A.M. No. P-09-2670 - Office of the Administrative Services - Office of the Court Administrator vs. Calacal

Rodrigo C. Calacal, a Utility Worker I at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Alfonso Lista-Aguinaldo, Ifugao, left the country for Singapore from May 15, 2008, to June 6, 2008.
He did so without obtaining the necessary travel authority as mandated by OCA Circular No. 49-2003.
The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) received his application for leave on July 31, 2008, along with his daily time record indicating his return to work on June 10, 2008.

Upon being directed by the Court to explain his non-compliance with OCA Circular No. 49-2003, Calacal claimed he was unaware of the circular due to the absence of a copy in his office.
He also mentioned that his leave application was approved by the Clerk of Court.
The OCA found his explanation unsatisfactory, leading to a recommendation for disciplinary action.

The OCA recommended that Calacal be reprimanded for violating reasonable office rules and regulations, as per Rule IV, Section 52 (C) (3) of the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.
OCA Circular No. 49-2003 explicitly states that judges and personnel who leave the country without the required travel authority are subject to disciplinary action.

The circular specifies that unawareness of its provisions does not excuse non-compliance.
Penalties for violations include reprimand for the first offense, suspension for 1-30 days for the second...continue reading