- Petitioner
- Civil Service Commission
- Respondent
- Vergel de Dios
- Citation
- G.R. No. 203536
- Court
- CSC Regional Office No. III to Supreme Court (SC)
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Villarama, Jr., J.
- Decided
- February 4, 2015
Summary
The Civil Service Commission charged Maria Riza G. Vergel de Dios with dishonesty after discovering discrepancies between her signature and photograph on the Career Service Professional Examination picture seat plan versus her personal data sheets. The CSC Regional Office and CSC found her guilty and dismissed her from service. The Court of Appeals initially upheld this but later reversed on reconsideration, suggesting the discrepancies could be due to administrative mix-up. The Supreme Court reversed the CA, finding clear evidence of impersonation based on obvious differences in facial features and signatures. The Court held that CSC examiners enjoy presumption of regularity, and the picture seat plan as a public document was admissible without need for authenticating witnesses. The respondent was found guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and falsification of official documents, warranting dismissal from government service with accessory penalties.