Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila EN BANC A.M. No. 00-11-521-RTC June 20 2001 RE!

AB"ENCE #$T%&'T &(($C$A) )EA*E +A#&), &( M". )$)$AN B. BANT&- C&'RT "TEN&-RAP%ER $$$ RTC BRANC% 1./ PA"$- C$T0. PER CURIAM: This 1ecision 2efe2s to an a34inist2ati5e case a6ainst Ms. )ilian B. Banto6 Cou2t "teno62aphe2 $$$ of the Re6ional T2ial Cou2t +RTC, of Pasi6 Cit7 B2anch 1./. The case ste4s f2o4 the habitual absence f2o4 office of Ms. Banto6 since Janua27 8 1999. 1 Afte2 se5e2al 2e4in3e2s an3 :a2nin6s the RTC B2anch Cle2; of Cou2t Att7. Pete2 Paul Mataban6 finall7 issue3 a Me4o2an3u4 2 3ate3 Jul7 19 2000 3i2ectin6 the 2espon3ent to 2epo2t fo2 :o2; :ithin fi5e +5, 3a7s f2o4 2eceipt the2eof an3 to e<plain in :2itin6 :h7 she shoul3 not be 32oppe3 f2o4 the 2olls. Althou6h she 2epo2te3 fo2 :o2; on Jul7 25 2000 2espon3ent faile3 to e<plain :ithin the p2esc2ibe3 pe2io3 :h7 she shoul3 not be 32oppe3 f2o4 the 2olls. #o2se she faile3 to 2epo2t fo2 :o2; a6ain on Jul7 2= an3 2/ 2000. The last ti4e she 2epo2te3 fo2 :o2; :as on Jul7 >1 2000. "ince then she has 6one on absence :ithout official lea5e. &n "epte4be2 / 2000 the b2anch cle2; of cou2t 2eco44en3e3 to the Cou2t A34inist2ato2 > he2 su44a27 3is4issal f2o4 the se25ice an3 that he2 position be 3ecla2e3 5acant in o23e2 that a ne: cou2t steno62aphe2 4a7 be appointe3 to the position to p2e5ent the 3is2uption of the flo: of :o2; in the sai3 cou2t b2anch. &n the sa4e 3ate actin6 P2esi3in6 Ju36e (lo2ito ". Macalino in3o2se3 to the Cou2t A34inist2ato2 the lette2 of Att7. Mataban6 li;e:ise 2eco44en3in6 the 3is4issal f2o4 the se25ice of Ms. Banto6 fo2 2epeate3 5iolation of Ci5il "e25ice Rules an3 Re6ulations. &n No5e4be2 21 2000 the "upl2e4e Cou2t en banc 3i2ecte3 the (inancial Mana6e4ent &ffice to :ithhol3 the sala2ies an3 benefits of Ms. Banto6 upon the 2eco44en3ation of the )ea5e 1i5ision of the &ffice of the Cou2t A34inist2ato2. 8 $t 4ust be note3 that on Ap2il 1= 2000 Ms. Banto6 2epl7in6 to an ea2lie2 Me4o2an3u4 :a2nin6 he2 of su44a27 3is4issal 3ue to he2 2epeate3 absences :2ote a lette2 to the Cou2t A34inist2ato2 in :hich she openl7 a34itte3 he2 habitual absenteeis4. "he e<plaine3 that he2 4a2ital :oes the 4at2iculation p2oble4s of he2 th2ee chil32en the lac; of ?ob of he2 husban3 all cont2ibute3 to he2 habitual absenteeis4. "he plea3e3 fo2 un3e2stan3in6 an3 to be 6i5en anothe2 chance. "he p2o4ise3 to 2efo24 he2 :o2; habits. Ne5e2theless as sho:n b7 the 2eco23s he2 p2o4ise3 2efo24 :as not fulfille3. A tho2ou6h 2e5ie: of the 2eco23s sho:s that Ms. Banto6 has been absent fo2 the follo:in6 pe2io3s. (o2 the 0ea2 1999! Month No. of 3a7s

Janua27 8 19, 20 21 an3 22 (eb2ua27 1., 1= 28 25 an3 2. Ma2ch / 9 11 12 15 19 22 2> 28 25 an3 2. Ma7 > 8 5 . = 21 28 25 2/ an3 >1 June Jul7 1 2 > 8, 5 = 12 18 15 1. 19 21 2> 2= an3 29 1ece4be2 2 1> an3 28 (o2 the 0ea2 2000! Month Jul7 20 21 28 2=, an3 2/ Au6ust-p2esent No. of 3a7s 5 3a7s

