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FIRST DIVISION

 

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, G.R. No. 159395  Petitioner,  Present 

PUNO, C.J., C!"ir#erson,CARPIO,

  $ %ers&s $ A'CUNA,(E)ASCO, *R.,+ "n )EONARDO$DE CASTRO, JJ . 

COURT OF APPEA)S "n Pro-&/"teDR. MERCEDITA *. MACABU)OS,  Res#onents.  May 7, 2008 

 

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D E C I S I O N

 CARPIO, J.:

The Case

  T!is is " #etition or re%ie2 o t!e Deision "te 14 M"r! 663 "n t!e Reso&tion

"te 36 *&7 663 o t!e Co&rt o A##e"s in CA$G.R. SP No. 8811.

The Facts

  On 31 M"r! 199:, Dr. Min" ). (irt&es ;Dr. (irt&es< e0e&te " o-#"int$"i"%it

!"r/in/ Dr. Mereit" *. M""=&os ;Dr. M""=&os< 2it! is!onest7, /r"%e -ison&t,

o##ression, on&t /ross7 #re>&ii" to t!e =est interest o t!e ser%ie "n "ts &n=eo-in/ "

#&=i oii" in %io"tion o t!e Ci%i Ser%ie )"2s "n t!e Coe o Con&t "n Et!i"

St"n"rs or P&=i Oii"s "n E-#o7ees.

 

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  Dr. M""=&os, 2!o !e t!e #osition o Mei" Oier ( "t t!e De#"rt-ent o

E&"tion, C&t&re "n S#orts, N"tion" C"#it" Re/ion ;DECS$NCR<, 2"s t!e C!ie o t!e

S!oo He"t! "n N&trition Unit. Dr. (irt&es 2"s t!en S&#er%isin/ Dentist III 2or?in/ &ner

t!e s&#er%ision o Dr. M""=&os. Dr. (irt&es "sserte in !er o-#"int t!"t in M"7 1994, Dr.

M""=&os re@&ire !er to s&=-it ent" "n -ei" reei#ts or t!e i@&i"tion o Dr.

M""=&os "s! "%"ne in t!e 7e"r 1995 "-o&ntin/ to P5,666 or t!e #&r!"se o ent"

-eiines "n s&##ies. Dr. (irt&es i not s&=-it reei#ts "n in%oies onsierin/ t!"t s!e

2"s not 7et "ssi/ne "t t!e S!oo He"t! "n N&trition Unit, DECS$NCR 2!en Dr. M""=&os

in&rre t!e "s! "%"ne.

Be"&se o Dr. (irt&es "i&re to #ro&e reei#ts "n in%oies, Dr. M""=&os "e/e7

s&=>ete Dr. (irt&es to se%er" or-s o !"r"ss-ent =7 1< en7in/ !er re@&est or t!e

#&r!"se o ent" s&##ies "n e@&i#-ent < re@&irin/ !er "n !er o$2or?ers to si/n "nAtten"ne )o/ Boo? e%er7 ti-e t!e7 "rri%e "t t!e oie "n "/"in =eore e"%in/ t!e oie

e%en i t!e7 2ere "re"7 &sin/ t!e e-#o7ees =&n7 o? "n si/nin/ t!e Atten"ne S!eet

in t!e oie 3< t!re"tenin/ Dr. (irt&es "n !er o$2or?ers 2it! tr"nser o "ssi/n-ent <

senin/ etters to Dr. (irt&es t!re"tenin/ to !"r/e !er 2it! ins&=orin"tion "n

isres#et "n 5< t!re"tenin/ to ?i !er "n !er !&s="n or o ot!er !"r- to !er "n !er

"-i7.

  In !er o&nter$"i"%it, Dr. M""=&os enie orin/ Dr. (irt&es to -"?e " i@&i"tion "s

t!e "tter 2"s not 7et "ssi/ne to !er &nit "t t!e ti-e t!e "s! "%"ne 2"s -"e. Dr.

M""=&os i?e2ise "i-e t!"t 2!ie t!e P5,666 "s! "%"ne 2"s in !er n"-e =ein/ t!e

on7 =one e-#o7ee in t!eir &nit, it 2"s Dr. Antoni" )o#e$Dee ;Dr. Dee<, 2!o 2"s t!en t!e

S&#er%isin/ Dentist, 2!o &se t!e -one7 to #&r!"se -ei" "n ent" s&##ies. Att"!e to

Dr. M""=&os o&nter$"i"%it 2"s "n &nnot"rie "i"%it o Dr. Dee 2!i! "-itte, "-on/

ot!ers, t!"t s!e re@&este Dr. M""=&os to -"?e t!e "s! "%"ne.

