EN BANC

[A.M. No. CA-02-14-P. July 31, 2002]

LEONOR MARIANO, complainant, vs. SUSAN ROXAS, CLERK III, COURT OF APPEALS, respondent.

D E C I S I O N

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.:

The present administrative case arose from the complaint-affidavit of Leonora Mariano filed with the Court of Appeals (CA) on May 8, 2001, docketed therein as Administrative Case No. 01-01-G, charging Susan Roxas, Clerk III, assigned at the Third Division of the said court, with forgery and dishonesty.

In her complaint-affidavit,[1] complainant alleged that respondent refused to pay P12,110.00. This is the balance of the price of jewelry items complainant sold to respondent. The latter insists she made an overpayment as shown by 4 receipts dated (1) January 25, 2001 for P5,525.00; (2) February 15, 2001 for P6,500.00; (3) April 14, 2000 for P400.00; and (4) April 16, 2000 for P400.00. These receipts were forged.

Complainant further alleged that in a letter dated February 5, 2001 addressed to the Cashier of the CA, respondent authorized complainant to collect her (respondent’s) benefits “on March 2001 and so on up to the total amount of P30,000.00 more or less” as payment for her outstanding obligation. However, on April 18, 2001, respondent revoked the said authorization without informing the complainant, thus committing dishonesty.

In a Memorandum dated June 5, 2001,[2] Justice Cancio C. Garcia, then Acting Presiding Justice of the CA, directed respond