How the tables have turned.
The Supreme Court has disbarred a presiding judge from Calamba City, Laguna after being found guilty of falsification of official documents, serious dishonesty, gross misconduct, commission of crimes involving moral turpitude, and violations of the new code of judicial conduct.
In the court's press release dated June 10, 2024, Vice-Executive Judge and Presiding Judge of Branch 3, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Calamba City, Laguna Judge Sharon M. Alamada-Magayanes admitted that she falsified signatures of her contractual driver, who has already resigned, in the payroll registers.
Alamada was also in possession of the ATM cash card of the driver where the salaries from September 2020 until July 2021 were still being credited and consistently withdrawn upon the instructions of the suspect.
“In dismissing Judge Alamada from the service, the Court En Banc ruled that Judge Alamada’s actions demonstrated her moral depravity and fell short of the standards of a magistrate of the law,” the high court wrote in its decision.
Alamada was also disbarred for her “lack of remorse” and the number and severity of her offenses.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court found co-respondents and staff, Clerk of Court III Rachel Worwor-Miguel and Court Stenographer II Beverly A. De Jesus guilty of Falsification of official documents and serious dishonesty.
Since the two were only acting upon orders from their superior and did not benefit from the falsifications, the court only fined Worwor-Miguel P140,000 and De Jesus P20,000.
“Court employees are obliged to practice a high degree of work ethic and to set a good example for other court employees in the standards of propriety, honesty, and fairness,” the Supreme Court warned all judicial employees.
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