Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
A.M. No. P-10-2835 June 8, 2011
(Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 08-2901-P)
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, represented by Atty. Benilda A. Tejada, Chief Legal Counsel, Complainant,
vs.
CLERK OF COURT VII ATTY. JEOFFREY S. JOAQUINO, Office of the Clerk of Court, and SHERIFF IV CONSTANCIO V. ALIMURUNG, Branch 18, both of the Regional Trial Court, Cebu City, Respondents.
R E S O L U T I O N
NACHURA, J.:
Before the Court is an earnest plea1 of respondent Jeoffrey S. Joaquino (Joaquino), Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 18, Cebu City, seeking reconsideration of the Resolutions2 of the Court dated August 11, 2010 and February 7, 2011.
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) filed a verified letter- complaint before the Office of the Court Administrator, charging Clerk of Court Joaquino with grave misconduct, abuse of authority, and gross ignorance of the law; and Sheriff IV Constancio V. Alimurung (Alimurung) with grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service relative to Civil Case No. CEB-29383, entitled "Spouses Florentino J. Palacio and Ellen Palacio, Palacio Shipping, Inc., and FJP Lines, Inc. v. Development Bank of the Philippines," for damages, judicial determination of amount of obligation, nullity/annulment/reformation of instruments and agreements, bloated principal obligation, excessive interest rates and penalties, judicial accounting and application of payment, specific performance, extinguishment of obligations, and attorney’s fees. A brief background of Civil Case No. CEB-29383 is quoted herein, viz.:
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is the defendant in Civil Case No. CEB-29383, filed with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 21, Cebu City, presided by Judge Eric F. Menchavez. The civil action (Annex A, Complaint) was filed, on 15 September 2003, by the FJP Lines and the spouses Palacio against DBP for Damages, Judicial Determination of Amount of Obligation, Specific Performance, etc. DBP, through Atty. Tejada, its Chief Legal Counsel, filed its Answer (Annex B, Ibid) with Specific Affirmative Defenses and interposed Compulsory Counterclaim.
The plaintiff moved for Partial Summary Judgment on the issue of insurance proceeds, but defendant opposed the same. On 6 September 2006, the trial court rendered a Partial Summary Judgment (Annex C, Ibid); in favor of the plaintiff by directing defendant DBP to immediately release to FJP Lines the GSIS insurance proceeds due to M/V Don Martin Sr. 9. DBP asked for reconsideration but the same was denied in an Order (Annex D, Ibid), dated 8 December 2006. Not persuaded, DBP filed a Notice of Appeal (Annex E, Ibid).
On 19 December 2006, the plaintiff moved for execution pending appeal of the partial judgment. This was granted by the trial court in the Order of 29 January 2007 (Annex F, Ibid). A motion for reconsideration was filed by DBP but the same was denied in the Order of 12 March 2007.
Respondent Joaquino issued, on 21 March 2007, a Writ of Execution (Annex G, Ibid) to enforce the partial judgment. To avoid execution, DBP filed an Urgent Motion to Stay Discretionary Execution with Alternative Motion for the Approval of Supersedeas Bond. The trial court denied the motion in an Order, dated 26 March 2007. Aggrieved, DBP filed a Petition for Certiorari (docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 02604) before the Court of Appeals, Cebu City Station, to assail the Orders, dated 29 January and 12 March 2007.
In the meantime, Sheriff IV Romeo C. Asombrado of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 21, Cebu City, in compliance with the Writ of Execution, dated 21 March 2007, demanded, on 23 March 2007, from DBP the immediate and full satisfaction of the partial judgment and served the corresponding Notice of Garnishment (Annex H, Ibid).
In a Decision (Annex I, Ibid), dated 20 July 2007, in CA-G.R. SP No. 02604, the Court of Appeals annulled and set aside the Orders, dated 29 January and 12 March 2007, as well as the writs and processes subsequently issued for the implementation of the said Orders. FJP Lines seasonably filed a motion of reconsideration, but the same was denied.
