A.M. No. P-03-1740 - Susa vs. Pena

Franklin Q. Susa, Clerk of Court, filed a verified Affidavit-Complaint against Teofila Pe a, a Court Stenographer III, for serious neglect of duty, inefficiency, incompetence, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713).
The complaint arose from an inventory of cases at RTC, Branch 27, which revealed untransmitted appealed cases and unfiled pleadings, indicating a lack of proper case management.
Allegations included intentional concealment of cases and pleadings, with evidence suggesting that documents were hidden inappropriately, including under a footrest and in a process server's drawer.

In her Comment submitted to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), Pe a admitted to the allegations but requested a "second chance," citing work pressure and health issues as reasons for her failure to transmit cases.
She provided a medical certificate to support her claims of being sickly and expressed fear of reprimand from superiors as a reason for not disclosing her difficulties.

The OCA concluded that Pe a had hidden court records and documents inappropriately, which impeded the court's operations.
The OCA recommended a three-month suspension for Pe a, emphasizing the need for accountability and the importance of maintaining public trust in the judiciary.

The Court affirmed the OCA's findings but modified the penalty, emphasizing the heavy responsibility of judicial officials to uphold public trust and perform their duties diligently.
The Court found Pe a's explanations insufficient to absolve her of administrative liability, noting that her failure to transmit records constituted negligence.

The Court highlighted that while there was no substantial evidence of intentional concealment, Pe a's actions demonstrated a lack o...continue reading