Facts:

• Normalyn P. Nacuray served as Clerk III in the Office of the Clerk of Court at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Manila.
• A financial audit was initiated on April 22, 2003, following a report from Atty. Jennifer H. dela Cruz-Buendia, the incumbent Clerk of Court.
• The audit revealed that Nacuray tampered with entries in the duplicate copies of the Court's official receipts.
• A discrepancy was noted when a representative from Summit Guarranty and Insurance Co. requested a certification for an official receipt dated April 15, 2003, showing a lesser amount of P20,000.00 instead of P40,000.00.
• The audit covered collections from July 1999 to April 2003, identifying most tampering between November 2002 and April 2003.
• Nacuray admitted to altering amounts in duplicate receipts while correctly reflecting them in original receipts.
• The audit uncovered a total shortage of P777,773.86 across various funds.
• A criminal case for Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Document was filed against her on April 30, 2003.
• The Court issued a resolution on August 18, 2003, requiring her to explain the shortages and to restitute the amount within thirty days.
• Nacuray was suspended but failed to comply with the Court's directives, leading to further sanctions.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Court found Normalyn P. Nacuray guilty of gross dishonesty and grave misconduct.
• She was dismissed from service with prejudice to reemployment in any government agency.
• Nacuray was ordered to restitute the a...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Court highlighted the paramount importance of integrity within the judiciary, requiring those in judicial roles to maintain the highest standards of honesty.
• Nacuray's admission of falsifying official receipts and her noncompliance with Court di...continue reading