5 3a7s 5 3a7s 11 3a7s 10 3a7s 1 4onth 15 3a7s 2 1@2 3a7s

Absence :ithout official lea5e

&n No5e4be2 21 2000 the Cou2t 2esol5e3 to! Aa, N&TE the Me4o2an3u4 3ate3 19 &ctobe2 2000 of %e24o6ena (. Ba7ani "C Ju3icial "taff &ffice2 )ea5e 1i5ision &ffice of A34inist2ati5e "e25ices &ffice of the Cou2t A34inist2ato2 an3 +b, 1$RECT the (inancial Mana6e4ent &ffice &CA to #$T%%&)1 the sala2ies an3 othe2 benefits of Ms. )ilian Banto6 Cou2t "teno62aphe2 $$$ RTC B2anch 1./ Pasi6 Cit7 fo2 ha5in6 been absent :ithout official lea5e +A#&), since >1 Jul7 2000.A5 &n (eb2ua27 20 2001 the Cou2t 2efe22e3 this a34inist2ati5e 4atte2 to the &ffice of the Cou2t A34inist2ato2 fo2 2eco44en3ation on :hethe2 Ms. Banto6 shoul3 be 32oppe3 f2o4 the 2olls. . &n Ma2ch / 2001 the Cou2t 2ecei5e3 the &CABs 2epo2t. = $ts fin3in6s a2e as follo:s! A$t appea2s that Ms. Banto6 has been 2epeate3l7 :a2ne3 an3 2eCui2e3 to e<plain 2e6a23in6 he2 habitual unautho2iDe3 absences b7 he2 i44e3iate supe2io2 Cle2; of Cou2t Att7. Pete2 Paul Mataban6. Ms. Banto6 al:a7s 2easone3 out that she coul3 not 2epo2t fo2 :o2; 2e6ula2l7 as she :as 2esol5in6 the p2oble4s an3 nee3s of he2 fa4il7. A"ince Ms. Banto6 sho:e3 no i4p2o5e4ent in he2 :o2; ethic Att7. Mataban6 2eco44en3e3 in his lette2 3ate3 / "epte4be2 2000 the su44a27 3is4issal of Ms. Banto6 b7 2eason of he2 blatant 3is2e6a23 of the Ci5il "e25ice Rules an3 Re6ulations. Ju36e Macalino li;e:ise in3o2se3 the sa4e to the Cou2t fo2 fa5o2able action the2eon. AActin6 on the 2eco44en3ation of the )ea5e 1i5ision of this &ffice in a Me4o2an3u4 Repo2t 19 &ctobe2 2000 the %ono2able Cou2t 1$RECTE1 in its En Banc Resolution of 21 No5e4be2 2000 the (inancial Mana6e4ent &ffice to #$T%%&)1 the sala2ies

