SC dismisses court interpreter

CEBU, Philippines - The Supreme Court of the Philippines found a court interpreter guilty of dishonesty and falsification of official document for her failure to indicate her three daughters in her Personal Data Sheet (PDS).

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio dismissed Marilyn Avila of Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 3, Cebu City from service.

“Respondent proffers mere excuses that should not be given credence. Respondent’s intent to commit the dishonest act is evident. She made the same omission twice. She submitted two accomplished PDS forms within one year, both times omitting the names of her children,” decision reads.

Carpio meted the respondent the penalty of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of all benefits and disqualification for re-employment in the government service including government-owned or controlled corporations.

In the complaint filed by Manolito Villordon, an employee of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Minglanilla, he alleged that respondent made false entries in her PDS.

Villordon added that the respondent did not state in her PDS that she was married to a certain Junie Balacabas and that they had three children before they broke up. Villordon added that the respondent also falsified her income tax return.

The complaint was filed before the Office of the Court Administrator but it was referred to MTCC Executive Judge Oscar Andrino for “discreet investigation.”

Based on record, it was in 2001 that the complainant and the respondent met and started living as husband and wife but on 2008, they parted ways and found other partners.

Villordon said that after their break up, the respondent filed an administrative case against him before the BJMP.

“On 29 January 2009, at about 6:00 in the evening, the complainant and his partner, Maribel Caballero, met the respondent at the parking area of the Minglanilla Sports Complex. The three had an altercation. As a result, the respondent filed a case against complainant,” the complaint reads.

With that incident, Caballero likewise filed a complaint for physical injuries against the respondent before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

In her comment, the respondent said the act of the complainant in filing the case was for vengeance.

“Complainant has an axe to grind against me because we had an illicit affair, which I broke off when I entered government service,” she said.

The respondent admitted omitting the names of her children in her PDS but clarified that the same was done because of the absence of birth certificate of her children. She denied falsifying her civil status saying that she is, in fact, single.

“Respondent admitted having left out the names of her three children. She argued she did so because they were never her dependents and were in the custody of her parents. She claimed that she never claimed tax exemptions for her children,” comment reads.

Andrino recommended the dismissal of respondent from service. Andrino said going over the PDS of the respondent would show that the latter did not indicate her three daughters and failed to disclose that there was a physical injuries case filed against her.  - THE FREEMAN