AM 97 1254; (October, 1997) (Digest)
G.R. No. A.M. No. P-97-1254 September 18, 1997
ANONYMOUS, complainant, vs. ADELA A. GEVEROLA, Clerk of Court IV, MTCC, Davao City, respondent.
FACTS
An anonymous letter-complaint charged respondent Adela A. Geverola, Clerk of Court IV of the MTCC, Davao City, with several offenses, including falsifying the daily time records of her nephews and collecting her salary while abroad on vacation. The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) investigated the charge regarding her absence. Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) records revealed that respondent departed for Tokyo, Japan on June 5, 1993, and arrived from Seoul, South Korea on July 17, 1993. Court records showed she filed an Application for Sick Leave dated July 1, 1993, for July 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, 1993, supported by a Medical Certificate dated July 1, 1993, diagnosing her with “Pityriasis Rosea & Massive Allergy” in Davao City. The OCA found that she was abroad on the dates she claimed to be sick in the Philippines. In her explanation, respondent admitted filing the sick leave application, claiming she was very sick with massive allergy, but did not directly address the BID evidence placing her outside the country. The OCA found her guilty of falsifying official documents and dishonesty for receiving salary and allowances for those days.
ISSUE
Whether respondent Adela A. Geverola is administratively liable for falsification of official documents and dishonesty.
RULING
Yes, respondent is administratively liable. The Court found her guilty of falsifying her application for sick leave and daily time record for July 1993, which are official documents. The anonymous complaint was substantiated by competent evidence, including BID certifications and court records, which conclusively showed she was out of the country on the dates she claimed to be on sick leave in Davao City. Her defense of illness was unavailing against this evidence. Her acts constituted dishonesty and violated the public trust mandated by the Constitution. As a clerk of court, she failed to uphold the required standards of integrity, honesty, and propriety. Considering her 39 years in government service, 22 of them in the judiciary, the Court imposed a penalty of suspension for two (2) months without pay. She was also ordered to return the amount of P2,308.19, representing overpayment of her salary and allowances for the fraudulent sick leave dates.