Day: April 26, 2024

MANILA: A court sheriff has been dismissed from the service by the Supreme Court (SC) for asking money from parties and causing delays in implementing court orders.

In a ruling published on April 24, the high court dismissed Sheriff George Clemente Paniqui, Tarlac and fined him PHP215,000 for gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct.

The SC also forfeited Clemente’s retirement benefits.

He was named in a complaint filed by lawyer Sotero Rambayon, who represented the plaintiffs in a civil case related to the writs of execution.

In its ruling, the SC noted that Clemente ‘unduly delayed’ the implementation of the writ of execution in the civil case and failed to submit the sheriff’s report on time; and also delayed the execution of a judgment in another civil case for one year and eight months.

‘A sheriff’s long delay in the execution of the judgments and the failure to accomplish the required periodic reports demonstrate gross neglect and gross inefficiency in the performance of official duties,’ the Cou
rt said.

The SC also held Clemente liable for asking for a ‘police escort fee’ and ‘mobilization fee’ from the parties in the case.

It noted that the court sheriff did not deny demanding the fees from the litigants without court approval.

‘He is not cleared just because the litigants were willing to pay the amount, or because he eventually returned the money,’ the SC said.

It stressed that sheriffs are not authorized to receive payments from a winning party, and any amount paid to execute the writ should be deposited with the Clerk of Court, who would be the one to release the amount to the sheriff.

The SC noted that Clemente was aleadt disciplined by the court for the third time in the recent case Sagun v. Clemente, where he was found guilty for gross neglect of duty for unjustified failure to implement a writ of execution and submit a report.

He was also suspended for one year and warned that he would face more severe penalties for repeating a similar offense.

‘It is evident that he never learned fro
m his previous infractions, and he deliberately ignored the stem warnings from the Court. Having tarnished the good image of the judiciary, he should not be allowed to stay a minute longer in the service,’ the SC said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

NAGA CITY: The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) through its Anti-Cybercrime Unit is urging the public, particularly parents with minor children, to always check and monitor their kids’ online activities.

In an interview on the sidelines of the ‘The Impact of Cyber and Emerging Technologies on Public Safety’ symposium in Naga City on Friday, PRO5 Anti-Cybercrime Unit Chief Capt. Angelo Babagay said they noted a five-percent increase in filed cybercrime cases in the region during the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.

“Kung minsan ang mga malimit na nabibiktima ay mga minors. Akala nila may mga website na hindi nila alam mga predator ‘yun. Minsan yayayain mag-model, mga ganon ang mga nangyayari. (Sometimes the most frequent victims are minors. They go to websites which they don’t know have predators. Sometimes they would be invited to go into modeling. That’s what happens),” he said.

Babagay said that filed cybercrimes cases in the region include identity theft, cyberli
bel, cyberbullying, online threats, online scams and anti-photo-video voyeurism.

‘Halos araw-araw may nagrereklamo sa amin opisina. Hindi bumababa ng 10 kada araw (Almost everyday, someone complains at our office. Not less than 10 per day),’ he added.

He said they conduct school visitations to make students aware of cybercrimes and also talk with school and village officials.

He urged those who might experience cyber-related crimes to report to the police station.

The symposium was sponsored by the Information Sharing and Analysis Center at the Summit Hotel here.

Source: Philippines News Agency