SC to erring officials: Grave misconduct will result in dismissal

September 22, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

The Supreme Court (SC) has warned that it will not tolerate corruption and extortion in government service as it reiterated that public office is a public trust.

In a 14-page ruling penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC Second Division affirmed the dismissal of Police Senior Superintendent Amador Hernandez, an aviation security officer found guilty of grave misconduct for extorting P5,000 from a passenger at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in 2011.

The SC also upheld the forfeiture of his retirement and other benefits and his perpetual disqualification from government employment.

“The established facts place petitioner’s actions squarely within the scope of grave misconduct,” the SC said as it noted that Hernandez used his public position to obtain monetary benefit for himself.

The SC stressed that even a long record of good service or the fact that the offense was a first offense cannot justify reducing the penalty.

“Public office is a public trust. Any violation of this trust through grave misconduct is punishable by dismissal from service,” the SC stressed.

The SC also rejected Hernandez’s claim that the dismissal was unwarranted as it called his reasoning as “absurd” and saying his conduct showed “a serious defect of character and a lack of fitness for public service.”

The ruling affirmed the decisions of the Court of Appeals, the Office of the President and the National Police Commission holding Hernandez administratively liable.#