Dismissed Laguna court sheriff fined
The Supreme Court has ordered a court sheriff to pay a fine of P300,000 for demanding and receiving money from a litigant.
During deliberations on Oct. 3, the justices, sitting in full court, found Ma. Consuelo Joie Almeda-Fajardo, former Sheriff IV of San Pedro City, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 93, guilty of serious dishonesty and gross misconduct constituting violation of the Code of Conduct for Court Personnel.
According to the high court, it was not the first time Fajardo committed an offense.
“Considering that Fajardo has been previously dismissed from service for dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of an officer of the court, the Court imposed on Fajardo a fine in the aggregate amount of P300,000,” the high court said in a statement.
Under Section 10, Rule 141 of the Rules of Court, expenses for the execution of writs shall be paid by the interested party based on estimates by the sheriff and subject to the approval of the court.
Upon approval of the estimates, the party must deposit the amount with the clerk of court, who shall disburse it to the sheriff. The sheriff must liquidate the amount within the same period of filing the return before the court.
