CA affirms ‘abusive’ CHR exec’s dismissal

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed its ruling last year upholding the dismissal of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commissioner Cecilia Rachel “Coco” Quisumbing for abusing her subordinates.

In a two-page resolution released yesterday, the former special 6th Division of the CA denied the motion for reconsideration filed by former CHR official for lack of merit.

Instead, the CA stood firm on its ruling in August last year that dismissed Quisumbing’s petition seeking the reversal of the Ombudsman ruling finding her guilty of grave misconduct and violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The resolution, dated March 22, was penned by Associate Justice Jane Aurora Lantion last March 22.

Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Carmelita Salandanan Manahan concurred in this ruling.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Ma. Regina Eugenio, Elizabeth Diego-Buizon, Alexander Fernandez and Jesse Ayuste, who were co-terminus employees of Quisumbing.

In September 2013, Eugenio filed a complaint alleging that Quisumbing hired her in 2008 as Administrative Aide VI and that during her more than four years of employment, she and her officemates were always mistreated, shouted at and humiliated by Quisumbing.

She alleged that Quisum-bing would always get very angry at them for no reason, and then suddenly change her mood as if nothing happened.

Eugenio also said Quisum-bing made a script for office staff to follow on how to answer her questions and that the former commissioner allegedly maintained several ghost employees.

She added that Quisum-
bing promoted her, provided that she give the former commissioner her salary increase differential.

The CA affirmed the ombudsman’s findings and its decision to dismiss Quisumbing from government service for grave misconduct and violation of Section 7 (d) of Republic Act 6713, the code of conduct for government officials and employees, for solicitation of gifts.