On 13 November 2007, FJP Lines moved to dismiss DBP’s appeal, which motion was granted in an Order, dated 6 March 2008 (Annex J, Ibid). Unconvinced, DBP sought the reconsideration (Annex K, Ibid) of the said Order.
On 17 March 2008, respondent Joaquino issued another Writ of Execution to implement the Partial Judgment of 6 September 2006. The same was served to defendant DBP by respondent Alimurung (Annex L, Ibid).
In an Order (Annex N, Ibid), dated 4 April 2008, Judge Menchavez inhibited himself from handling Civil Case No. CEB-29383 and ordered that the pending incident, relative to the issuance and implementation of the writ of execution, be addressed to the court where the case will be re-raffled. On the same day, pursuant to the 17 March 2008 Writ of Execution, respondent Alimurung served a copy of the Notice of Sheriff’s Sale at Public Auction (Annex O, Ibid) to DBP’s Regional Marketing Center in Central Visayas, informing it that its proprietary shares in Cebu Country Club would be sold at public auction on 8 April 2008. In a Letter (Annex P, Ibid), dated 8 April 2008, DBP manifested to respondent Alimurung its objection to the auction sale, considering that the partial judgment, dated 6 September 2006, sought to be implemented, was not yet final and executory. However, despite such notice, Sheriff Alimurung proceeded with the scheduled auction sale (Annex Q, Ibid).1avvphi1
DBP filed a Supplemental Motion for Reconsideration of the Order, dated 6 March 2008 (which denied its Notice of Appeal) with an Application for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and/or Preliminary Injunction to enjoin respondent Alimurung from proceeding with the enforcement of the Writ of Execution, dated 17 March 2008. During the hearing on the TRO, respondent Alimurung "boldly manifested in open court that he [was] bent on further implementing the Writ of Execution dated March 17, 2008 against DBP."
On 16 April 2008, respondent Alimurung again issued a Notice of Sheriff’s Sale at Public Auction over several parcels of land belonging [to] DBP.
To prevent further damage, DBP, on 18 April 2008, filed before the Court of Appeals, Cebu City Station, a Petition for Injunction with Prayer for TRO/Injunction against Spouses Palacio, LJP Lines, and respondent Joaquino and Alimurung (docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 03411).3
On August 11, 2010, the Court issued a Resolution,4 the fallo of which reads:
The Court RESOLVES to ADOPT and APPROVE the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator in the attached Report dated 27 January 2010 (Annex "A"). Accordingly, the Court further resolves to:
1. RE-DOCKET the instant administrative complaint as a regular administrative matter;
2. FIND respondent Jeoffrey S. Joaquino, Clerk of Court VII, OCC, RTC, Cebu City, GUILTY of gross ignorance of the Rules and dereliction of duty and accordingly impose on him the penalty of SUSPENSION for six (6) months without pay, with WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall merit his dismissal from the service; and
3. DISMISS the complaint against respondent Constancio V. Alimurung, Sheriff IV, RTC, Br. 18, Cebu City, for lack of merit.
SO ORDERED.5
Respondent Joaquino filed a motion for reconsideration; while DBP filed a partial motion for reconsideration, assailing the dismissal of the complaint against Sheriff Alimurung. On February 7, 2011, the Court issued a Resolution6 denying both motions with finality for lack of substantial merit.
