Pilipinas Bank Check
No. 0040325 March 31, 2000 P20,000.00
0040326 March 31, 2000 P20,000.00
0040327 April 1, 2000 P2,000.00
0040328 April 1, 2000 P2,000.00
—————
Total P44,000.00 1
When the checks were presented for encashment, however, these were dishonored by the bank with the notation "account closed" stamped thereon. Despite repeated demands on the respondent, she failed and refused to pay her obligation. Consequently, the complainant was constrained to file the present administrative complaint.
In her Comment dated July 4, 2003, the respondent averred that she had already explained to the complainant her financial predicament and requested that she (the respondent) be given more time to pay her obligation. Finding the respondent’s explanation acceptable, the complainant agreed to withdraw her complaint against the Respondent. Attached to the respondent’s comment are the complainant’s Affidavit of Desistance dated December 2, 2002, and her letter of even date addressed to Executive Judge Tito G. Gustilo, RTC of Iloilo City, requesting for the withdrawal of the complaint she filed against the Respondent. The complainant alleged that she and the respondent had reached an amicable settlement and the latter had made arrangements for the payment of her obligation.
Upon evaluation of the verified complaint and the comment thereon, Deputy Court Administrator Zenaida N. Elepaño recommended that the respondent be reprimanded and severely warned to be more circumspect in the conduct of her activities as a court employee, and to observe strict propriety and decorum in dealing with other people. 2
The Court agrees with and adopts the foregoing recommendation.
As correctly pointed out by Deputy Court Administrator Elepaño, despite the amicable settlement reached by the parties, the respondent should nonetheless be held administratively liable for her actuations. Significantly, it was only when the verified complaint was filed against her that respondent exerted efforts to make arrangements to pay her obligation to the complainant. Before the filing of the complaint, the respondent consistently ignored the complainant’s repeated demands.chanrob1es virtua1 1aw 1ibrary
The respondent is, thus, liable under Section 46, Chapter 7, Title I, Subtitle A, Book V of the Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order No. 292) which covers the respondent as a court personnel. The said provision reads in part:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library
Section 46. Discipline: General Provisions. — (a) No officer or employee in the Civil Service shall be suspended or dismissed except for cause as provided by law and after due process.
Endnotes:
1. Rollo, p. 1.
2. Id. at 19.
3. Uy v. Magallanes, Jr., 380 SCRA 414 (2002).
4. Santelices v. Samar, 373 SCRA 78 (2002).