INVESTIGATING JUDGE JAIME E. CONTRERAS, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 25, NAGA CITY, COMPLAINANT, VS. PATRICIA DE LEON, CLERK III, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, NAGA CITY; EDGAR HUFANCIA, SHERIFF

Ruling

WHEREFORE , the Court hereby finds respondent Patricia De Leon, former Clerk III, Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Naga City, GUILTY of Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct, and Insubordination, and would have been DISMISSED from the service, had she not been earlier dropped from the rolls of court employees. Accordingly, all of her benefits, except accrued leave credits, if any, are hereby FORFEITED, WITH PREJUDICE to re-employment or appointment to any public office or employment, including government­ owned or controlled corporations. The Office of the Court Administrator is hereby DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY FILE the appropriate civil and criminal charges against respondent Patricia De Leon. As to respondent Pelagio Papa, Jr., Sheriff, Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Naga City, he is hereby found GUILTY of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and is hereby SUSPENDED from the service for SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY WITHOUT PAY , with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall be dealt with more severely. As regards respondent Edgar Surtida II, Sheriff IV, Regional Trial Court, Branch 25, Naga City, he is hereby found GUILTY of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Insubordination, and is hereby SUSPENDED from the service for ONE (1) YEAR WITHOUT PAY , with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar offense in the future shall be dealt with more severely. Finally, the Court reiterates that this case as against respondent Edgar Hufancia, Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Branch 21, Naga City, is hereby DISMISSED in view of his death. This Decision is IMMEDIATELY EXECUTORY . SO ORDERED.