  Dr. M""=&os "ttri=&te t!e iin/ o t!e o-#"int "/"inst !er to #roession" >e"o&s7.

Dr. (irt&es "e/e7 resente Dr. M""=&os orer, re@&irin/ " e-#o7ees &ner !er

s&#er%ision to si/n "n "tten"ne o/ =oo?. Dr. M""=&os i-#ose t!e ne2 re@&ire-ent "s "

re-ei" -e"s&re to &r= Dr. (irt&es "e/e #r"tie o e"%in/ t!e oie 2it!o&t #er-ission

to en/"/e in #ri%"te #r"tie "t t!e P!ii##ine )&n/ Center 2!ere Dr. (irt&es !&s="n

2"s "so " entist. Dr. M""=&os enie t!"t s!e insti/"te t!e tr"nser o Dr. (irt&es "n !er 

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t2o riens to ot!er &nits "n "e/e t!"t it 2"s Dr. (irt&es "n !er riens 2!o re@&este or

t!e tr"nser o "ssi/n-ent.

  In !er re#7$"i"%it, Dr. (irt&es "e/e t!"t Dr. M""=&os, in enorin/ t!e &se o t!e

"tten"ne o/ =oo?, sin/e !er o&t "t!o&/! t!ere 2ere ot!ers 2!o "ie to si/n t!e o/=oo?. Dr. (irt&es enie en/"/in/ in #ri%"te #r"tie. Dr (irt&es #ointe o&t t!"t s!e

onronte Dr. Dee, 2!o iso2ne t!e ontents o !er "e/e "i"%it 2!i! Dr. M""=&os

"tt"!e to !er o&nter$"i"%it. Dr. (irt&es "i-e t!"t it 2"s Dr. M""=&os 2!o

-"e t!e P5,666 "s! "%"ne, i-#ro#er7 s#ent t!e "-o&nt, "n "ter trie to i@&i"te t!e

s"-e 2it! t!e t"-#ere S"es In%oie No. 3388 iss&e =7 Mesorent Center to onor- to

t!e "-o&nt o t!e "s! "%"ne.

  On 9 Dee-=er 666, Gr"t In%esti/"tion Oier I U7sis S. C"&-#" ;GIO I C"&-#"<

renere " eision "=so%in/ Dr. M""=&os ro- t!e "-inistr"ti%e !"r/e. Ho2e%er, O%er"

De#&t7 O-=&s-"n M"r/"rito P. Ger%"io, *r. ;O%er" De#&t7 O-=&s-"n Ger%"io<

is"##ro%e t!e eision o GIO I C"&-#".

In%esti/"tin/ &rt!er, t!e O-=&s-"n re@&ire Dr. Dee to onir- !er st"te-ents in !er

&nnot"rie "i"%it "te 1 Se#te-=er 199:. In re#7, Dr. Dee iso2ne t!e st"te-ents in

!er &nnot"rie "i"%it. In !er s2orn "i"%it "te 9 M"7 661, Dr. Dee st"te t!"t "t!o&/!

s!e si/ne t!e &nnot"rie "i"%it "te 1 Se#te-=er 199:, t!e ontents o t!e irst #"/e

2ere entire7 ierent ro- t!e one "tt"!e =7 Dr. M""=&os in !er o&nter$"i"%it. Dr. Dee

"sserte t!"t "s S&#er%isin/ Dentist, !er >o= in%o%e t!e re@&isition o t!e neess"r7 !e"t!

"n ent" s&##ies =&t not t!e #&r!"sin/ o s&##ies 2!i! 2"s one =7 t!e #&r!"sin/ &nit o 

t!e S!oo He"t! "n N&trition Unit 2!i! 2"s &ner Dr. M""=&os. Dr. Dee enie

en"s!in/ t!e !e? or P5,666 2!i! 2"s in t!e n"-e o Dr. M""=&os. Dr. Dee

i?e2ise enie #&r!"sin/ t!e s&##ies ini"te in t!e Mesorent Center s"es in%oie 2!i!

2"s s&=-itte =7 Dr. M""=&os to i@&i"te !er P5,666 "s! "%"ne.

  In " Me-or"n&- "te 13 *&ne 661, Gr"t In%esti/"tion Oier II *&it" M. C"eron;GIO II C"eron< re%erse t!e eision o GIO I C"&-#". GIO II C"eron o&n Dr.

