CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION V BELAGAN

GR.NO 132164

FACTS: Separate accusations were made against Dr. Allyson Belagan, the superintendent of
DECS in Baguio City, and by Magdalena Gapuz, the founder of the "Mother and Child Learning
Center," and Ligaya Annawi, a teacher in a public school. Belagan was accused of sexual
harassment and other wrongdoing by the two complainants. Magdalena claimed that one of the
requirements for the granting of her application for a Permit to Operate a Preschool with DECS
was an inspection of the school's facilities. Respondent Belagan offered to perform the inspection
as the officer designated to do so was not there. When Magdalena and Belagan came to see the
school, the respondent unexpectedly wrapped his arms over Magdalena's shoulders and kissed
her on the cheek. Shocked, Magdalena muttered “Sir, is this part of the inspection? Pati ba naman
kayo sa DECS walang values?” She's worried that her application will be rejected and that her
husband might do something bad the respondent, she chose to keep the situation private.
When Magdalena visited the DECS office a few days later to inquire on the status of her
application, the respondent said, "mag date muna tayo." Magdalena refused to say why she was
married. Magdalena then informed a DECS Assistant Superintendent of the incident. Her permit
was subsequently issued. Magdalena then discovered in a newspaper that Belagan was being
accused of sexual misconduct by Ligaya, another DECS employee. The respondent was
suspended because of a letter that Magdalena sent to the former DECS Secretary. In a JOINT
DECISION, the DECS Secretary found Belaga GUILTY of sexual insults or harassments.
The CSC affirmed the DECS Secretary following an appeal.
Regarding Belaga's request for reconsideration, he noted that, in contrast to Magdalena, who was
accused of 22 complaints to the MTC and 23 cases to the Barangay Chairman, he had never
been charged with any offense in his 37 years of service. Respondent asserts that there are many
cases brought against Magdalena raises questions about her reliability, morality, and character.
The CA ruled that Magdalena was an untrustworthy witness because of her dubious character
and overturned the CSC's decision to deny the application for reconsideration.

ISSUE: Whether or not the negative history of Magdalena is enough to call into question her
credibility.
RULING: NO. The majority of the 22 cases submitted to the MTC of Baguio City concern crimes
perpetrated in the 1980s, particularly in 1985 and 1986. According to the allegations made to the
barangay chairmen, the alleged crimes occurred between 1978 and 1979. The infraction in the
current administrative case was committed in 1994. Those incidents and grievances are
undoubtedly no longer valid indicators of Magdalena's reputation or character. Therefore, it was
wrong for the Court of Appeals to give such evidence a lot of weight.
The rule that says evidence of someone's reputation or character must only be from recent
memory is well-established. In other words, the character or reputation of the person at the time
of the trial and prior to it, but not at a time remote from the beginning of the suit, is what needs to
be determined. Therefore, it is illogical to claim that Magdalena's credibility is impaired by
evidence of a ruined reputation that existed almost ten years ago. It is incorrect to assume that
someone who has strayed from the morally good road would never be able to turn back. Everyone
has the capacity for growth or reform.