A.M. No. MTJ-23-014 [Formerly JIB FPI No. 21-024-MTJ - Hon. Sharon Magayanes vs. Hon. Leah Angeli B. Vasquez-Abad

A.M. No. MTJ-23-014: Alamada vs. Abad (Gross Ignorance of Law)
A.M. No. MTJ-23-015: Abad vs. Alamada, Worwor-Miguel, De Jesus (Dishonesty, Misconduct)
A.M. No. MTJ-24-026: Abad & Sakkam vs. Alamada (Conduct Unbecoming)
A.M. No. MTJ-24-027: Alamada vs. Sakkam & Abad (Gross Ignorance, CJC Violation)

April 20–26, 2021: Filing, raffle and motu proprio dismissal of four criminal cases against Jeffrey Ostil Tamayo
June–October 2021: Exchange of administrative complaints and correspondence among judges
November 2020–July 2021: Continued salary deposits to Eraga’s LGU-issued cash card
March–June 2022 & September 2022–March 2023: OED and JIB Reports & Recommendations
April 11, 2024: En Banc decision

1987 Philippine Constitution
Rules of Court: Rule 114 (bail), Rule 140 (administrative procedure), Rules on Summary Procedure
Supreme Court and OCA Circulars: A.M. Nos. 03-8-02-SC, 05-08-26-SC; SCAC Nos. 33-2020, 89-2020, 94-2020; Circular 1-90
2004 New Code of Judicial Conduct (NCJC)
2023 Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA)
A.M. No. 21-08-09-SC (penalty guidelines for administrative offenses)

MTJ-23-014 (Alamada vs. Abad)
Abad, as Executive Judge, motu proprio dismissed three summary‐procedure criminal cases before raffle. Alamada charged her with gross ignorance, seeking preventive suspension. Abad argued good faith reliance on circulars and promptly recalled her orders once clarified.
MTJ-23-015 (Abad vs. Alamada, Worwor-Miguel, De Jesus)
Eraga claimed his LGU-issued cash card was retained by Alamada’s staff and that salary credits continued to be withdrawn after his September 2020 resignation. Abad accused Alamada and her staff of falsifying JO‐worker payroll registers and misappropriating public funds.
MTJ-24-026 (Abad & Sakkam vs. Alamada)
Abad and Sakkam alleged that Alamada made demeaning and discourteous comments during the videoconference raffle of cases, including references to vaccination status and threats concerning retirement.
MTJ-24-027 (Alamada vs. Abad & Sakkam)
Alamada counter‐accused Abad and Sakkam of gross ignorance and NCJC violations for filing unverified administrative complaints and for unauthorized notarizations under SC Circular 1-90.

Are the respondents administratively liable under the Constitution, Rules of Court, relevant circulars, NCJC and CPRA for:

Motu proprio dismissals (Abad)?
Falsifying payroll registers and misappropriating funds (Alamada, Worwor-Miguel, De Jesus)?
Improper conduct or unverified complaints (Abad, Sakkam)?

MTJ-23-014 (Abad’s gross ignorance charge)
- Abad misinterpreted summary‐procedure and Executive Judge directives amid COVID-19 circulars but immediately recalled her dismissal orders.
- First administrative infraction; lack of malice or repetition.
  Ruling: Admonish Judge Abad for future compliance.
MTJ-24-026 & MTJ-24-027 (Hostility and unverified complaints)
- Notarization by Judge Sakkam and complaint investigation by Abad fall within their official functions (SC Circular 1-90; NCJC Canon 2).
- Allegations of discourtesy and unverified letters lacked personal knowledge and credible evidence.
  Ruling: Dismiss complaints against Abad and Sakkam for lack of merit.
MTJ-23-015 (Payroll falsification & fund misappropriation)
- Alamada admitted signing eight JO payroll registers certifying Eraga’s service after his resignation.
- ATM records and witness testimony (stenographer Agoncillo) show Alamada took Eraga’s cash card, directed withdrawals of LGU-credited funds, and misappropriated them.
- Worwor-Miguel and De Jesus signed falsified registers at Alamada’s instruction without knowledge of Eraga’s separation.
  Findings:
  • Falsification of Official Documents (payroll registers)
  • Serious Dishonesty (misappropriation of public funds, degrading court integrity)
  • Gross Misconduct (violating NCJC Canons 2 & 4)
  • Commission of Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (abuse of judicial authority for private gain)

Judge Sharon M. Alamada
• Dismissed from service; forfeiture of all benefits except accrued leave credits; disqualified from any public office
• Disbarred; name stricken from the Roll

Hon. Sharon M. Alamada-Magayanes (Vice Executive Judge/Presiding Judge, Branch 3, MTCC, Calamba City, Laguna) – complainant in A.M. No. MTJ-23-014; respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-23-015; respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-24-026; complainant in A.M. No. MTJ-24-027
Hon. Leah Angeli B. Vasquez-Abad (Executive Judge/Presiding Judge, Branch 1, MTCC, Calamba City, Laguna) – respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-23-014; complainant in A.M. No. MTJ-23-015; complainant in A.M. No. MTJ-24-026; respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-24-027
Hon. Eric Ismael P. Sakkam (Presiding Judge, Branch 2, MTCC, Calamba City, Laguna) – complainant in A.M. No. MTJ-24-026; respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-24-027
Ms. Rachel Worwor-Miguel (Clerk of Court III, Branch 3, MTCC, Calamba City, Laguna) – co-respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-23-015
Ms. Beverly A. De Jesus (Court Stenographer II, Branch 3, MTCC, Calamba City, Laguna) – co-respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-23-015
Ms. Alona P. Agoncillo (Court Stenographer II, Branch 3, MTCC, Calamba City, Laguna) – impleaded respondent in A.M. No. MTJ-23-015
Sandy Labarite Eraga – administrative complainant’s former driver; deponent of Sinumpaang Salaysay
Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) and Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) – investigative and recommending bodies

Four administrative matters were consolidated:
• A.M. No. MTJ-23-014 (Gross Ignorance of the Law charge by Alamada vs. Abad)
• A.M. No. MTJ-23-015 (Dishonesty, Misconduct, CJC violations by Abad vs. Alamada, Worwor-Miguel, De Jesus)
• A.M. No. MTJ-24-026 (Conduct Unbecoming charge by Abad and Sakkam vs. Alamada)
• A.M. No. MTJ-24-027 (Gross Ignorance, Rules violation by Alamada vs. Abad and Sakkam)
OCA and JIB issued a series of reports and recommendations, including:
• Dismissals for lack of merit (some cases)
• Formal investigations and preventive suspensions (A.M. No. MTJ-23-015)
• Re-docketing as regular administrative matters (A.M. Nos. MTJ-24-026 and MTJ-24-027)
En banc resolution promulgated April 11, 2024

A.M. No. MTJ-23-014 (Alamada vs. Abad)
• Four informations filed against Jeffrey Tamayo; bail application before raffle
• Judge Abad dismissed three informations motu proprio prior to raffle for lack of elements or venue
• Alamada alleged Executive Judge exceeded powers under Supreme Court and OCA directives
• Abad recalled dismissals after OCA clarification; Alamada sought preventive suspension
A.M. No. MTJ-23-015 (Abad vs. Alamada,