ROSENINA O. UY (COURT STENOGRAPHER I), BENIE B. PENSERGA (COURT STENOGRAPHER I), MARILYN C. LONZAGA (COURT STENOGRAPHER I), SOFRONIO S. MANATAD, JR. (COURT INTERPRETER I), CARMELITA C. ROSALES-GALLA (CLERK II), EDUARDO A. POMENTO (JUNIOR PROCESS SERVER), AND RESTITUTO T. CARDONA (UTILITY WORKER I),

Ruling

WHEREFORE, premises considered it is highly recommended that the complaint be dismissed, but respondent be admonished to improve her personal relations and rapport with her staff or co-employees." On March 21, 2003, Court Administrator Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. submitted his Evaluation Report, adopting the findings of Executive Judge Gomez and recommending the dismissal of the complaint, thus: "After a careful evaluation of the records of this case, we find no good reason to depart from the conclusion reached by the investigating judge that the instant complaint against respondent ought to be dismissed. The finding that respondent does not have good personal relations with her staff or co-employees as she is quarrelsome, eccentric, irritable and haughty to the extent of being hated by them is noteworthy. Undoubtedly a quarrelsome, eccentric, irritable and haughty attitude in the workplace is a trait that leaves much to be desired in a civil servant and employee of the judiciary. As a superior officer, exercising some administrative supervision over her co-employees, respondent should bear in mind that any improper behavior particularly during office hours exhibits not only a paucity of professionalism at the workplace but also a great disrespect to the Court itself ( Balisi-Umali vs. Peñalosa , 318 SCRA 406). "In view of the foregoing, we respectfully submit for the consideration to the Honorable Court our recommendation that the complaint against respondent be DISMISSED with a REMINDER to be more circumspect in the performance of her duties. Further, it is recommended that respondent be ADVISED to re-examine and change her attitude and conduct towards her co-workers so as to foster camaraderie and cooperation among them. After all, it is an accepted norm that the competent and expeditious dispensation of justice can be best attained when all court employees work together harmoniously." Apparent from the records is the fact that the instant complaint was filed by the above-named complainants as they could not accept respondent as their immediate "chief." They believe they have valid reasons. Respondent is an outsider. And, in the words of Executive Judge Gomez, she "has no good personal relations with her staff or co-employees as she is quarrelsome, eccentric, irritable and haughty to the extent of being hated by them." We are not inclined to dismiss the complaint as recommended. As clerk of court, she should be the role model of the court personnel in the observance of the standards of morality and decency, both in her official and personal conduct. We have repeatedly ruled that the behavior of every one connected in the dispensation of justice from the presiding judge to the lowliest clerk must always be beyond reproach and circumscribed with heavy burden of responsibility. [6] Failure to observe this rule is to erode the dignity and honor of the courts or to lay open to suspicion the official conduct of their personnel. [7] It bears stressing