Case Digest (G.R. No. 176162)
Facts:
Civil Service Commission v. Court of Appeals, Dr. Dante G. Guevarra and Atty. Augustus F. Cezar, G.R. No. 176162 and G.R. No. 178845, October 09, 2012, Supreme Court En Banc, Mendoza, J., writing for the Court.
Respondents Dr. Dante G. Guevarra (Officer‑in‑Charge/President) and Atty. Augustus F. Cezar (Vice President for Administration) were then officials of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). On September 27, 2005, Atty. Honesto L. Cueva, PUP Chief Legal Counsel, filed an administrative complaint with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) charging Guevarra and Cezar with, among others, falsification and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for alleged misstatements in Guevarra’s Application for Bond (General Form No. 58‑A) despite existing pending cases before the Sandiganbayan.
After a prima facie finding, the CSC issued Resolution No. 060521 (March 24, 2006) formally charging Guevarra (Dishonesty) and Cezar (Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service). The respondents filed motions for reconsideration and to declare absence of a prima facie case; Cueva sought preventive suspension and additional charges. In Resolution No. 061141 (June 30, 2006) the CSC denied respondents’ motions and placed Guevarra under a 90‑day preventive suspension.
Respondents petitioned the Court of Appeals (CA) by certiorari and prohibition, which in its December 29, 2006 decision nullified the CSC resolutions for lack of jurisdiction, holding that the PUP Board of Regents (BOR) — as disciplining authority under the school’s charter and R.A. No. 8292 — had exclusive jurisdiction ...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Whether the Civil Service Commission has original concurrent jurisdiction to hear administrative cases filed directly with it against officials of a chartered state university (i.e., whether CSC may take cognizance of complaints filed directly with it by a government employ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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