Starting May 31, the Supreme Court (SC) will impose increased fines as part of penalties for judiciary officials and employees who will be found guilty of administrative offenses.

In a resolution, the SC said the order was intended “to harmonize the fine imposed with the period of suspension from office and considering the depreciation of the value of the Philippine peso....”

Thus, for the penalty of suspension from office without salary and other benefits for more than three months but not exceeding six months or fine, the administratively guilty official or employee will be fined more than P100,000 but not exceeding P200,000. The current fine for the penalty is more than P20,000 but not exceeding P40,000.

For suspension from office without salary and other benefits for not less than one month but not more than three months, the fine will be not less than P35,000 but not more than P100,000. The current fine for the penalty is more than P10,000 but not exceeding P20,000.

If an official or employee is found guilty of a light charge, he will be ordered to pay a fine of not less than P1,000 but not more than P35,000. Current fine is not less than P1,000 but not more than P10,000.

The SC said the increased fines was recommended by Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez “to be consistent and commensurate with the prevailing salary schedule of judges and personnel in the judiciary.”

Under the Rules of Court, officials and employees found guilty of serious charges are dismissed from the service with forfeiture of all or part of the benefits as determined by the SC, and disqualified from reinstatement or appointment to any public office.