MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ruled that it cannot administratively discipline a locally funded government employee assigned to a lower court without its approval—but the employee may still face contempt proceedings for conduct that undermines the administration of justice.
The ruling came in the case of Juliet L. Corpuz, a former Baguio City Government employee detailed to the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) of Baguio City without the Supreme Court’s authorization.
The Court’s Third Division, in a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, found that Corpuz’s unauthorized detail was void and that it therefore had no administrative disciplinary jurisdiction over her.
Corpuz was accused of failing to register a couple’s marriage despite receiving a ₱500 registration fee, and later allegedly asking for ₱5,000 to prepare another marriage certificate even without a marriage license.
An investigation also found that she had received money from several couples whose marriages had been solemnized at the MTCC but remained unregistered with the local civil registrar.
The Judicial Integrity Board had recommended a ₱150,000 fine against Corpuz for conduct that tarnished the image of the courts.
The High Court rejected the administrative penalty, explaining that under Administrative Circular 28-2008, locally funded employees may be assigned to first- and second-level courts only with prior approval from the Court through the Office of the Court Administrator. Without such approval, the detail is void and the Court does not acquire administrative supervision or disciplinary jurisdiction over the employee.
But the Court said its authority did not end there.
