G.R. No. 219352 - Anacta, Jr. vs. Sandiganbayan, 5th Division

Respondent Marilou T. Rodriguez took the 1988 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) in Manila on June 7 and 8, 1988.
The results were released in October 1988, and her name was not on the list of successful examinees.
Despite this, she applied for and was accepted as a staff nurse at the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in 1989, submitting a supposed passing rate of 79.6% in the 1988 NLE and a PRC Identification Card purportedly proving her registration.
She consistently declared in her Personal Data Sheets (PDS) from 1989 to 2000 that she passed the 1988 NLE with a 79.6% rating and possessed a valid PRC license.
She resigned from the hospital on July 31, 2002, after which she worked abroad in various nursing roles, passing the NLE in November 2009.
Upon her return to the Philippines in 2013, she was appointed nurse at the Office of City Health Officer, Mati, Davao Oriental.

In 2014, the CSC Regional Office No. XI issued a Show Cause Order regarding her PDS filings that stated she passed the 1988 NLE and held a valid license.
Verification with the PRC revealed the PRC Identification Card she presented belonged to another person, "Ella S. Estopo," indicating it was fake.
Respondent did not comply with the Show Cause Order but admitted in answer that the PRC ID was fake, claiming "Evelyn Sapon" misled her about her “deferred status” and provided the fake documents. She claimed good faith and lack of intent to falsify.
On April 24, 2015, the CSC Regional Office formally charged her with:

The CSC Regional Office found respondent guilty of all charges and ordered dismissal with accessory penalties including cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification.
The CSC Proper affirmed the finding of guilt, subsuming falsification of documents under serious dishonesty, but clarified that accrued leave credits shall not be forfeited.
Respondent filed a Petition for Review with the Court of Appeals (CA), contending the charges were mooted by her resignation in 2002 and asserting good faith.
The CA ruled that although the charges were not mooted by her resignation and that jurisdiction was proper upon re-employment in 2013, she was absolved from administrative liability due to good faith and remorse, and ordered her reinstatement.
The CSC’s motion for reconsideration was denied by the CA.

The CSC filed a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45, challenging the CA’s decision and seeking reinstatement of the CSC decisions.
CSC argued the respondent’s good faith claim was unsupported by evidence and that her acts violated RA 877, as amended by RA 4704 (Philippine Nursing Law).

Whether the Court of Appeals committed reversible error in dismissing the administrative charges against respondent Marilou T. Rodriguez despite her submission and use of spurious NLE ratings, a fake PRC Identification Card, and false declarations in her Personal Data Sheets.