Complainant Mariano R. Nalupta, Jr. accuses respondent Honesto G. Tapec, Deputy Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 18, Batac, Ilocos Norte of immorality by cohabiting with his paramour Consolacion Inocencio, with whom he had two children, and of discharging the duties of Barangay Captain of Masintoc, Paoay, Ilocos Norte despite holding his present position.
In a sworn complaint dated September 20, 1988 filed with the Office of the Court Administrator, complainant Nalupta averred that he is the Congressman representing the Second District of Ilocos Norte, comprising the towns of Batac and Paoay, among others; that his wife's relatives are from Batac, and that they are close to a certain Consolacion Inocencio; that Consolacion Inocencio is the paramour of respondent Tapec, with whom she had two children, namely, Marc Henry Tapec, born September 23, 1985, and Joseph Marlou I. Tapec, born November 27, 1987, as shown by their respective birth certificates; that respondent Tapec is married to Felicitas Langaman from Paoay and that their marriage is still subsisting; and that respondent Tapec is cohabiting with Inocencio in such an open and scandalous manner that it offended the relatives of the wife of complainant Nalupta, constraining them to call his attention to it. Complainant also stated that respondent Tapec is presently discharging the duties of Barangay Captain of Masintoc, Paoay, despite his appointment as Deputy Provincial Sheriff.
The then Court Administrator, Hon. Maximo A. Maceren, referred complainant Nalupta's sworn complaint to this Court for its consideration on November 15, 1988. On January 16, 1989, this Court required respondent Tapec to file an answer to said complaint.
In an answer dated February 16, 1989, respondent Tapec vehemently denied the charges of immorality, claiming that these were "malicious and fabricated." He claims that his son Honesto Tapec, Jr. is the father of the two children Marc and Joseph, as shown by the affidavits of Consolacion Inocencio and Atty. Benigno Galacgac. He likewise denied the charge that he is discharging the duties of barangay captain, the truth being that he is merely a barangay consultant. Respondent attributed the filing of the complaint to his refusal to support complainant's candidacy during the 1987 elections, as well as his refusal to accommodate complainant's unreasonable requests in connection with several cases the latter was handling before the Regional Trial Court of Batac.
In reply, complainant points to several items in the certified true copies of the birth certificates submitted to the Court which show that respondent Tapec is the father of the two children. Regarding the charge that respondent is discharging the duties of barangay captain, complainant submitted a certification dated September 30, 1988 from Bonifacio A. Eclipse of the Department of the Local Government at Paoay, Ilocos Norte, to the effect that respondent was appointed OIC-Barangay Captain of Barangay No. 19, Masintoc, Paoay, Ilocos Norte on December 11, 1986. Complainant denies having any improper motive for filing the complaint.
On October 24, 1990, this Court referred the case to the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Batac, Ilocos Norte for investigation, report and recommendation. On December 5, 1990, Executive Judge Reynaldo Y. Maulit asked that the Court reassign the case to another Judge since respondent is the Deputy Sheriff assigned to his branch. In a resolution dated February 4, 1991, this Court granted Judge Maulit's request and reassigned the case to Executive Judge Wenceslao I. Agnir, Jr. of the Regional Trial Court of Laoag.
On April 29, 1991, the Court set aside the resolution of February 4, 1991 and again reassigned the case to newly-appointed Executive Judge Ariston L. Rubio of the Regional Trial Court of Batac. Judge Rubio set the case for hearing on September 23, 1991, and on said date, received the evidence for the complainant consisting of complainant's own testimony and that of Noel Rosario, and Exhibits "A" to "E" with sub-markings. Respondent failed to attend said hearing despite due notice.
Judge Rubio reset the case for the reception of respondent's evidence on October 28 and 29, 1991. However, on October 10, 1991, respondent through counsel Atty. Romeo Bringas filed a Manifestation and Motion praying that the proceedings on September 23, 1991 be set aside and that Judge Rubio inhibit himself on the ground that he was a former client of Atty. Bringas.
Without ruling on the motion to set aside the proceedings of September 23, 1991, Judge Rubio asked this Court for permission to inhibit himself from hearing the case. In a resolution dated January 13, 1992, the request was granted and once again the case was reassigned to Judge Agnir.
Judge Agnir thereafter directed the parties to appear before him on March 18, 1992 for the purpose of setting the dates for the continuous hearing of the case. None of the parties appeared on said date, prompting Judge Agnir to reset the conference for April 6, 1992. The notice of the new date for the conference sent to respondent was returned to the court with the annotation "AWOL."
After several more postponements, the hearing resumed on July 10, 1992, with only the complainant's counsel Atty. Daniel Rubio appearing. Said counsel informed the court that his client had suffered a stroke and submitted a medical certificate attesting to such a fact. Counsel, who happened to be from Batac, also intimated to the court that respondent had gone abroad and had not returned since. Judge Agnir scheduled several more hearing dates, but since neither complainant nor respondent appeared, he issued an order on August 28, 1992 considering the case submitted for decision.
In an order dated September 14, 1992, Judge Agnir directed his Branch Clerk of Court to verify with the Local Civil Registrar of Batac, Ilocos Norte the authenticity of the birth certificates of Joseph Marlou I. Tapec and Marc Henry I. Tapec submitted by complainant and to verify with Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court of Batac, Ilocos Norte, the whereabouts of respondent.
On September 15, 1992, the Branch Clerk of Court submitted a report,
Seen in the light of the foregoing evidence, the affidavits of Consolacion Inocencio and Benigno Galacgac have no probative value at all.
The act of respondent of having illicit relations with Consolacion Inocencio is considered disgraceful and immoral conduct within the purview of Section 36 (b) (5) of Presidential Decree No. 807, otherwise known Civil Service Decree of the Philippines, for which respondent may be subjected to disciplinary action. Memorandum Circular No. 30, Series of 1989 of the Civil Service Commission has categorized disgraceful and immoral conduct as a grave offense for which a penalty of suspension for six (6) months and one (1) day shall be imposed for the first offense, while the penalty of dismissal is imposed for the second offense.
Inasmuch as the present charge of immorality against respondent constitutes the first charge of this nature, the Court shall at this instance suspend respondent for six (6) months and one (1) day. While it is true that during the investigation of this case, respondent has absented himself without official leave, the recommendation of his immediate superior, Judge Ariston L. Rubio, for his dismissal on this ground has yet to be received by this Court. The Court hereby reserves the right to impose the appropriate penalty upon respondent for this new offense at the proper time.
WHEREFORE, the Court hereby finds respondent Honesto G. Tapec GUILTY of the charge of immorality and is hereby suspended for six (6) months and (1) day without pay. The Court reserves the right to take appropriate measures against respondent if it is later shown that he has absented himself without official leave.
SO ORDERED.
Narvasa, C.J., Padilla, Regalado and Campos, Jr., JJ., concur.