M""=&os /&it7 o is!onest7, "sii"tion, /r"%e -ison&t, on&t /ross7 #re>&ii" to t!e

=est interest o t!e ser%ie "n %io"tion o re"son"=e oie r&es "n re/&"tions eine "n

#en"ie &ner t!e Ci%i Ser%ie )"2s. T!e Me-or"n&-, "##ro%e =7 O%er" De#&t7

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O-=&s-"n Ger%"io "n O-=&s-"n Ani"no A. Desierto, i-#ose &#on Dr. M""=&os t!e

#en"t7 o is-iss" ro- /o%ern-ent ser%ie.

On 11 *&7 661, Dr. M""=&os ie " -otion or reonsier"tion, 2!i! 2"s enie in

"n Orer "te 8 *&7 661.

  On 31 A&/&st 661, Dr. M""=&os ie " #etition or re%ie2 2it! t!e Co&rt o A##e"s.

On 14 M"r! 663, t!e Co&rt o A##e"s renere " eision, t!e is#ositi%e #ortion o 2!i!

re"s

  HEREFORE, #re-ises onsiere, t!e #etition is GI(EN DUECOURSE. T!e "ss"ie -e-or"n&- "te *&ne 13, 661 "n t!e orer "te*&7 8, 661 o t!e Oie o t!e O-=&s-"n in OMB Case No. 0-98-0438  "re!ere=7 RE(ERSED "n SET ASIDE. T!e e"rier eision o t!e GOI I U7sis S.

C"&-#" o t!e Oie o t!e O-=&s-"n is REINSTATED "n t!e s&=>eto-#"int DISMISSED. No #rono&ne-ent "s to osts. 

SO ORDERED. 

The Ruling of the Court of Appeals

  T!e Co&rt o A##e"s !e t!"t &ner Setion 6;5< o Re#&=i At No. 8446 ;RA 8446<,

t!e Oie o t!e O-=&s-"n ;O-=&s-"n< "n no on/er in%esti/"te t!e o-#"int sine t!e

"ts o-#"ine o 2ere o--itte -ore t!"n one 7e"r ro- t!e iin/ o t!e o-#"int. T!e

Co&rt o A##e"s o&n irre/&"r t!e re%ers" o t!e e"rier eision o GIO I C"&-#",

"=so%in/ Dr. M""=&os ro- t!e "-inistr"ti%e !"r/e, -"in7 on t!e ="sis o t!e re"nt"tion

o Dr. Dee o !er #re%io&s st"te-ents ont"ine in "n "i"%it.

T!e Co&rt o A##e"s !e t!"t Dr. M""=&os retire-ent ro- /o%ern-ent ser%ie i

not rener t!e "-inistr"ti%e "se -oot "n ""e-i.

)"st7, itin/ Setion 4 o RA 8446, t!e Co&rt o A##e"s r&e t!"t t!e Me-or"n&-

Orer "te 13 *&ne 661 o t!e O-=&s-"n, i-#osin/ &#on Dr. M""=&os t!e #en"t7 o

is-iss" ro- /o%ern-ent ser%ie, is not i--ei"te7 e0e&tor7.

The Issues

  Petitioner r"ises t!e oo2in/ iss&es

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1. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE COURT OF APPEA)S OF SEC.6;5<, RA 8446 AS A PRESCRIPTI(E PERIOD ON OMBUDSMAN

 ADMINISTRATI(E DISCIP)INAR CASES IS UNCONSTITUTIONA), ASTHE SAME UNDU) IMPINGES ON THE IN(ESTIGATOR

 AUTHORIT OF THE OMBUDSMAN ON AN ACT OR OMISSION APPEARING TO BE I))EGA), UN*UST, IMPROPER OR INEFFICIENT.

 . IN HIGH) MERITORIOUS CASES, AS HERE, THE PETITIONER

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN HAS THE DISCRETIONAR AUTHORIT TO CONDUCT ADMINISTRATI(E IN(ESTIGATION ONCOMP)AINTS FI)ED MORE THAN ONE ;1< EAR FROM THEOCCURRENCE OF THE ACT OR OMISSION COMP)AINED OF, ANDTHE RU)ING OF THE COURT OF APPEA)S THAT SUCHIN(ESTIGATION IS BARRED B REASON OF PRESCRIPTION IS AG)ARING NU))IT. 

3. CONTRAR TO THE APPE))ATE COURTS RU)ING, THERE ISMORE THAN SUBSTANTIA) E(IDENCE PRO(ING PRI(ATE

RESPONDENTS GUI)T, AND THE INCU)PATOR SORNSTATEMENT OF PRI(ATE RESPONDENTS SUPPOSED ONITNESS, BEING ADMISSIB)E IN E(IDENCE AND NOT REBUTTEDB PRI(ATE RESPONDENT, AS CORRECT) APPRECIATED BTHE OMBUDSMAN IN AD*UDGING PRI(ATE RESPONDENT GUI)TOF GROSS MA)FEASANCE NECESSITATING HER DISMISSA) FROMSER(ICE. 

