EN BANC
A.M. No. P-18-3792 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 16-4579-P], February 20, 2018
RUTH NADIA N. DE LOS SANTOS, Complainant, v. JOSE RENE C. VASQUEZ, SHERIFF IV, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 41 BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PER CURIAM:
Before the Court is the Letter-Complaint1 filed by complainant Ruth Nadia N. De Los Santos (complainant) against respondent Jose Rene C. Vasquez (respondent), Sheriff IV, Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Branch 41, before the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), for inhuman and unruly behavior, dishonesty and threat.
The Complaint
In her Affidavit-Complaint,2 complainant alleged that on July 27, 2015 at around 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon, while she was doing her groceries at MJ Store in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, she met respondent's wife, Beverly Vasquez (Beverly), who owed her a sum of money; that while confronting Beverly about her loan, respondent, who was smelling and reeking of liquor, suddenly appeared from behind and hit her left arm and threatened her saying, "Indi mo paghulaton nga may matabo sa imo kag madug an gid ang kamot ko," which meant "Don't wait that something will happen to you and cause my hand to be stained;"3 and that because of fear and respondent's threat, complainant caused the incident to be recorded in the police blotter at Police Station 7, Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
Complainant further averred that prior to the incident, she filed two separate cases against respondent and his wife: (1) Collection of Sum of Money where the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 6 (MTCC) rendered a decision in her favor and issued a writ of execution, which had not been served to respondent and his wife until now; and (2) Estafa which was pending with the Office of the City Prosecutor of Bacolod City. She believed that respondent, being a sheriff, manipulated the serving of the writ of execution.
The Comment of Respondent
In his Comment to the Affidavit-Complaint,4 respondent denied hitting complainant and stated that he was not drunk at the time the incident occurred. He asserted that on July 27, 2015, he was in the Mansilingan area serving summons when his wife, Beverly, called and told him that they were out of cooking gas; Because his wife had no money and he was in the area, he told his wife to meet him at MG Store5 so he could give her money to buy the cooking gas. As he was entering the store, respondent saw his wife and complainant in a tussle with the latter holding his wife's arm, shaking her and pointing a finger at her face. Respondent hurriedly went to them and asked "Ano na man? Buy i na ang asawa ko!" (What is that? Let go of my wife).6 He confronted complainant and they had an exchange of words about the manner of her collection and her actuations against his wife. Respondent claimed that complainant provoked him until her lost his patience and angrily told her, "Indi na paghulata nga mag dug-anay kita" (don't wait for things to get worse), to which she replied "Ano gid gusto mo Jun haw?" (What do you want, Jun?).7 Thereafter, he backed off, pulled his wife away, and left the store.
Respondent further denied that he manipulated the service of the writ of execution, which was, in fact, already served upon his wife by the sheriff of RTC - Branch 6. He contended that he was discharged as defendant in the complaint for collection of sum of money because it was only his wife who transacted with complainant. As to the case of estafa, respondent stated that it was not the complainant who filed the complaint but a certain Faith Ombid.
Upon the recommendation8 of the OCA, the Court, in its Resolution9 dated January 30, 2017, referred the complaint to the Executive Judge of the RTC for investigation, report and recommendation.
The Report and Recommendation of the Investigating Judge
In his Investigation Report,10 Executive Judge Raymond Joseph G. Javier (EJ Javier) found no evidence to sustain the charges of dishonesty and abuse of authority against respondent. He, however, found respondent guilty of conduct unbecoming a court employee and recommended that he be suspended from the service for a period of six (6) months without pay considering that he had been previously found administratively liable for the same offense in A.M.. No. P-07-2313,11 entitled Zelinda G. Nicopior v. Jose Rene C. Vasquez. EJ Javier opined that respondent's act of slapping the shoulder of complainant and his use of unsavory language failed to meet the exacting standards required of a court employee.
QUESTIONS FROM THE COURT TO MR. JOSE RENE VASQUEZ:It bears stressing that judicial officials and employees must devote their official time to government service.22 They must strictly observe the prescribed office hours and the efficient use of every moment thereof for public service if only to recompense the government and ultimately the people who shoulder the cost of maintaining the Judiciary23 and to inspire public respect for the justice system.24
COURT: Q: In your Judicial Affidavit you told me that you were there in the area of Mansilingan, July 27, 2015 more or less, 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon, correct? A: Yes, Your Honor. Q: Do you know that this day is an Office day? A: Yes, Your Honor. Q: You said you are serving summons and processes in answer thirteen (13)? A: Yes, Your Honor. Q: Now, what are those summons cases? A: I forgot the case but I was not able to serve it since the person was not around, Your Honor. Q: You don't know the case? A: I forgot, Your Honor. Q: So, you cannot recall what cases are these? A: Yes, Your Honor. Q: Be sure that you cannot recall what cases are these? A: Yes, Your Honor. Q: Do you have also authority to travel issued by your Clerk of Court to serve? A: No, Your Honor. Q: Why? Meaning you are not being authorized by the Clerk of Court to serve summons and cases? A: We did not practice that authority from the Clerk of Court since as a Sheriff when I serve subpoena in relation to foreclosure, I usually bring those notices of the same place like example in Mansilingan, Your Honor. Q: Do you know that it is a rule that whenever you go out from the Office on official business you should be duly authorized with that authority to travel from the Clerk of Court? A: Yes, Your Honor. Q: But what you are trying to tell me is your deviating procedure, establish procedure by the Supreme Court? A: We do not practice that, Your Honor. I only asked permission verbally without any written permission, Your Honor.21
| Very truly yours, |
(SGD) | |
ANNA-LI R. PAPA-GOMBIO | |
Deputy Clerk of Court En Banc |
Endnotes:
1Rollo, p. 1.
2 Id. at 2-3.
3 Id. at 2.
4 Id. at 33-38.
5 Referred to as MJ Store in the Affidavit-Complaint.
6Rollo, p. 33.
7 Id. at 34.
8 Report, dated November 8, 2016, id. at 55-57.
9 Id. at 58.
10 Id. at 157-162.
11 550 Phil. 457 (2007).
12Mendez, et al. v. Balbuena, 665 Phil. 161, 165-166 (2011); Fernandez v. Rubillos, 590 Phil. 303, 314 (2008).
13Judge Buenaventura v. Mabalot, 716 Phil. 476, 496 (2013).
14Court Personnel of the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court - San Carlos City v. Llamas, 488 Phil. 62, 71 (2004).
15 Supra note 13 at 497.
16Gonzales v. Gatcheco, Jr., et al., 503 Phil. 670, 675 (2005).
17Fernandez v. Rubillos, supra, at 314.
18 Supra note 16.
19 Supra note 17.
20Mendez v. Balbuena, 665 Phil. 161, 166 (2011).
21Rollo, pp. 154-155.
22Office of the Court Administrator v. Mallare, et al., 461 Phil. 18, 27 (2003).
23Lopena v. Saloma, 567 Phil. 217, 225-226 (2008).
24Re: Icamina, 588 Phil. 443, 450 (2008).