Bukidnon court stenographer sacked for soliciting money

The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a court stenographer in Bukidnon for soliciting money in exchange for the dismissal of a criminal case.

The SC adopted a recommendation of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB), which found Nemia Alma Almanoche, court stenographer III of the Malaybalay Regional Trial Court Branch 10, guilty of serious dishonesty.

Records showed that in 2018, Almanoche solicited P20,000 from a certain Jean Baguio in exchange for the dismissal of a criminal case filed against Baguio’s two sons.

Baguio said she met Almanoche through a relative of one of her sons’ co-accused in the case.

She said Almanoche asked for P20,000 and promised to “take care” of the prosecutor, the judge and a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

Baguio said she initially gave Almanoche P1,000 and promised to settle the balance later.

She said that on April 30, 2018, she went to the court along with the complainant, who executed an affidavit of desistance before the prosecutor.

Baguio said she told the prosecutor about the agreement she had with Almanoche.

Malaybalay RTC Executive Judge Isobel Barroso reported Almanoche to the JIB, saying the stenographer was guilty of serious dishonesty.

Noting Almanoche’s more than 20 years in service and having committed an offense for the first time, Barroso reduced the penalty to suspension for one month without pay. The court noted that Almanoche did not receive the money she asked from Baguio.

While the JIB agreed with Barroso that Almanoche was guilty of serious dishonesty, it said such a grave offense could not be mitigated by the respondent’s length of service or her being a first-time offender.

The JIB recommended that Almanoche be dismissed from service.

The SC found Almanoche guilty of serious dishonesty when she demanded money from Baguio to be given and shared among the judge, prosecutor and the PAO lawyer.

“She is unfit and unworthy to stay in the judiciary,” the SC said. –