FIRST DIVISION
[A.M. No. P-00-1388. June 19, 2002]
YOLANDA Z. MANAPAT, complainant, vs. LEA M.
TOLENTINO, respondent.
D E C I S I O N
KAPUNAN,
J.:
Yolanda Manapat, Branch
Clerk of Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, National Capital Region, Branch
56-Malabon, filed a letter-complaint
dated July 22, 1998 with the Office of the Court Administrator (OCAD)
charging Lea M. Tolentino, Court
Stenographer of the same court with Habitual Absenteeism, Tardiness and
Inefficiency in the Performance of Duty.
Complainant alleged that:
Respondent, after being fined by the Court En Banc in the amount of one month’s salary in a Resolution dated July 6, 1993, started incurring absences from the onset of 1994 up to the filing of this complaint on July, 1998. She would absent herself without prior notice which, consequently, wreaked havoc in the work schedule of the other two court stenographers. There were also instances when litigants could not secure copies of transcript of stenographic notes because of respondent’s negligence.
She then issued a Memorandum to respondent dated April 24, 1995 giving her until the end of May 1995 to finish her untranscribed stenographic notes of cases pending decision, and a follow-up memorandum on April 30, 1995. However, respondent did not receive the follow-up memorandum because she did not report for work until June 29, 1998.
Finally on July 20, 1998, respondent submitted her TSN on the election hearings held on July 21, 1997, and of Criminal Case No. 2341-95 entitled “PPI vs. Arthur Necesario” heard on February 22, 1996. Nevertheless, respondent still has unstranscribed (sic) the stenographic notes on the hearings of Criminal Case No. 24-70, entitled “People vs. Calisin”, held on April, May, June, 1996.
She further avers that from January 1998 up to the filing of this complaint, respondent had stayed in the office for 2 ½ days only. Likewise, respondent submitted her DTR/Leave for April, 1998 only on June 29, 1998 of the same year.
She has been considerate and understanding with respondent’s work
attitude taking into account that respondent suffered several family
crisis. However, respondent seems to
abuse the treatment extended to her and did not exert efforts to fulfill her
share of obligations and even ignored her memorandum to finish transcribing the
TSN. She only complied with the order
when the directive came directly from the Supreme Court.[1]
In her Answer dated April
19, 1999, Lea Tolentino denied the allegations in the complaint. Respondent claims that as of August 1998, she
had already submitted all stenographic
notes due from her. As to her extended
absences, she avers that the same consisted only of “certain segments of time in 1997 and 1998” during which her
family was beset with medical crises, involving her husband, the eldest of her
two daughters, an invalid teenage son as well as two deaths in the family. She argues that those absences were covered
by sick and vacation leaves. Respondent
avers that there was no real urgency for the transcripts due to the elevation
to the RTC of then Presiding Judge Pedro M. Sabundayo, Jr. Thus, Branch 56 was allegedly in a somnolent
state for five (5) months from July 1998 up to November of the same year when
Judge Edison F. Quintin was appointed to said sala. However, Judge Quintin did not hold hearings until the first
working day of 1999. Respondent
alleges that her conduct was not prejudicial to the service and has caused no
harm to any party since said case with untranscribed TSN were not anyway being
followed-up by either of the
parties. Respondent adds that the
instant complaint was merely concocted by complainant to
harass and spite her. [2]
The records disclose that
this is not the first time that Lea Tolentino was sanctioned by the Court for
committing the same infractions.
In A.M. No. 93-6-416-MeTC, Lea
Tolentino was likewise charged for insubordination, failure to transcribe stenographic notes, and frequent
absences. In the Resolution dated July 20, 1993, respondent was imposed a fine
of one month’s salary with WARNING of a more severe penalty in case the same
offense is repeated. Respondent was
also directed to transcribe within thirty (30) days from notice all her pending
untranscribed stenographic notes and submit copies of the same to the Office of
the Court Administrator after their completion without prejudice to any action
that may be taken against her for her numerous absences.[3]
Upon evaluation of the
instant case, the OCAD found merit in
the complaint. Hence, in the Resolution
dated June 28, 2000, the Court resolved to
(1) DOCKET this case as a regular administrative matter; (2)
DIRECT complainant to submit to the Office of the Court
Administrator an updated list of respondent’s pending/untranscribed
stenographic notes; and (3) require the parties to MANIFEST if they are willing to submit the case on the
basis of the pleadings already filed within ten (10) days from notice hereof.[4]
Complainant complied with
the Court’s directive.[5]
The instant complaint was
consequently referred to Executive
Judge Benjamin Aquino, Regional Trial Court, Branch 72, Malabon for investigation, report and
recommendation.[6]
Pursuant to the Court’s
resolution, Judge Benjamin Aquino submitted the following report and findings
dated July 31, 2001:
A) As to the charge of Habitual Absenteeism:
A.1 While it may be true that the numerous absences were incurred by respondents because of family medical crises, it is worth mentioning that said absences were not covered by appropriate official leave. Respondent herself admitted that she did not report for work from January to March 1998 but that her application for leave was approved only on February 11, 1998. As to her absence from April 1998 until almost the end of July of the same year, respondent merely informed complainant of her intention to extend her leave, but without actually filing her application for leave.
A.2 Relevant hereto is Section 22 of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of E.O. No. 292, which considers an officer or employee in the Civil Service to be habitually absent if he incurs unauthorized absences exceeding the allowable 2.5 days monthly credit under the Leave Law for at least 3 months in a semester or at least 3 consecutive months during the year.
