"x x x.
OCA Circular No. 49-2003[6] provides that “court personnel who wish to travel abroad must secure a travel authority from the Office of the Court Administrator.” Section 67 of the Omnibus Rules on Leave[7] provides that “[a]ny violation of the leave laws, rules or regulations, or any misrepresentation or deception in connection with an application for leave shall be a ground for disciplinary action.” Under the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service,[8] violation of reasonable office rules and regulations is a light offense punishable with the penalty of reprimand for the first offense, suspension of one (1) day to thirty (30) days for the second offense, and dismissal from the service for the third offense.
In this case, since the respondent traveled without securing a travel authority and did not state her foreign travel in her leave application, she is guilty of violating at least two (2) office rules and regulations. These twin violations should be reflected in her penalties, particularly in the second offense – failure to state in her leave application her travel abroad – which, to our mind, strongly suggests deception on her part amounting to dishonesty. She should be suspended without pay for three (3) months for her twin infractions. Let this be a warning to all who might be minded to risk a one-month suspension if only to avoid disclosing to the Court that they shall be traveling abroad.
x x x."