an3 benefits of Ms. Banto6 fo2 ha5in6 been absent :ithout official lea5e +A#&), since Jul7 2000.A/ Actin6 Cou2t A34inist2ato2 Eenai3a N. ElepaFo 2eco44en3e3 that AMs. )ilian Banto6 Cou2t "teno62aphe2 $$$ RTC B2anch 1./ Pasi6 Cit7 be 1$"M$""E1 f2o4 the se25ice an3 the position of Cou2t "teno62aphe2 $$$ in sai3 cou2t be 1EC)ARE1 *ACANT.A9 $n ?ustif7in6 he2 3is4issal f2o4 the se25ice the actin6 Cou2t A34inist2ato2 2atiocinate3 as follo:s! AReco23s 2e5eal that this is not the fi2st ti4e Ms. Banto6 :ent GonH absence :ithout lea5e fo2 se5e2al ti4es in the past Gan3H he2 attention ha3 been calle3 GtoH he2 habitual absenteeis4. This not:ithstan3in6 Ms. Banto6 continue3 to ta;e he2 :o2; fo2 62ante3. %e2 action has been clea2l7 p2e?u3icial to the se25ice an3 ini4ical to the inte2est of the cou2t. AAs p2o5i3e3 fo2 un3e2 "ection .> Rule I*$ of the Ci5il "e25ice Rules as a4en3e3 Miss Banto6 4a7 al2ea37 be auto4aticall7 32oppe3 f2o4 the se25ice b7 2eason of absence :ithout official lea5e +A#&),. This section e<p2essl7 p2o5i3es that! JAn official o2 e4plo7ee :ho is continuall7 absent :ithout an app2o5e3 lea5e fo2 at least +>0, calen3a2 3a7s shall be consi3e2e3 on absence :ithout official lea5e +A#&), an3 shall be sepa2ate3 f2o4 the se25ice o2 32oppe3 f2o4 the 2olls :ithout p2io2 notice. %e shall ho:e5e2 be info24e3 at his a332ess appea2in6 on his 201 files o2 at his ;no:n :2itten a332ess of his sepa2ation f2o4 the se25ice not late2 than fi5e +5, 3a7s f2o4 its effecti5it7.KKK 10 #e sustain the 2eco44en3ation of the actin6 Cou2t A34inist2ato2. The 2eco23s sho: that Ms. Banto6Bs absences f2o4 Janua27 8 1999 up to the p2esent :e2e unautho2iDe3 because he2 applications fo2 lea5e :e2e 3enie3 b7 the b2anch cle2; of cou2t fo2 the 2eason that Ashe no lon6e2 has an7 lea5e c2e3it she can a5ail of.A 11 1espite the 5a2ious 2ep2i4an3s :a2nin6s an3 4e4o2an3a issue3 to he2 she pe2siste3 in testin6 the patience of he2 supe2io2 p2o4ptin6 the latte2 to :2ite a 3ispa2a6in6 e5aluation of he2 :o2; ethic to the Cou2t A34inist2ato2 to :it! AThe un3e2si6ne3Bs patience :ith Ms. Banto6 has 2un out. "he is 3elibe2atel7 4a;in6 a 4oc;e27 of the un3e2si6ne3Bs autho2it7 as he2 i44e3iate a34inist2ati5e supe2io2. Ms. Banto6Bs p2opensit7 to 3ecei5e people a2oun3 he2 inclu3in6 he2 supe2io2s is inco22i6ible to sa7 the least.A12 Ci5il "e25ice Me4o2an3u4 Ci2cula2 No.2> "e2ies of. 199/ 3efines habitual absenteeis4 as follo:s! AAn office2 o2 e4plo7ee in the Ci5il "e25ice shall be consi3e2e3 habituall7 absent if he incu2s unautho2iDe3 absences e<cee3in6 the allo:able t:o an3 one-half +2 1@2, 3a7s 4onthl7 lea5e c2e3it un3e2 the )ea5e )a: fo2 at 1east th2ee +>, 4onths in a se4este2 o2 at least th2ee +>, consecuti5e 4onths 3u2in6 the 7ea2 < < <.A "ection 52-A Rule $* of Me4o2an3u4 Ci2cula2 No. 19 "e2ies of 1999 classifies habitual absenteeis4 as a 62a5e offense :ith the follo:in6 co22espon3in6 penalties! fo2 the fi2st offense -suspension fo2 si< +., 4onths an3 one +1, 3a7 to one +1, 7ea2L an3 fo2 the secon3 offense -3is4issal.

$t 4ust be e4phasiDe3 that Ms. Banto6 :as not onl7 habituall7 absent she has been on absence :ithout official lea5e f2o4 Jul7 2000 up to the p2esentL thus he2 sala2ies an3 benefits ha5e been :ithhel3 since No5e4be2 2000. 'n3e2 "ection .> Rule I*$ of the Ci5il "e25ice Rules as a4en3e3 Aan official o2 e4plo7ee :ho is continuall7 absent :ithout an app2o5e3 lea5e fo2 at least +>0, calen3a2 3a7s shall be consi3e2e3 on absence :ithout official lea5e +A#&), an3 shall be sepa2ate3 f2o4 the se25ice o2 32oppe3 f2o4 the 2olls :ithout p2io2 notice.A 'p to no: since he2 last 2epo2t fo2 :o2; on Jul7 >1 2000 2espon3ent has not p2esente3 he2self to he2 supe2io2s o2 :2ote an7 lette2 of e<planation o2 file3 an7 4otion fo2 2econsi3e2ation of the action ta;en b7 the Cou2t in 3i2ectin6 the (inancial Mana6e4ent &ffice to :ithhol3 he2 sala2ies an3 benefits.
1wphi1.nt