A.3 Employees applying for vacation leave, whenever possible, must submit in advance their applications for leave. This requirement must be complied with assiduously “its purpose being undoubtedly to enable the management to make the necessary adjustment in order that the work may not be paralyzed or hampered.
A.4 As pointed out, respondent’s failure to file appropriate application for leave for the period April 1 to July 8, 1998 should not be taken lightly although said respondent’s absence may have been prompted by medical emergencies. She should have taken steps to ensure compliance with procedures so as not to disrupt the office schedule.
B). As to the charge of Inefficiency in the Performance of Duty:
B.1 It can not be denied that respondent was remiss in her duty of transcribing her stenographic notes of the court proceedings on time. Records reveal that respondent submitted the transcripts due her not within the mandated period but a few months after the proceedings took place. Although, as mentioned, respondent was pressed with other problems besetting her family, it cannot be denied that equally important is her sworn duty to transcribe her stenographic notes on time in line with Par. 2 of Administrative Circular No. 24-90:
xxx
2.B
Respondent herself admitted that she transcribed her notes only after
receipt of the 1st Indorsement of the Office of the Court Administrator
requiring her to do so. In this
regard, the evaluation of the Office of the Court Administrator is hereby
adopted, to wit:
“x x x. More specifically the transcript of the stenographic notes on the
hearings of Case No. 2470-95 held on July 13 and 25, 1996 and August 27, 1996
were submitted only on August 31, 1998.
On even date, she submitted the TSN’s on the hearings of Cases Nos.
3653-96 and 3585-96 held on February 13, 1997 and December 10, 1996,
respectively. She likewise ignored the
two memoranda issued by complainant directing her to finish all her
untranscribed stenographic notes that had long been overdue. It was only on July 20, 1998, pursuant to a
1st Indorsement issued by the Office of the Court
Administrator, that she submitted the TSN of election hearings held on July 21, 1997. x x x”
2.C From the foregoing, respondent has shown herself to be less than zealous in the performance of the duties of her office which demands utmost dedication and efficiency.
2.D As oft repeatedly held, a public office is a public trust. All public officers are accountable to the people at all times. Their duties and responsibilities must be strictly performed. As administration of justice is a sacred task, this Court condemns any omission or act which would tend to diminish the faith of the people in the Judiciary. Every employee or officer involved in the dispensation of justice should be circumscribed with the heavy burden of responsibility and their conduct must, at all times, be above suspicion.
However, it cannot likewise be denied that respondent has manifested remorse and had in fact sought compassion and understanding to her predicament. In view of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby respectfully adopts the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator dated 4 May 2000 by recommending the suspension of respondent for a period of two (2) months without pay with a stern warning that a repetition of a similar act in the future shall merit a more severe penalty.
Subsequent to the
Executive Judge’s report, respondent wrote a letter addressed to the Hon. Bernardo Ponferrada, Office of the
Court Administrator averring that the recommended sanction imposed upon
her had come to her knowledge. She
asked for a reconsideration of the penalty of two (2) months suspension
without pay recommended to be imposed upon her
considering the extraordinary
circumstances her family went through.
As the breadwinner of her family, the proposed two months suspension
without pay is certainly , according to her, a heavy toll on their already
precarious financial situation.
We adopt the findings of
the Executive Judge.
Respondent is indeed
guilty for the delay in the transcription of stenographic notes in
contravention of Administrative Circular No. 24-90 which provides that:
2. (a) All stenographers are required to transcribe all stenographic notes and to attach the transcripts to the record of the case not later than twenty (20) days from the time the notes are taken. The attaching may be done by putting all said transcripts in a separate folder or envelope which will then be joined to the record of the case.
(b) The stenographer concerned shall accomplish a verified month certification as to compliance with this duty. In the absence of such certification or for failure and/or refusal to submit it, his salary shall be withheld.
Her claim that there was
no urgency in her submission of the
TSN’s since they were not being
followed up by the parties is unacceptable.
Neither can we consider her domestic responsibilities as valid
justification for her omission.
Respondent has undoubtedly failed to exercise due diligence in the
performance of her duty in transcribing
her stenographic notes within the required period as mandated by our
circular.
As to the charge of
habitual absenteeism, we can not also countenance her prolonged absences without prior application and notice. Respondent as a court employee is covered by
the civil service law which requires the filing of an application for leave of
absence prior to the intended days of absence. Her proffered excuse that these are medical emergencies deserves scant consideration. She should have taken steps to ensure
compliance so as not to disrupt the office schedule.
We, however, note
respondent’s admission of lapses in her
work and her appeal for compassion and
reconsideration of the recommended sanction imposed upon her by the investigating
judge. Much as we would like to
commiserate with the respondent’s plight, we can not however compromise the
Court’s duty to the public. The conduct
and behavior of everyone connected with an office charged with the dispensation
of justice is circumscribed with the heavy burden of responsibility.[7] This is necessary so as not to corrode the
faith and confidence of the people in the judiciary.
Finally, this is not
respondent’s first offense. s the
records disclose, she has been previously fined and warned not to repeat the
same or similar offense, lest a more severe penalty shall be imposed. Thus, we find the sanction recommended by
the investigating judge reasonable for respondent’s offenses.
IN VIEW OF THE
FOREGOING, the Court
Resolved to SUSPEND respondent Lea M. olentino for two (2) months without pay.
SO ORDERED.
Vitug, and Austria-Martinez, JJ., concur.
Davide, Jr., C.J.,
(Chairman), and Ynares-Santiago, J., on official leave.