demand or receive any commissioner’s fee.

Thus, the OCA aptly held that, as such, respondent should be held liable for simple misconduct which is punishable under Section 52(B), Rule IV of the Revised Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, with a penalty of suspension from one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months for a first offense of misconduct. Considering that this is respondent’s first infraction, the penalty of three (3) months would suffice.

Anent the third issue, the OCA properly observed:

Records showed that complainant went to Branch 67, RTC, [Paniqui], Tarlac on February 20, 2007, with only a text message from Atty. Lavezares Leomo, to secure a certified photocopy of a petition relative to Land Case No. 051-06. Respondent advised complainant to secure a letter request from Atty. Leomo because it was the policy of the court to provide court documents only to parties to the case and their counsel or duly authorized representatives. The text message from Atty. Leomo was not the official request required by the court and respondent’s refusal to provide complainant the requested documents was proper to protect the integrity of court records. Court records are public documents and access to these documents shall be afforded the citizens, subject to certain limitations provided by law.

It must be emphasized that Atty. Leomo was provided with the requested documents when he personally went to the court and explained that he needed a copy of the Petition in Land Case No. 051-06, including its annexes, particularly the Affidavit of Loss and the Finality of the Decision because his client, Nelita S. Navarro, intended to file an opposition to the petition. This only showed that upon formal request, respondent will not hesitate to provide court documents.

Respondent, however, may be held liable for conduct unbecoming a court employee for his attitude towards complainant. It appears from a reading of the transcript of stenographic notes that complainant became rude when respondent turned down his request to get a photocopy of the petition and other court documents. Ronaldo P. David and Ruben Giganti, court employees, both testified that complainant shouted and pointed a finger at respondent when he requested for the documents. To avoid confrontation, respondent called for them to escort complainant out of the office. Complainant continued shouting invectives, hence, respondent upon being informed of complainant’s behavior, went out and confronted complainant. It was at this moment when Danilo Dacoma, a friend of complainant, saw a person wearing barong (referring to respondent) reprimanding complainant and saying “I am from Victoria, you you’re here in Paniqui, if you like we just box each other.”¹⁶

From the foregoing, it is obvious that complainant and respondent had a heated argument on February 20, 2007. Thus, although complainant’s actions are reprehensible, it was equally inappropriate for respondent to have handled the situation that way considering that he is a court officer.

The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officers and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713) sets out a policy towards promoting a high standard of ethical responsibility in the public service. It enjoins those in the government service to extend prompt, courteous and adequate service to the public, and, at all times, to respect the rights of others and refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals and good customs, among other ideals.¹⁷ As a public officer, respondent is bound, in the performance of his official duties, to observe courtesy, civility and self-restraint in his dealings with the public.¹⁸

Regrettably, although respondent’s reaction was understandable given the circumstances, he should have still conducted himself in a manner befitting an officer of the court. For this, respondent is admonished and warned to be more courteous in his dealings with the public.

As to the fourth issue, no evidence was presented to prove that respondent’s wife holds office at the Office of the Clerk of Court. Per Judge Yumul’s findings, respondent’s claim that his wife only dropped by his office to remind him to fetch their daughter from school was not even repudiated by complainant.

In view of the foregoing, we agree with the OCA’s findings and recommendations.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, respondent is hereby SUSPENDED from the service for a period of three (3) months for SIMPLE MISCONDUCT, for demanding from complainant the amount of P3,000.00 as commissioner’s fee and appearance fee, in Land Case Nos. 021-P06 and 020-P06.  Respondent, is likewise, ADMONISHED for Violating the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel and of Section 4(e), Republic Act No. 6713, and STERNLY WARNED that a repetition of the same or similar act will be dealt with more severely in the future.

SO ORDERED.

Velasco, Jr., (Chairperson), Villarama, Jr., Reyes, and Jardeleza, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:

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¹Rollo, pp. 4-7.

² Id at 1-3.

³ Id. at 20.

⁴ Id. at 21.

⁵ Id. at 43-46.

⁶ Id. at 87.

⁷ Id.

⁸ Id. at 191-194.

⁹ Id. at 195.

¹⁰ Id. at 197-206.

¹¹ Id. at 205-206.  (Emphasis in the original)

¹² Id. at 3.  (Emphasis ours)

¹³ Nieva v. Alvarez-Edad, 490 Phil. 460, 472 (2005).

¹⁴Concepcion v. Hubilla, 445 Phil. 689, 693 (2003).

¹⁵Nieva v. Alvarez-Edad, supra note 13, at 473.

¹⁶ Id. at 201-202.  (Citations omitted)

¹⁷Opeña v. Luna, 514 Phil. 345, 350 (2005).

¹⁸Perez v. Cunting, 436 Phil. 618, 625 (2002).