SC fines driver of CA justice P35k over road rage

The Supreme Court on Wednesday announced it has directed a driver of an associate justice of the Court of Appeals to pay P35,000 over an incident of road rage.

According to the court, it found Gerardo Manganaan guilty of both vulgar and unbecoming conduct and simple misconduct for repeatedly trying to cut through the convoy of the National Defense College of the Philippines.

The court said Manganaan also demanded the complainant why he was not given a chance to pass through considering that he was driving a government vehicle. He also pointed a finger at the complainant before returning to his vehicle.

For the court, Manganaan 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. The acts of Manganaan demonstrated arrogance, which is unbecoming of a public servant, tantamount to Simple Misconduct,” the SC said.

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

The court also gave Manganaan a stern warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts will be dealt with more severely. —KG, GMA Integrated News