SC: Ombuds can impose sanctions vs. erring teachers and DepEd staff
The Office of the Ombudsman can impose sanctions against erring public school teachers, according to the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Reynato Puno issued the clarification saying that it is not true that the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and Employees prohibit the Ombudsman from imposing sanctions to erring teachers and employees of the Department of Education.
Puno said Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and Employees was enacted way back in June 18, 1966 while Congress created the Republic Act 6670 — the Ombudsman Act on November 17, 1989 – or 23 years later.
“The 1987 Constitution and the provisions of the Republic Act 6770 were quite explicit in conferring authority on the Ombudsman to act on complaints against all public officials and employees,” the Supreme Court ruled.
According to Puno, the Ombudsman under the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act 6770 is intended to play a more active role in the enforcement of laws on anti-graft and corrupt practices and other offenses committed by public officials and employees.
“The Ombudsman is to be an activist watchman, not merely a passive one. He is vested with broad powers to enable him to implement his own actions. The Ombudsman’s order to remove, suspend, demote, fine, censure or prosecute government officials and employees is not merely advisory or recommendatory, but is actually mandatory,” Puno said.
The High Court has granted the petition for certiorari filed by the Ombudsman to resolve the issue of whether the anti-graft body may directly discipline public school teachers and employees or merely recommend appropriate disciplinary actions to the Department of Education.
Very recently, a public school principal and a school employee in
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