SC downgrades charges vs ex-public school principal in tree-cutting case

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court, citing the lack of proof such as a paper trail, has downgraded the charges and subsequent penalties meted out against a former public school principal in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, who ordered the cutting of trees on public property.

In a decision dated June 2 but released only on Thursday, the high tribunal partially granted the petition of Melencio Corpuz who had been found guilty of grave misconduct, simple neglect of duty and simple misconduct by the Office of the Ombudsman and Court of Appeals.

The high court, however, affirmed Corpuz’s conviction only for simple neglect of duty and simple misconduct and reduced his punishment to a six-month suspension instead of dismissal. Since Corpuz has left government service, his penalty will be converted to a fine equivalent to his salary for six months, with the amount to be taken from his retirement benefits, accrued leave credits, or any other receivables, it added.

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READ: Students to SC: Stop tree cutting in Manila

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The former principal of Bagong Sikat Elementary School and San Jose Pilot Elementary School in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, had been accused of selling wood from the trees which he ordered cut in 2008 and 2014, with one of the buyers a bakery which used it for firewood.

The high court, however, cleared Corpuz of grave misconduct because there was insufficient evidence that he pocketed the funds or had personally profited from the cutting of trees on school grounds.

In particular, the high tribunal cited the statement of the local bakery that it bought wood from Corpuz for P2,800.

“The statement from (the bakery) does not, by and of itself, prove that Corpuz personally received the proceeds and appropriated them for himself. At most, it merely established that (the bakery) purchased cut trees from the school on three occasions, and that the transactions were made with Corpuz,” read part of the 13-page ruling.

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It added that the bakery was “silent” on what happened to the funds after the sale, whether these were deposited with the school or pocketed by Corpuz. No other paper trail, such as receipts or audit reports, were presented to confirm the allegations against the accused, the high court noted.

It said that the “Ombudsman’s conclusion that Corpuz profited from the proceeds is purely speculative.”

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“It has been held that a presumption or conjecture does not constitute substantial evidence sufficient to sustain a finding of administrative liability,” it said.