The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday announced that it has fired and permanently banned from government work a court sheriff in Imus, Cavite, who accepted a bribe for a drug case.
According to the court, it also revoked the retirement benefits of the court sheriff, who worked at the Imus City Regional Trial Court Branch 121.
This came after a woman complained that the sheriff asked her for P200,000 to speed up the drug case of her friend, with the sheriff claiming that the judge handling the case was his aunt.
He also claimed that the bail of the complainant’s friend would be granted.
Though she paid him P115,000, her friend’s bail was denied. Following this, the court sheriff blocked her on social media and changed his phone number.
In finding him guilty, the SC cited Section 1, Canon I of the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel, which states that court personnel should not use their position for personal gain.
Meanwhile, it said Section 2 forbids them from accepting gifts that could influence their actions.
“Due to the seriousness of [the sheriff’s] actions, as well as a previous record of misconduct, the SC imposed the ultimate penalty of dismissal,” the SC said in a statement.
“The SC also reminded all court employees to be role models of responsibility, competence, and efficiency. They are expected to do their jobs with the highest level of care as officers of the court and agents of the law,” it added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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