A.M. No. P-97-1248 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 96-99-P) - MARIEL ECUBE-BADEL, VS. DAVID DE LA PEÑA BADEL, COURT STENOGRAPHER III, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 68, SAN CARLOS CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, it has decided to treat this case as respondents first offense and to impose on him the corresponding penalty of suspension. Considering that he lied before finally admitting his offense and only because the evidence against him is well-nigh clear, suspension for one year without pay should be imposed on him without prejudice to the filing of another complaint for grave immorality should the annulment case fail and he continues maintaining illicit relations. It would be more prudent to suspend judgment on the question whether he is guilty of a second offense so as to justify dismissing him from the service, pending the decision in the annulment case. WHEREFORE , respondent is suspended without pay for one year. Respondent is required forthwith to inform the Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator, of the outcome of the case for annulment now pending in the Regional Trial Court, Branch 57 of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Let a copy of this decision be entered in respondents personal record and another one furnished the Office of the Court Administrator for its information and guidance. SO ORDERED.