Case Summary (A.M. No. 01-1-04-SC-PHILJA)
Request for Approval of Staffing Changes
Justice Azcuna's letter referenced a prior Court En Banc Resolution from September 23, 2008, that approved the existing staffing pattern of PHILJA. He proposed two key amendments: firstly, converting the position of PHILJA Attorney VI to Judicial Staff Head, while keeping the salary grade intact; secondly, reverting the status of specific positions from permanent to coterminous (temporary), which would provide the Chancellor the authority to appoint staff based on trust and confidence when necessary.
Administrative Recommendations
Following Justice Azcuna’s request, the Court directed the Office of Administrative Services to provide comments, resulting in a comprehensive memorandum from Atty. Eden T. Candelaria dated July 22, 2009. This memorandum analyzed Azcuna's proposal and made recommendations regarding the requested conversions and changes in staffing status. Notably, Candelaria pointed out that the Judicial Staff Head position is typically aligned with Justices' offices and recommended instead a reclassification of the PHILJA Attorney VI as the Head Executive Assistant to maintain the salary grade.
Analysis of Staffing Structure
A detailed review of the plantilla of the Office of the Chancellor revealed that certain positions, while initially classified as permanent, warranted a shift back to coterminous due to the nature of the work and the Chancellor's need for a trusted staff. Candelaria suggested the retention of the Records Officer II as permanent for continuity in record management. Additionally, similar adjustments were suggested for the Offices of the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Secretary, involving the conversion of positions to coterminous status.
Compliance and Joint Agreement
On August 12, 2009, Justice Azcuna communicated his agreement to the recommendations pertaining to his office while requesting a delay on changes proposed for the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Secretary’s offices until their respective terms concluded. This prompted another Court directive on August 18, 2009, requiring comments from the aforementioned offices regarding the proposed staffing changes.
Support from Vice-Chancellor and Executive Secretary
The response generated on August 27, 2009, included a joint letter from the PHILJA Vice-Chancellor, Justice Justo P. Torres, the Executive Secretary, Justice Marina L. Buzon, and Administrative Chief, Judge Thelma A. Ponferrada. They aligned with Azcuna's position and requested adherence to Candelaria’s recommendations concerning staffing provisions.
Court's Resolution
The Court granted Azcuna's request for the staff changes, determining that the reclassification recommended by Atty. Candelaria was meritorious. Consequently, certain positions in the Office of the Chancellor
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Case Overview
- The administrative matter originated from a letter dated June 17, 2009, from Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna, Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), to Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno.
- The letter requested the Court's approval for amendments in PHILJA's staffing pattern, specifically concerning the Chancellor's Office.
- The request was in reference to a previous Court En Banc Resolution dated September 23, 2008, which had already approved PHILJA's staffing pattern.
Proposed Amendments
- Justice Azcuna proposed two main amendments:
- Conversion of Position: Change the position of PHILJA Attorney VI (Salary Grade 27) to Judicial Staff Head, maintaining the same salary grade but changing the status from permanent to coterminous. This change would allow the Chancellor the discretion to hire a non-lawyer for the position if necessary.
- Reversion of Status: Revert the status of several positions from permanent to coterminous, including:
- SC Chief Judicial Staff Officer (SG 25)
- Judicial Staff Officer III (SG 18)
- Records Officer II (SG 14)
- Judicial Staff Assistant III (SG 10)
Court's Initial Response
- On June 23, 2009, the Court referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Services for comments within ten days.
- Atty. Eden T. Candelaria, Deputy Clerk of Court, submitted a Memorandum on July 22, 2009, providing observations and recommendations regarding Justice Azcuna's requests.
Key Observations by Atty. Candelaria
- Acknowledge the need for permanent positions in the Executive Offices to ensure