The Supreme Court (SC) has imposed a fine of P35,100 pesos on the driver of a Court of Appeals (CA) justice involved in a road rage incident.

Fined was Gerardo C. Manganaan, driver of CA Justice Carlito B. Calpatura.

In a summary of the resolution which has not been made public, the SC’s public information office (PIO) said that Manganaan was found guilty of vulgar and unbecoming conduct and simple misconduct “for repeatedly trying to cut through the convoy of the National Defense College of the Philippines, and demanding from Sgt. Rex Gagelonia why he was not given the chance to pass through considering that he was driving a government vehicle.”

“Worse, Manganaan rudely and repeatedly pointed a finger at Sgt. Gagelonia before returning to his vehicle.”

It said the SC acted on a letter of then CA Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar Fernando who cited the incident report dated April 27, 2022 submitted by Gagelonia.

The PIO’s summary of the case did not state the date and place where the road rage occurred, and if Justice Calpatura was in the vehicle when the incident happened.

In finding Manganaan guilty, the PIO said the SC as a full court held that he fell short of the standard expected from a court employee.

“Court employees have been enjoined to adhere to the exacting standards of morality and decency in order to preserve the judiciary’s good name and standing as a true temple of justice,” it said quoting from the ruling.

The PIO also said in its press statement:

“The acts of Manganaan demonstrated arrogance, which is unbecoming of a public servant, tantamount to Simple Misconduct.

“The Court En Banc reminded that judiciary employees should be circumspect in how they conduct themselves inside and outside the office.

“Following Rule 140 of the Revised Rules of Court, a fine of P35,100 was meted against Manganaan, with a stern warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts in the future shall be dealt with more severely.”