Title
Buntag vs. Pana
Case
G.R. No. 145564
Decision Date
Mar 24, 2006
A social welfare assistant falsified reimbursement receipts for an event, leading to a one-year suspension upheld by the Supreme Court due to procedural errors and mitigating factors.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 145564)

Facts:

Background of the Case:

  • Petitioner Corazon G. Buntag was a Social Welfare Assistant at the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in Cagayan de Oro City.
  • She was designated as the chairman of the Universal Children's Month held on October 26 and 27, 1995.

The Alleged Offense:

  • Petitioner falsified six reimbursement receipts, each reflecting an amount of P1,200.00, which were supposed to represent the honorarium of six judges for the event.
  • However, the judges did not attend the event, and the amount was instead paid to Ms. Felisa Mantilla, a day care worker, who had advanced funds for the purchase of decoration materials.

Administrative Proceedings:

  • The Office of the Ombudsman (Mindanao) found petitioner guilty of six counts of Falsification of Official Document and initially ordered her dismissal from service.
  • Upon reconsideration, the penalty was modified to a one-year suspension from service.

Judicial Proceedings:

  • Petitioner filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court, which referred the case to the Court of Appeals (CA) in line with the ruling in Fabian v. Desierto.
  • The CA affirmed the Ombudsman's decision, prompting petitioner to file the present petition.

Issue:

  1. Whether the Court of Appeals committed grave abuse of discretion in affirming the Ombudsman's decision.
  2. Whether the penalty of one-year suspension imposed on petitioner was excessive, oppressive, or harsh under the circumstances.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court upheld the penalty of one-year suspension, finding no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the CA or the Ombudsman. The petition was dismissed for lack of merit.


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