Presiding Judge Jenelyn Forrosuelo of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 4, Cebu City, found Traffic Aide III Marilou Alferez of the Land Transportation Office (Cebu City) guilty of violation of Section 7(d) of the Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Alferez, assisted by counsel, entered a plea of “guilty” during the 20 February 2018 hearing wherein the court ordered Alferez to pay a fine of P5,000.00 as penalty.
Alferez was charged on the basis of an incident involving Socrates Funesto, a jeepney driver who was flagged down for a traffic violation on 12 August 2011 resulting in the confiscation of Funesto’s driver’s license. When Funesto proceeded to the LTO, he approached and requested Alferez to reconsider his violation. In reply, Alferez told Funesto to pay P1,500.00 for his traffic citation ticket. After payment, she assured him that the “violation will be downgraded so the fine will also be reduced.” Funesto then gave Alferez P400.00 and left her office. Upon return, Alferez gave Funesto’s license. No official receipt was given for the P400.00 payment.
Section 7(d) of R.A. No. 6713 penalizes public officials and employees who shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the function of their office. ###