Court stenographer sacked over fake annulment ruling

MANILA, Philippines — A court stenographer in Paniqui, Tarlac has been dismissed for grave misconduct after she allegedly duped a complainant into paying P250,000 in exchange for a fake annulment ruling, the Supreme Court (SC) reported yesterday. Aside from dismissal, the SC forfeited the retirement benefits of Rosalie Sarsagat, stenographer III of the Paniqui Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 67, and disqualified her from seeking reemployment in government.

The dismissal order stemmed from a complaint filed by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who applied for annulment of marriage at the Paniqui court branch.

The complainant said he was told that Sarsagat is a relative of a former judge of RTC Branch 67.

He said Sarsagat asked for P250,000 as payment for the processing of the annulment of his marriage.

The complainant said that  in 2018, Sarsagat gave him a copy of a court decision dated November 2015, and certificates of authenticity and finality of the annulment.

Sarsagat reportedly asked for another P30,000 from the complainant’s sister for the registration of the annulment.

After receiving the money, Sarsagat reportedly ceased communicating with the OFW and his relatives.

The complainant said he discovered that the documents given to him by Sarsagat were fake.

The SC granted a recommendation of the Judicial Integrity Office (JIO) to dismiss Sarsagat and found her guilty of two counts of gross misconduct.

The JIO said Sarsagat does not deserve to remain in the judiciary.

The SC said that in the past, the lower court had figured in a similar offense, which resulted in the dismissal of a judge and imposition of fines on Sarsagat.