Title
Alfonso vs. Ignacio
Case
A.M. No. P-02-1557
Decision Date
Dec 8, 2004
A court stenographer faced allegations of distorting testimony in a civil case; the Supreme Court dismissed the complaint due to insufficient evidence and upheld the presumption of regularity in duty performance.
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Case Digest (A.M. No. P-02-1557)

Facts:

  1. Complaint Filed: Cenon R. Alfonso, President and CEO of Doctors of the New Millenium Holdings, Inc., filed an administrative complaint against Armando B. Ignacio, Court Stenographer III of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Pasig City, Branch 161, for gross negligence in relation to Civil Case No. 67654.
  2. Allegations:
    • Alfonso testified as a witness on August 9, 2000, and Ignacio was the stenographer on duty.
    • The transcript of stenographic notes (TSN) was delayed and contained grave discrepancies, distortions, and omissions in Alfonso’s testimony.
    • Alfonso’s lawyer, Atty. Norberto Ortiz Perez, confirmed the distortions and deliberate intent to alter the testimony.
    • On October 26, 2000, during the hearing, Judge Alicia P. Marino-Co ordered the re-taking of Alfonso’s testimony and instructed Ignacio to use a tape recorder.
  3. Respondent’s Defense:
    • Ignacio admitted to being the stenographer on duty but claimed he completed the transcription five days before the next hearing.
    • He denied any deliberate distortion and offered to read the stenographic notes in the presence of the complainant and the Deputy Court Administrator.
    • He admitted to a prior administrative charge but claimed he had since been more diligent in his work.
  4. OCA Report: The Office of the Court Administrator found the complaint meritorious and recommended a three-month suspension without pay, citing Ignacio’s failure to use a tape recorder as a precautionary measure.

Issue:

  1. Whether Armando B. Ignacio, as a court stenographer, was grossly negligent in his duties by allegedly distorting and omitting portions of Cenon R. Alfonso’s testimony.
  2. Whether the allegations of gross negligence were sufficiently substantiated by the complainant.

Ruling:

The Supreme Court dismissed the administrative complaint against Armando B. Ignacio for lack of merit.

Ratio:

  • (Unlock)

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