On April 13, 2011, respondent Joaquino filed a second motion for reconsideration, raising the following grounds in support of his motion: (1) that he issued the questioned March 17, 2008 writ of execution based on his honest reliance on and obedience to the September 6, 2006 Order of the RTC, granting the partial summary judgment, and the March 6, 2008 Order of the RTC, declaring the partial summary judgment final and executory, and directing the issuance of a writ of execution; (2) that the penalty of six (6) months without pay is too harsh and severe for the violation charged against him, based on the penalty imposed in Separa v. Atty. Maceda.7
Out of compassion, we take a second look at the penalty imposed on Clerk of Court Joaquino. A review of the penalty imposed on court employees who were administrably charged is justified, viz.:
In Separa, an administrative complaint was filed against respondents Branch Clerk of Court and Sheriffs for usurpation of authority, falsification, and gross ignorance of the law for declaring the Gualbertos as the lawful owner of Lot 1991-A, when the judgment sought to be enforced was the decision in another trial court which merely dismissed the case.8 The amended writ of execution issued by the Branch Clerk of Court directed the implementation of a decision which had already been set aside by the appellate court and subsequently dismissed by the RTC. Hence, the amended writ was void for two reasons: (1) the amended writ went beyond the order granting execution; and (2) respondent Branch Clerk of Court was not clothed with authority to issue the amended writ.9 The Supreme Court imposed a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (₱10,000.00) on respondent Branch Clerk of Court for having issued the amended writ, which directed the execution of the judgment of another court.10
In Leyrit v. Solas,11 the Branch Clerk of Court was held liable for simple misconduct. The Court imposed a fine equivalent to his three (3) months’ salary to be deducted from his retirement benefits.
In Aquino-Simbulan v. Bartolome,12 the presiding judge and the clerk of court (retired) were found guilty of gross negligence. Both were meted a fine in the amount of Forty Thousand Pesos (₱40,000.00), to be deducted from their retirement benefits.1avvphi1
In Heirs of Spouses Jose and Concepcion Olorga v. Beldia, Jr.,13 respondent judge was found liable for simple misconduct for his violation of Canons 1, 11, and 12 of the Code of Professional Responsibility. He was meted a fine of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (₱15,000.00).
In Andres v. Majaducon, respondent judge was held liable for abuse of authority and was fined Twenty Thousand Pesos (₱20,000.00).
In Pastor C. Pinlac v. Oscar T. Llamas, Cash Clerk II, Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, San Carlos City, Pangasinan,14 then Cash Clerk II of the RTC was found guilty of grave misconduct and was accordingly meted a fine of ₱20,000.00.
Considering the circumstances attendant to this case, and in the spirit of compassion, we resolve to lower the penalty imposed on respondent Joaquino based on the recent pronouncements of the Court. A penalty of a fine of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (₱10,000.00) is reasonable, considering the fact that he simply issued the writ of execution based on the March 6, 2008 Order15 of the RTC, which reads:
WHEREFORE, defendant’s [DBP’s] notice of appeal filed on December 18, 2006 is dismissed. The assailed Partial Summary Judgment dated September 6, 2006 having become final and executory, let a writ of execution issue against the defendant.
SO ORDERED.16
However, respondent Joaquino is sternly warned that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall merit his dismissal from the service. Clerks of court occupy a sensitive position in the judicial system, they are required to safeguard the integrity of the court and its proceedings, to earn and preserve respect therefor, to maintain loyalty thereto and to the judge as superior officer, to maintain the authenticity and correctness of court records, and to uphold the confidence of the public in the administration of justice. Clerks of court play a key role in the complement of the court and, thus, cannot be permitted to slacken on their jobs under one pretext or another.17
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the penalty imposed on respondent Jeoffrey S. Joaquino, Clerk of Court VII, Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Cebu City, is hereby modified. Accordingly, he is hereby ordered to pay a FINE of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (₱10,000.00), with a WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall merit his dismissal from the service.
SO ORDERED.
ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice
Chairperson
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate Justice |
ROBERTO A. ABAD
Associate Justice |
JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA
Associate Justice
Footnotes
1 Rollo, unpaged.
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 Id.
5 Id.
6 Id.
7 431 Phil. 1 (2002).
8 Id. at 1.
9 Id. at 2.
10 Id. at 1.
11 A.M. Nos. P-08-2567-68, October 30, 2009, 604 SCRA 668.
12 A.M. No. MTJ-05-1588, June 5, 2009, 588 SCRA 259.
13 A.M. No. RTJ-08-2137, February 10, 2009, 578 SCRA 191.
14 A.M. No. P-10-2781, November 24, 2010.
15 Rollo, unpaged.
16 Id.
17 Separa v. Atty. Maceda, supra note 7, at 9.
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