Administrative Order No. 13




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ Administrative Order No. 13, April 3, 1962 ] CONSIDERING MR. SALVADOR V. PERALTA RESIGNED AND SEPARATED AS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OF NEW WASHINGTON, AKLAN These are two administrative cases against Mr. Salvador V. Peralta, justice of the peace of New Washington, Aklan, based on identical charges that he failed to decide two civil cases for forcible entry despite the lapse of more than 90 days after their submission. The cases were investigated by the District Judge. It appears that Civil Cases Nos. 31 and 32 of respondents court were submitted on January 15, 1959, and December 12, 1958, and were decided only on July 26 and 24, 1959, respectively. The delay being unwarranted, the Judge recommended that respondent be reprimanded. When the Department of Justice discovered that respondent had stated in his certificate of service for June 1959, for the purpose of collecting his salary, that he had no undecided cases for more than 90 days, the records were returned to the District Judge with the request that respondent be formally charged with, and investigated for, neglect of duty and dishonesty. Respondent claims that he made an ocular inspection of the premises on March 5, 1959, from which the 90-day period for deciding the cases should be reckoned; and that he made the error in his certificate of service in good faith owing to pressure of work which caused him to overlook the detail. Even if he did conduct an ocular inspection by himself alone on March 5, 1959, wherein the District Judge had serious misgivings, considering its impracticability, if not impossibility, without the presence of the parties to point the land, its boundaries and landmarks, the net result would still be that he did not decide the cases within 90 days. The established facts show that the respondent has not only been negligent and inefficient in the discharge of his duties but he is also guilty of dishonesty in making it appear that he had no pending cases for decision for more than 90 days to enable him to collect his salary. Honesty, efficiency and devotion to duty are basic requirements in the proper discharge of official duties, and this Administration is determined to exact the same of officials and employees in the public interest. Wanting in those basic qualifications, respondent does not deserve to remain in the public service. WHEREFORE, Mr. Salvador V. Peralta is hereby considered resigned and separated from the service as justice of the peace of New Washington, Aklan.1aшphi1 Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of April, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the sixteenth. (Sgd.) DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL President of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) AMELITO R. MUTUC Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation