Republic of the
SUPREME COURT
SECOND DIVISION
DIOSCORO F. BACSIN, G.R. No. 146053
Petitioner,
Present:
QUISUMBING,
J., Chairperson,
- versus - CARPIO
MORALES,
TINGA,
VELASCO,
JR., and
BRION,
JJ.
EDUARDO O. WAHIMAN, Promulgated:
Respondent.
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D E C I S I O N
VELASCO, JR., J.:
In
this Petition for Review on Certiorari, petitioner Dioscoro F. Bacsin questions
the Decision[1] dated
August 23, 2000 of the First Division of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R.
SP No. 51900, which affirmed Resolution No. 98-0521 dated March 11, 1998 and
Resolution No. 99-0273 dated January 28, 1999, both issued by the Civil Service
Commission (CSC), dismissing petitioner from the service for Grave Misconduct.
Facts of the Case
Petitioner
is a public school teacher of
is the father of AAA, an elementary
school student of the petitioner.
AAA
claimed that on
Petitioner was charged with
Misconduct in a Formal Charge dated
In
his defense, petitioner claimed that the touching incident happened by accident,
just as he was handing AAA a lesson book.[6] He further stated that the incident happened
in about two or three seconds, and that the girl left his office without any
complaint.[7]
Resolution of the CSC
In
Resolution No. 98-0521 dated
Petitioner
filed a motion for reconsideration, but the same was denied in Resolution No.
99-0273 dated
Decision of the Court of Appeals
Petitioner
then brought the matter to the CA under Rule 43 of the 1997 Rules of Civil
Procedure, the recourse docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 51900.
Petitioner
raised the following issues before the CA:
1.
Whether or not there were efforts by [AAA], her parents
and the Honorable Civil Service Commission to magnify the accidental touching
incident on
2. Whether or not the guilt of the petitioner was supported by the evidence on record; and
3.
Whether or not there was irregularity in the imposition
of the penalty of removal.[9]
In resolving the case, the CA
determined that the issue revolved around petitioner’s right to due process,
and based on its finding that petitioner had the opportunity to be heard, found
that there was no violation of that right.
The CA ruled that, even if petitioner was formally charged with
“disgraceful and immoral conduct and misconduct,” the CSC found that the
allegations and evidence sufficiently proved petitioner’s guilt of grave
misconduct, punishable by dismissal from the service.
The Issues Before Us
The
petitioner now raises the following issues in the present petition:
1. Whether or not the petitioner could be guilty of acts of sexual harassment, grave misconduct, which was different from or an offense not alleged in the formal charge filed against him at the inception of the administrative case.
2. Assuming petitioner was guilty of disgraceful and immoral conduct and misconduct as charged by complainant, whether or not the penalty of dismissal from the service imposed by the Civil Service Commission and affirmed by the Court of Appeals is in accord with Rule XIV, Section (23) of the Omnibus Civil Service Rules and applicable rulings.
3. Whether or not the charge of Misconduct, a lesser offense, includes the offense of Grave Misconduct; a greater offense.
The petition is without merit.
Petitioner
argues that the CSC cannot validly adjudge him guilty of an offense, such as “Grave
Misconduct (Acts of Sexual Harassment),” different from that specified in the
formal charge which was “Misconduct.” He further argues that the offense of
“Misconduct” does not include the graver offense of “Grave Misconduct.”
This
argument is unavailing.
As Dadubo v. Civil Service Commission teaches:
The charge against the respondent in an administrative case need not be drafted with the precision of an information in a criminal prosecution. It is sufficient that he is apprised of the substance of the charge against him; what is controlling is the allegation of the acts complained of, not the designation of the offense.[10]
It is
clear that petitioner was sufficiently informed of the basis of the charge
against him, which was his act of improperly touching one of his students. Thus
informed, he defended himself from such charge.
The failure to designate the offense specifically and with precision is
of no moment in this administrative case.
The
formal charge, while not specifically mentioning RA 7877, The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, imputes on the petitioner acts
covered and penalized by said law.
Contrary to the argument of petitioner, the demand of a sexual favor
need not be explicit or stated. In Domingo v. Rayala,[11] it was held, “It is true that this provision
calls for a ‘demand, request or requirement of a sexual favor.’ But it is
not necessary that the demand, request, or requirement of a sexual favor be
articulated in a categorical oral or written statement. It may be
discerned, with equal certitude, from the acts of the offender.” The CSC found, as did the CA, that even
without an explicit demand from petitioner his act of mashing the breast of AAA
was sufficient to constitute sexual harassment.
Moreover, under Section 3 (b) (4) of RA 7877, sexual harassment in an
education or training environment is committed “(w)hen the sexual advances
result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the student,
trainee or apprentice.” AAA even
testified that she felt fear at the time petitioner touched her.[12] It cannot then be said that the CSC lacked
basis for its ruling, when it had both the facts and the law. The CSC found the evidence presented by the
complainant sufficient to support a finding of grave misconduct. It is basic that factual findings of
administrative agencies, when supported by substantial evidence, are binding
upon the Court.
Leaving
aside the discrepancy of the designation of the offense in the formal charge,
it must be discussed whether or not petitioner is indeed guilty, as found by the
CA and CSC, of “Grave Misconduct,” as distinguished from “Simple Misconduct.” From the findings of fact of the CSC, it is
clear that there is misconduct on the part of petitioner. The term “misconduct” denotes intentional
wrongdoing or deliberate violation of a rule of law or standard of behavior.[13]
We agree
with the rulings of the CSC and the CA.
In grave
misconduct, the elements of corruption, clear intent to violate the law, or
flagrant disregard of established rule must be manifest.[14] The act of petitioner of fondling one of his
students is against a law, RA 7877, and is doubtless inexcusable. The particular act of petitioner cannot in
any way be construed as a case of simple misconduct. Sexually molesting a child
is, by any norm, a revolting act that it cannot but be categorized as a grave
offense. Parents entrust the care and
molding of their children to teachers, and expect them to be their guardians
while in school. Petitioner has violated that trust. The charge of grave
misconduct proven against petitioner demonstrates his unfitness to remain as a
teacher and continue to discharge the functions of his office.
Petitioner’s
second argument need not be discussed further, as he was rightly found guilty
of grave misconduct. Under Rule IV,
Section 52 of the CSC Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases, “Grave Misconduct”
carries with it the penalty of dismissal for the first offense. Thus, the penalty imposed on petitioner is in
accordance with the Rules.
Petitioner
was not denied due process of law, contrary to his claims. The essence of due process is simply an
opportunity to be heard, or, as applied to administrative proceedings, an
opportunity to explain one’s side or an opportunity to seek for a
reconsideration of the action or ruling complained of.[15] These
elements are present in this case, where petitioner was properly informed of
the charge and had a chance to refute it, but failed.
A
teacher who perverts his position by sexually harassing a student should not be
allowed, under any circumstance, to practice this noble profession. So it must
be here.
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, this
petition is hereby DISMISSED, and the decision of the CA in CA-G.R. SP
No. 51900 is hereby AFFIRMED.
Costs
against petitioner.
SO
ORDERED.
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate
Justice
WE
CONCUR:
Associate Justice
Chairperson
Associate
Justice Associate Justice
ARTURO D. BRION
Associate
Justice
I attest that the
conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the
case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
Pursuant to Section 13,
Article VIII of the Constitution, and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, I
certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in
consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the
Court’s Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice
[1] Penned by Associate Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr. and concurred in by Presiding Justice Salome A. Montoya (retired) and Associate Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr. (now retired member of the Court).