. THE PENA)T OF DISMISSA) FROM THE SER(ICE METED ONPRI(ATE RESPONDENT IS IMMEDIATE) EECUTOR IN

 ACCORDANCE ITH THE (A)ID RU)E OF EECUTION PENDING APPEA) UNIFORM) OBSER(ED IN ADMINISTRATI(E

DISCIP)INAR CASES, AND THE RU)ING OF THE COURT OF APPEA)S TO THE CONTRAR IS A PATENT NU))IT. 

5. CONTRAR TO THE APPE))ATE COURTS RU)ING, THEPETITIONER OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN TIME) ANDRIGHTFU)) FI)ED ITS MOTIONS TO INTER(ENE AND FORRECONSIDERATION ON A PATENT) ERRONEOUS DECISION OFTHE COURT OF APPEA)S HICH HAS NOT ET ATTAINED FINA)IT.

 

The Ruling of the Court

  e in t!e #etition -eritorio&s. T!e Co&rt o A##e"s s!o& !"%e /r"nte t!e -otion or

inter%ention ie =7 t!e O-=&s-"n. In its eision, t!e "##e"te o&rt not on7 re%erse t!e

orer o t!e O-=&s-"n =&t "so e%e into t!e in%esti/"tor7 #o2er o t!e O-=&s-"n. Sine

t!e O-=&s-"n 2"s not i-#e"e "s " #"rt7 2!en t!e "se 2"s "##e"e to t!e Co&rt o

 A##e"s in "or"ne 2it! Setion 8, R&e 3 o t!e R&es o Co&rt, t!e O-=&s-"n !" no

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ot!er reo&rse =&t to -o%e or inter%ention "n reonsier"tion o t!e eision in orer to

#re%ent t!e &n&e restrition o its onstit&tion"7 -"n"te in%esti/"tor7 #o2er.

Prescription

T!e Co&rt o A##e"s !e t!"t &ner Setion 6;5< o RA 8446, t!e O-=&s-"n is

"re"7 ="rre =7 #resri#tion ro- in%esti/"tin/ t!e o-#"int sine it 2"s ie -ore t!"n one

7e"r ro- t!e o&rrene o t!e o-#"ine "t. e in t!is inter#ret"tion =7 t!e "##e"te

o&rt &n&7 restriti%e o t!e &t7 o t!e O-=&s-"n "s #ro%ie &ner t!e Constit&tion to

in%esti/"te on its o2n, or on o-#"int =7 "n7 #erson, "n7 "t or o-ission o "n7 #&=i oii"

or e-#o7ee, oie or "/en7, 2!en s&! "t or o-ission "##e"rs to =e ie/", &n>&st,

i-#ro#er, or ineiient.

  Setion 6 o RA 8446 re"s

 Se. 6. Exceptions. T!e Oie o t!e O-=&s-"n ma not on&t

t!e neess"r7 in%esti/"tion o "n7 "-inistr"ti%e "t or o-ission o-#"ine o i it =eie%es t!"t  ;1< T!e o-#"in"nt !"s "n "e@&"te re-e7 in "not!er >&ii" or@&"si$>&ii" =o7  ;< T!e o-#"int #ert"ins to " -"tter o&tsie t!e >&risition o t!eOie o t!e O-=&s-"n  ;3< T!e o-#"int is tri%i", ri%oo&s, %e0"tio&s or -"e in =" "it!

  ;< T!e o-#"in"nt !"s no s&iient #erson" interest in t!e s&=>et-"tter o t!e /rie%"ne or   !"# The complaint $as file% after one !&# ear from the occurrence ofthe act or omission complaine% of' ;E-#!"sis s&##ie<

 

T!e &se o t!e 2or -"7 is orin"ri7 onstr&e "s #er-issi%e or iretor7, ini"tin/

t!"t " -"tter o isretion is in%o%e. T!&s, t!e 2or -"7, 2!en &se in " st"t&te, oes not

/ener"7 s&//est o-#&sion. T!e &se o t!e 2or -"7 in Setion 6;5< o RA 8446 ini"tes

t!"t it is 2it!in t!e isretion o t!e O-=&s-"n 2!et!er to on&t "n in%esti/"tion 2!en "

o-#"int is ie "ter one 7e"r ro- t!e o&rrene o t!e o-#"ine "t or o-ission.