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EN BANC

IN RE:  AFFIDAVIT OF FRANKIE

N. CALABINES, A MEMBER OF

THE CO-TERMINUS STAFF OF

JUSTICE JOSEFINA GUEVARRA-

SALONGA, RELATIVE TO SOME

ANOMALIES RELATED TO CA-G.R CV

NO. 73287, “CANDY MAKER, INC.

v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.”

x ----------------------------------------------- x

FRANKIE N. CALABINES,

Utility Worker I-CT,

Complainant-Respondent,         A.M. No. 04-5-20-SC

- versus -                                            Present:

LUIS N. GNILO,                                                  PUNO, C.J.,

Utility Worker I,                                                    QUISUMBING,

Respondent.                                                YNARES-SANTIAGO,

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ,*

DOLOR M. CATOC,                                            CARPIO,

Complainant,                                      AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ,

CORONA,

- versus -                                            CARPIO MORALES,

AZCUNA,

FELICIANO S. CALINGA, Utility                         TINGA,

Worker I; EVELYN L. CAGUITLA,                      CHICO-NAZARIO,

Court Stenographer IV; LUIS N.                            VELASCO, JR.,

GNILO, Utility Worker I; and ATTY.                    NACHURA, and

EDWIN MICHAEL P. MUSICO,                          REYES, JJ.

Court Attorney IV-CT,

Respondents.                           Promulgated:

November 21, 2007

X ------------------------------------------------------ X

RESOLUTION

PER CURIAM:

In a Decision promulgated on March 14, 2007, the Court found the respondents in this case guilty of grave misconduct for the anomalies committed in connection with the case of Candy Maker, Inc. v. Republic of the Philippines, docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 73287.  The dispositive portion of the Decision states:

WHEREFORE, respondents Feliciano S. Calinga, Evelyn L. Caguitla, Luis N. Gnilo and Atty. Edwin Michael P. Musico are found GUILTY OF GRAVE MISCONDUCT and are meted the penalty of DISMISSAL, pursuant to Section 22 (a) and (c), Rule XIV of the Omnibus Rules implementing Book V of Executive Order 292 and Other Pertinent Civil Service Laws, as amended by Section 52 (A), paragraphs 1 and 3 of CSC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 1999, with disqualification from employment in any government office and/or forfeiture of benefits, except for accrued leaves.  The charges of DISHONESTY and GRAVE MISCONDUCT against complainant-respondent Frankie N. Calabines are DISMISSED for lack of sufficient evidence.  No costs.

SO ORDERED.

On October 4, 2007, the Court received from respondent Evelyn L. Caguitla a motion for clarification of the dispositive portion of the Decision.  She stated that the penalty imposed upon the respondents is dismissal from the service with disqualification from employment in any government agency and/oror their benefits will be forfeited, except accrued leaves.  If the penalty is in the alternative, she prays that all benefits due her for 23 years of government service be ordered released to her since she has already been dismissed from the service. forfeiture of benefits, except accrued leaves.  She questions whether the penalty is in the alternative, that is, respondents may either be dismissed from the service with disqualification from employment in any government agency

The Court holds that the penalty is not in the alternative.  In its Decision, the Court sustained the findings in the Report of Investigating Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr. and approved his recommendation, thus:

1)                                    That respondents    Feliciano S. Calinga, Evelyn L. Caguitla, Luis N. Gnilo and Atty. Edwin P. Musico be held liable for GRAVE MISCONDUCT and be meted the corresponding penalty of   DISMISSAL,   pursuant to Section 22 (a) and (c), Rule XIV   of the   Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order 292 and Other Pertinent Civil Service
Laws, as amended by Section 52 (A), paragraphs 1 and 3 of CSC    Memorandum Circular No.  19, Series of 1999, with disqualification from employment in any government office and with forfeiture of benefits, except for accrued leaves; and

2)         That     the     charges     of     DISHONESTY     and     GRAVE MISCONDUCT  against  complainant-respondent  Frankie  N. Calabines be DISMISSED for lack of sufficient evidence.

The dispositive portion of the Decision is therefore corrected, thus:

WHEREFORE, respondents Feliciano S. Calinga, Evelyn L. Caguitla, Luis N. Gnilo and Atty. Edwin Michael P. Musico are found GUILTY OF GRAVE MISCONDUCT and are meted the penalty of DISMISSAL, pursuant to Section 22 (a) and (c), Rule XIV of the Omnibus Rules implementing Book V of Executive Order 292 and Other Pertinent Civil Service Laws, as amended by Section 52 (A), paragraphs 1 and 3 of CSC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 1999, with disqualification from employment in any government office and forfeiture of benefits, except for accrued leaves.  The charges of DISHONESTY and GRAVE MISCONDUCT against complainant-respondent Frankie N. Calabines are DISMISSED for lack of sufficient evidence.  No costs.

SO ORDERED.

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, it is hereby clarified that the penalty of dismissal imposed on respondents Feliciano S. Calinga, Evelyn L. Caguitla, Luis N. Gnilo and Atty. Edwin Michael P. Musico carries with it disqualification from employment in any government office and forfeiture of benefits, except for accrued leaves.

No costs.

SO ORDERED.

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief Justice

LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING

Associate Justice

(On Official Leave)

CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO

Associate Justice

ANGELINA SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ

Associate Justice

ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Associate Justice

MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ

Associate Justice

RENATO C. CORONA

Associate Justice

CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES

Associate Justice

DANTE O. TINGA

Associate Justice

ADOLFO S. AZCUNA

Associate Justice

MINITA V. CHICO-NAZARIO

Associate Justice

PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.

Associate Justice

ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA

Associate Justice

RUBEN T. REYES

Associate Justice



* On Official Leave.