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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS
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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 280 -
IMPOSING THE PENALTY OF SUSPENSION OF SIX MONTHS TO MS. MARIVIC V.
BONITA, FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER CLASS III, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
This refers to the administrative case
filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs against Ms. Marivic V.
Bonita for malfeasance in office, misconduct and frequent unauthorized
absences from duty.
After due investigation, the Board of Foreign Service Administration
found the following:
"1.
On 12 February 1990, respondent Bonita, while serving as 3rd Secretary
and Vice-Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi, transmitted without
authorization to the Vietnamese Foreign Affairs Ministry a note
verbale, containing the contents of a Memorandum Circular from the Home
Office classified "Secret" in the interim administration of Cambodia,
in violation of Department Memorandum Circular No. 82-89 dated 10
January 1989 in connection with Memorandum Circular No. 78 of the
Office of the President dated 14 August 1964. The wrongful act of
respondent has caused embarrassment to the Department and has
prejudiced the interest and prestige of the Philippine Government.
In her Answer to the charge sheet, Ms. Bonita admitted having
transmitted the note verbale to the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, but
claimed that she was motivated with good intentions, that she did not
mean to intentionally reveal Philippine position and that she
overlooked the fact that the circular message from the Department was
classified.
The Board held that her defense is untenable and reflects the
negligence of respondent. As a foreign service officer and at the same
time the Charge d'Affaires, a.i. of the Embassy, she should have
verified the exact message received from the Department especially
since it was coursed through radio.
2.
The respondent admitted that she was absent from duty at the Philippine
Embassy in Hanoi from 16 September to 30 November 1989 without approved
leave of absence. She had an approved leave of absence from 15 August
to 15 September 1989, but after the lapse of the period she kept the
embassy in Hanoi as well as the Home Office in the dark as to her
whereabouts."
In recommending the penalty of suspension for six months, the Board
considered the previous administrative case against respondent Bonita
for immoral and disgraceful conduct while assigned at the Philippine
Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya and for which she was reprimanded and warned
by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
In view of the foregoing, the findings of the Board of Foreign Service
Administration are sustained and respondent Marivic V. Bonita is hereby
SUSPENDED for a period of six (6) months.
DONE in the City of Manila,
22nd day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
ninety-two.
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