A.M. No. P-03-1748 (Formerly A.M. No. 03-8-472-RTC) - OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, COMPLAINANT, VS. LIBRADA PUNO, CASH CLERK III.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, respondent Librada S. Puno, Cash Clerk III of the Office of the Clerk of Court-Regional Trial Court of Cabanatuan City is found GUILTY of DISHONESTY and GRAVE MISCONDUCT. She is DISMISSED from the service with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, excluding accrued leave credits, and with prejudice to reemployment in the Government or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations. She is further ORDERED to restitute the amounts of P600,051.81 (net of amount restituted) pertaining to the Sheriff Judiciary Development Fund (SJDF) and P1,000.00 pertaining to the Sheriff General Fund (SGF) (now the Special Allowance for the Judiciary), per Resolution of the Court dated 10 January 2005. The Financial Management Office, Office of the Court Administrator, is DIRECTED to compute all the benefits to which respondent Puno is entitled to be included in the restitution of the computed shortages. The OCA is also ORDERED to coordinate with the prosecution arm of the government to ensure the expeditious prosecution of respondent Puno for her criminal liability. Finally, the request of Presiding Judge Numeriano Y. Galang of the Municipal Trial Court of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija that he be cleared of money accountability is DENIED pending the submission of his explanation for the shortage and the required proof of remittance/s. SO ORDERED.