SC sacks sheriff for punching litigant

The Supreme Court has dismissed a sheriff of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) for punching a litigant while enforcing a writ of execution, the 10th administrative complaint filed against him.

In a still unpublished per curiam decision, the high court adopted the findings of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) that Christopher Perez, Sheriff IV of Olongapo City RTC Branch 74, should be penalized for grave abuse of authority and gross insubordination.

Perez was found to have punched Rodalyn Hanif twice in the forearm while enforcing a court order in November 2019. Despite two orders from the court administrator, Perez also failed to respond to Hanif’s complaint.

READ: Dismissed Laguna court sheriff fined

The JIB raised the penalty to dismissal from service, saying the violation was “unjustifiable and constituted grave abuse of authority.” The high tribunal adopted and modified the JIB finding, adding a fine of P110,000 for gross insubordination —JANE BAUTISTA