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Ferma Portic vs Mario Lopez, et al

FERMA C. PORTIC, complainant, vs. MARIO B. LOPEZ, Legal Researcher; and GLENN A. UMALI, Clerk III, respondents.

A.M. No. P-01-1452 | 2001-07-11

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

The image of a court as a bastion of justice depends to a large extent on the personal and official conduct of its employees. Thus, from the judge to the lowest clerk, judicial personnel have the sacred duty to maintain the good name of the judiciary.

The Facts

In a sworn letter-complaint filed by Ferma C. Portic on March 22, 1999,[1] Officer-in-Charge Mario B. Lopez and Clerk III Glenn A. Umali of the Regional Trial Court of Malolos, Bulacan, were charged with grave misconduct, negligence of duty and abuse of authority. The pertinent portion of the letter-complaint reads thus:

"1. Na ako si Mrs. Ferma...