FIRST DIVISION
A.M. No. P-02-1658 October 21, 2004
PICKARD BALAJADIA, complainant,
vs.
MERCEDITA GATCHALIAN, Court Stenographer, Regional Trial Court, Branch 221, Quezon City, respondent.
D E C I S I O N
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:
This administrative case stems from the verified letter-complaint1 dated June 7, 2002 filed by Pickard A. Balajadia, on behalf of Amethyst Credit Corporation, charging respondents Judge Noel J. Tijam, Branch Clerk of Court Atty. Rowena De Juan Quinagoran, Court Stenographer Mercedita Gatchalian and Clerk III Nestor Rivera, all of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 221, with wanton disregard of the Rules of Court and misconduct relative to Civil Case No. Q-02-46203.
Amethyst Credit Corporation is the plaintiff in a civil case for specific performance with damages and prayer for the issuance of writ of preliminary attachment against RFM Corporation Employees’ Multi-Purpose and Transport Cooperative. The case was docketed as Civil Case No. Q-02-46203 and raffled to Branch 221, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City.2
In April 2002, Amethyst Credit Corporation presented its evidence ex-parte in support of its application for the issuance of the writ of preliminary attachment. Thereafter, its counsel, Atty. Ronald B. Santos, inquired from respondent Mercedita Gatchalian when he could expect the resolution of the court. The latter allegedly replied, "Paano tatakbo ang sasakyan kung walang pang gasolina…dito sa court namin pagkatapos ng ganitong hearing ay binibigay agad ang commissioner’s fee namin."3 Amethyst Credit Corporation, however, turned down respondent’s request.
Subsequently, the trial court dismissed Civil Case No. Q-02-46203 for lack of jurisdiction. Amethyst Credit Corporation filed a motion for reconsideration,4 and set the same for hearing on May 17, 2002 at 8:30 in the morning. On the said date, however, the motion for reconsideration was not included in the court’s calendar for hearing. When Atty. Santos talked to respondent Mercedita Gatchalian, she assured him that the court would send a notice of hearing of their motion.5
On May 23, 2002, complainant inquired about the status of the motion for reconsideration, and was informed that the same had been denied by the court motu proprio on that same day.
Thus, complainant, on behalf of Amethyst Credit Corporation, filed this administrative case.
In a Resolution dated December 9, 2002,6 the Court dismissed the administrative complaint against respondents Judge Tijam, Atty. Quinagoran and Clerk III Rivera for lack of merit. The charge of misconduct against respondent Mercedita Gatchalian was docketed as a regular administrative matter and referred to Executive Judge Monina A. Zenarosa, Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, for investigation, report and recommendation. Executive Judge Monina A. Zenarosa inhibited herself, and the newly-designated Executive Judge Jose Mendoza was appointed as Justice of the Court of Appeals. Hence, the investigation was assigned to Judge Apolinario Bruselas who, being the acting judge of RTC, Branch 221, indorsed the same to Judge Natividad A. Giron-Dizon.7
During the course of the investigation, a Joint Motion to Dismiss8 was filed by both the complainant and respondent, alleging that the controversy was the result of misunderstanding and confusion. Respondent Mercedita Gatchalian admitted that she uttered the statements imputed to her but said that it was not addressed to the complainant or to anybody in particular and was not intended to solicit any commission or compensation from complainant.
On October 21, 2003, Investigating Judge Natividad A. Giron-Dizon submitted her report and recommendation finding respondent Mercedita Gatchalian administratively liable for the acts complained of, for which she should be reprimanded that commission of the same or similar act will be dealt with more severely.
The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) adopted the findings of the Investigating Judge but recommended that respondent Mercedita Gatchalian be found guilty of simple misconduct and fined the amount of three thousand pesos (P3,000.00), with warning that the commission of the same or similar act in the future will be dealt with more severely.
The recommendation of the OCA is well-taken.
Prefatorily, we reiterate the rule that the withdrawal of an administrative complaint or subsequent desistance by the complainants does not free the respondents from liability, as the purpose of an administrative proceeding is to protect the public service, based on the time-honored principle that a public office is a public trust.9 It does not operate to divest this Court of jurisdiction to determine the truth behind the matter stated in the complaint. The Court’s disciplinary authority cannot be dependent on or frustrated by private arrangements between parties. An administrative complaint against an official or employee of the judiciary cannot simply be withdrawn by a complainant who suddenly claims a change of mind.10 Hence, the Investigating Judge was correct in proceeding with the investigation, and the Joint Motion to Dismiss will not prevent this Court from resolving its merits.
We have consistently held that the conduct required of court personnel, from the presiding judge to the lowliest of clerk must always be beyond reproach and circumscribed with the heavy burden of responsibility as to let them be free from any suspicion that may taint the judiciary. All court personnel are expected to exhibit the highest sense of honesty and integrity not only in the performance of their official duties but also in their personal and private dealings with other people to preserve the Court’s good name and standing. This is because the image of a court of justice is mirrored in the conduct, official or otherwise, of the men and women who work there. Any impression of impropriety, misdeed or negligence must be avoided.11
In the case at bar, the Investigating Judge aptly observed:
Whether or not the words uttered were directed to the complainant, still it is improper for a court employee to make such remarks. The transcript of notes is not a pre-condition in the resolution of the case. More so that stenographers are not doing the parties a favor whenever notes are transcribed. It is the duty of the stenographers to transcribe their notes without waiting for the payment thereof. The utterances of that kind of words, even not directed against a party, are uncalled for. Such actuation is degrading the faith and confidence of the people, particularly litigants, in the administration of justice. All employees must exhibit the highest sense of honesty, uprightness and integrity in the performance of their official duties to preserve the court’s good name and standing.12
The Court cannot countenance any act or omission which diminishes the faith of the people in the judiciary. Respondent’s impropriety subjected the image of the court to public suspicion and distrust. Thus, she is found guilty of simple misconduct.
Section 52(B)(1), Rule IV of the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service Commission13 classifies simple misconduct as a less grave offense punishable as a first offense by suspension of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months. However, considering that this is respondent’s first offense, it is considered a mitigating circumstance in respondent’s favor.14 As recommended by the OCA, respondent should be meted a fine of P3,000.00.
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, respondent Mercedita Gatchalian, Court Stenographer, Branch 221, Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, is found GUILTY of SIMPLE MISCONDUCT and FINED in the amount of P3,000.00. She is STERNLY WARNED that the commission of a similar offense will be dealt with more severely.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., Quisumbing, Carpio, and Azcuna*, JJ., concur.
Footnotes
* On Leave.
1 Rollo, pp. 1-4.
2 Id., p. 33.
3 Id., pp. 1 and 2.
4 Id., pp. 40-45.
5 Id., p. 2.
6 Id., p. 57.
7 Report and Recommendation of the Investigating Judge Natividad A. Giron-Dizon, p. 1.
8 Rollo, p. 90.
9 Atty. Virgilia C. Carman v. Judge Alexis A. Zerrudo, A.M. No. MTJ-98-1146, 5 February 2004.
10 Office of the Court Administrator v. Morante, A.M. No. P-02-1555, 16 April 2004.
11 Song v. Llegue, A.M. No. CA-02-34, 14 January 2004.
12 Report and Recommendation of Investigating Judge Natividad A. Giron-Dizon, p. 4.
13 Resolution No. 991936, 31 August 1999.
14 Re: Alleged Tampering of the Daily Time Records (DTR) of Sherry B. Cervantes, Court Stenographer III, Branch 18, Regional Trial Court, Manila, A.M. No. 03-8-463-RTC, 20 May 2004.
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