SC finds clerk of court guilty for serious dishonesty, falsification, gross misconduct

The Supreme Court (SC) has found a clerk of court guilty for attending a convention using her colleague's name and identity.

In a 14-page decision promulgated in February 2026, the SC En Banc dismissed the Clerk of Court II of the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Buenavista, Agusan Del Norte for serious dishonesty, falsification of official documents, and gross misconduct.

The SC also ordered the forfeiture of her entire retirement benefits, except accrued leave credits, instead of a fine.

“[T]he act of falsification by a court personnel is inherently grave due to its adverse impact on government service,” it said.

“It violates the fundamental principle of public accountability and integrity that undermines the standards of conduct expected of public officers,” it added.

According to the SC, the case stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by a court stenographer of the MTC, who was supposed to attend a convention for stenographers in 2023 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The clerk later called the stenographer to ask if she could attend the convention using the stenographer’s name, but the stenographer refused.

The stenographer later discovered that despite not attending the convention, a certification of attendance and an acknowledgment receipt for P3,400 were issued under her name.

She found that the clerk attended the convention but falsified her DTR to show that she reported to the office. A check of P11,448 for the stenographer was also released but was received by the clerk.

The Judicial Integrity Board then found the clerk guilty of serious dishonesty.

The SC then modified the recommendation and found the clerk guilty of serious dishonesty, falsification of official documents, and gross misconduct. —VAL, GMA News