Administrative Order No. 85




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 85, August 22, 1988 ] DISMISSING GREGORIO B. MARAYA, JR., AS REGISTER OF DEEDS OF MAASIN, SOUTHERN LEYTE This is an administrative case for grave misconduct filed by the then Acting Land Registration Commissioner against Gregorio Maraya, Jr., Register of Deeds, Maasin, Southern Leyte. The case was the offshoot of a letter-report to the then Deputy Minister of Justice of respondent Register of Deeds, dated September 24, 1979, recommending the filing of administrative charges against his Deputy Register of Deeds, Cipriano Espina, Jr., in connection with the alleged shortage in his (Espina’s) collection. Acting on said report, the Deputy Justice Minister requested the Provincial Auditor to audit the Office of the Register of Deeds, Maasin, Southern Leyte. Maraya refused to present himself for the inventory, despite directives from the Ministry of Justice. Consequently, only the safe and receptacles of the Deputy Register of Deeds were opened and inventoried. The examination of the Books of Registry disclosed that, for the period covering November 1, 1978 to January 1980, the Registry of Deeds had a total accountability of P72,516.78. On July 23, 1980, an administrative charge for grave misconduct in connection with the above incurred shortage was filed against Maraya.ℒαwρhi৷ The corresponding charge for malversation of public funds was filed with the Tanodbayan. Required to answer said administrative charge, Maraya assailed the validity of the Auditor’s report, alleging that only the Registry Cash Book, and not his cash accountability, was examined by the audit team. He further alleged that, of the total amount of P72,516.78, P16,879.53 were actually the collections of Deputy Register of Deeds Espina. Maraya did not appear for four consecutive scheduled hearings and, on the hearing of November 25, 1981, he presented Mr. Eugenio Paloma of the Provincial Auditor’s Office and Mrs. Eloisa Esma, a binding helper in the Office of the Register of Deeds. Paloma confirmed that the amount of P16,789.53 were the collections of Deputy Register of Deeds Espina, while Mrs. Esma testified that she did not hear the audit team demand that respondent produce his registry collections. Maraya did not appear during the subsequent hearings. In his report, dated December 21, 1982, the investigator recommended that Maraya be found guilty of grave misconduct and the penalty of dismissal from the service be imposed upon him. The Acting Land Registration Commissioner favorably indorsed the above findings and recommendation to the Minister of Justice in his letter of March 15, 1983. The then Minister of Justice concurred in the foregoing recommendation, particularly noting that the failure of the Auditor to conduct an actual audit examination was due to Maraya’s “continuous and unwarranted refusal to submit himself to such an examination despite the series of directives.” He further observed that, although the amount of P16,879.53 was under the accountability of the Deputy Register (who is facing a separate administrative charge), Maraya, as Register of Deeds, is primarily liable and accountable for collections in his registry. Accordingly, in his letter of May 30, 1983, the then Minister of Justice recommended “that respondent Gregorio Maraya, Jr. be found guilty of grave misconduct and that he be dismissed from the service therefor.” In a 4th indorsement, dated July 30, 1986, the then Minister (now Secretary) of Justice reiterated the foregoing recommendation. After a careful review, I agree with the then Minister (now Secretary) of Justice that respondent is guilty of grave misconduct and deserves to be dismissed from the service.⚖ - ℒαɯρhi৷ WHEREFORE, and as recommended by the then Minister (now Secretary) of Justice, Mr. Gregorio B. Maraya, Jr., is hereby DISMISSED from the service as Register of Deeds of Maasin, Southern Leyte, effective upon receipt of a copy of this Order. Done in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-eight. (Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO President of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) CATALINO MACARAIG, JR. Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation