SC dismisses, disbars Benguet RTC clerk over bribery, misconduct

The Excessive Court docket says Jurgens Milan repeatedly demanded and acquired cash, mishandled land titles entrusted to him, and falsely claimed he may affect courtroom proceedings, amongst others

LA TRINIDAD, Philippines – The Supreme Court docket (SC) has dismissed from authorities service and disbarred Atty. Jurgens SJ. Milan, Clerk of Court docket V of the Regional Trial Court docket in La Trinidad, Benguet, for grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the most effective curiosity of the service.

In a July 8, 2025 en banc determination, revealed on the web site of the Supreme Court docket of the Philippines on December 21, 2025, the Court docket discovered that Milan repeatedly demanded and acquired cash, mishandled land titles entrusted to him, falsely claimed he may affect courtroom proceedings, and violated moral requirements governing courtroom personnel and attorneys.

The ruling stemmed from a grievance filed by Shirley Ok. Tiwaken, who accused Milan of abusing his place whereas performing as clerk of courtroom and ex-officio sheriff.

The Court docket discovered that Milan demanded ₱10,000 for the supposed safekeeping of three land titles, later collected ₱35,000 in a number of tranches for alleged case follow-ups, and subsequently requested for an additional ₱25,000 after falsely claiming {that a} courtroom determination had already been issued.

These acts, the Court docket mentioned, constituted bribery and grave misconduct.

The Court docket additionally dominated that Milan launched unique land titles with out courtroom authority to people not entitled to obtain them, together with family members of an opposing litigant.

It discovered that he intentionally omitted these actions from his sheriff’s return and misrepresented info to make it seem that the turnover of the titles complied with courtroom orders.

In underscoring the seriousness of the violations, the Court docket mentioned: “There isn’t a place within the Judiciary for individuals who can not meet the exacting requirements of judicial conduct and integrity.”

Though the acts have been dedicated earlier than 2023, the Court docket utilized the Code of Skilled Accountability and Accountability (CPRA), which took impact in Could 2023.

Citing the CPRA’s transitory provision, the Court docket dominated that the code applies retroactively to pending instances, until doing so can be unjust or impracticable. It discovered no such injustice in Milan’s case and held that his actions violated each the previous Code of Skilled Accountability and the CPRA’s heightened requirements for attorneys and courtroom personnel.

The Court docket burdened that the CPRA reinforces the rule that attorneys in authorities service should observe propriety, keep away from conflicts of curiosity, and by no means exploit their place for private achieve.

The Supreme Court docket ordered Milan’s dismissal from service, with forfeiture of all advantages besides accrued depart credit, and imposed everlasting disqualification from reemployment in authorities, together with government-owned and -controlled companies.

It additionally ordered his rapid disbarment, hanging his title off the Roll of Attorneys. The Court docket emphasised that “membership within the authorized career is a privilege,” which have to be withdrawn as soon as a lawyer is proven to be unworthy of public belief.

Individually, the Court docket discovered that Milan ignored repeated directives from the Workplace of the Court docket Administrator to submit his touch upon the grievance, taking greater than two years to conform.

For this, the Court docket imposed a ₱18,000 superb, ruling that the delay amounted to insubordination and mirrored disregard for the Court docket’s administrative authority.

The Court docket mentioned clerks of courtroom maintain positions of belief on the frontlines of the justice system, and warned that abuses by courtroom personnel erode public confidence within the Judiciary. – Rappler.com