The Cou2t notes that in the past 2espon3ent faile3 to t2ansc2ibe steno62aphic notes of the cases assi6ne3 to he2 3ue to he2 f2eCuent absences. "uch :as he2 ne6lect of he2 3uties that she :as e5en cite3 fo2 3i2ect conte4pt an3 a :a22ant fo2 he2 a22est :as issue3 b7 Ju36e Ben?a4in *. Pela7o :hen she faile3 to 2epo2t fo2 :o2; an3 to sub4it the T"N in C2i4inal Case Nos. 10.9=1 an3 109/00. 1> $n the :o23s of the b2anch cle2; of cou2t she has Abeco4e 4o2e of a liabilit7 to the Cou2tA an3 he 3oes not Asee an7 i4p2o5e4ent o2 at least an effo2tA on he2 pa2t to i4p2o5e he2 attitu3e to:a23s he2 ?ob. 18 -i5en he2 utte2 3is2e6a23 of he2 3uties as a public se25ant an3 he2 2esponsibilities as an e4plo7ee of the Cou2t :e fin3 an3 hol3 that Ms. Banto6 has faile3 to li5e up to the e<actin6 stan3a23s fo2 public office. As hel3 in -a2cia 5. Eulla2an 15 AGtHhe con3uct an3 beha5io2 of e5e27one connecte3 :ith an office cha26e3 :ith the 3ispensation of ?ustice li;e the cou2ts belo: f2o4 the p2esi3in6 ?u36e to the lo:est cle2; shoul3 be ci2cu4sc2ibe3 :ith the hea57 bu23en of 2esponsibilit7.A Thei2 con3uct 4ust at all ti4es be cha2acte2iDe3 :ith p2op2iet7 an3 3eco2u4. As ensh2ine3 in the Constitution AGpHublic office is a public t2ust. Public office2s 4ust at all ti4es be accountable to the people se25e the4 :ith ut4ost 2esponsibilit7 inte62it7 lo7alt7 an3 efficienc7 < < <.A 1. Ti4e an3 a6ain this Cou2t has sai3 that it Acannot countenance an7 act o2 o4ission :hich 3i4inish o2 ten3 to 3i4inish the faith of the people in the Ju3icia27.A1= The 2eco23s of the 4atte2 clea2l7 sho: that Ms. Banto6 :as habituall7 absent f2o4 he2 :o2; since Janua27 8 1999 an3 has in fact been absent :ithout official lea5e f2o4 Jul7 2000 until the p2esent. WHEREFORE, Ms. )ilian Banto6 is he2eb7 DISMISSED f2o4 the se25ice :ith p2e?u3ice to 2ee4plo74ent in an7 b2anch o2 inst2u4entalit7 of the 6o5e2n4ent inclu3in6 6o5e2n4ent-o:ne3 o2 cont2olle3 co2po2ations. The position of Cou2t "teno62aphe2 $$$ of the RTC of Pasi6 Cit7 B2anch 1./ is he2eb7 DECLARED VACANT . SO ORDERED. Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Vitug, Kapunan, Mendoza, Pangani an, !uisu" ing, Pardo, Buena, #onzaga$%e&es, 'nares$(antiago, De )eon, Jr., (andoval$#utierrez, JJ., concu2.

Footnote Me4o2an3u4 to Ms. )ilian B. Banto6 b7 Cou2t A34inist2ato2 Alf2e3o ). Benipa7o 3ate3 Ma2ch 2> 2000.
1 2

Rollo p. 2.

)ette2 a332esse3 to then Cou2t A34inist2ato2 Alf2e3o ). Benipa7o b7 Att7. Mataban6 3ate3 "epte4be2 / 2000 2ollo p. 5.
>

This :as si6ne3 b7 Ms. %e24o6ena (. Ba7ani "C Chief Ju3icial "taff &ffice2 )ea5e 1i5ision of the &ffice of the Cou2t A34inist2ato2.
8 5

Cou2t En Banc Resolution in A.M. No. 00-11-521-RTC 3ate3 No5e4be2 21 2000. Cou2t En Banc Resolution in A.M. No. 00-11-521-RTC 3ate3 (eb2ua27 20 2001. "i6ne3 b7 Actin6 Cou2t A34inist2ato2 Eenai3a N. Elepano.

Me4o2an3u4 sub4itte3 b7 Actin6 Cou2t A34inist2ato2 Elepano 3ate3 Ma2ch . 2001.

/ 9

$bi3. $bi3.

10

)ette2 to Cou2t A34inist2ato2 Benipa7o b7 Att7. Mataban6 3ate3 "epte4be2 1 1999.

11 12

$bi3. &23e2 3ate3 (eb2ua27 2. 1999. Me4o2an3u4 to Banto6 f2o4 Att7. Mataban6 3ate3 June 21 2000.

1>

18

19. "CRA 1 8 Ap2il 19 1991 citin6 Monte4a7o2 5. Colla3o 10= "CRA 25/ 2.> "epte4be2 10 19/1.
15 1.

"ection 1 A2ticle I$ of the 19/= Constitution. -a2cia 5. Eulla2an sup2a.

1=