SC dismisses, disbars clerk for embezzling P12 M

The Supreme Court dismissed and disbarred a clerk of court in Tagaytay City for issuing fake court orders and the embezzlement of court fees worth P12 million.

In a 14-page resolution, the Court dismissed and disbarred Anna Liza Luna, clerk of court of the Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court Branch 18.

The SC also ordered that Luna reimburse the cash shortfall in the court fee collection worth P12,085,831.61.

Records of the case against Luna will also be sent to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing of criminal charges against her.

Constantly warned that dishonesty which amounts to malversation of public funds will not be countenanced as they definitely reduce the image of courts of justice to mere havens of thievery and corruption,” the SC said.

The case stemmed from an allegation of Judge Reuben de la Cruz, then assisting judge of RTC, Branch 18, and now deputy court administrator, that Luna issued a decision and an order that made it appear that these were issued by the trial court.  Judge de la Cruz added that he was furnished a copy of a demand letter addressed to Luna for the return of P50,000, which Luna solicited from a party for the issuance of a new owner’s copy of a transfer certificate of title.

A financial audit by the Office of the Court Administrator later found a cash shortfall of P12,085,831.61 owing to non-collection or under-collection of filing fees on some extra-judicial foreclosure cases, non-collection of advertising fee, non-remittance of posting fee, non-collection or under-collection of sheriff’s commission, non-collection of entry fees on 91 extra-judicial foreclosure cases, and non-remittance of sheriff’s fees,  in violation of Supreme Court Circular No. 50-95, which mandates deposit of court collections within 24 hours with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

The SC assigned retired Justice Romulo Quimbo to investigate the case. During investigation, Luna admitted having issued a spurious court order.