The civil registrar of Quezon City has filed charges of malicious prosecution against 12 fellow civil registrars and members of the Philippine Association of Civil Registrar (PACR).

In Civil Case Number 0965017, Quezon City civil registrar and former PACR president Ramon M. Matabang said the complaint of estafa and malversation filed by the defendants against him have brought shame, sleepless nights, wounded feelings and besmirched his reputation as a public servant.

Earlier, State Prosecutor Susan A. Azarcon, after examining the charges against Matabang, concluded that Lucena Flores, one of the complainants, failed to prove that the personal properties of PACR were received in trust, commission or administration by the respondent.

The decision also stated that it was never proven beyond reasonable doubt that Matabang committed any act of misappropriation.

Azarcon said as PCAR president, Matabang has limited powers like presiding meetings, executing the resolutions of the board of directors, creating committees, appointing members, approving expenses and vouchers not exceeding P20,000 and entering contracts approved by the board with the PACR treasurer acting as custodian of all funds and properties of the group.

Azarcon said Matabang was able to account for the alleged misappropriated funds contrary to the claim of the complainants, adding in her resolution that Flores had no personality to institute the grievance.

Flores appealed Azarcon’s resolution with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for review but then Secretary Raul Gonzales affirmed the decision of the state prosecutor.

Matabang is asking the 12 defendants to jointly pay him P50,000 for actual damages, P1.5 million for moral damages, P5 million for exemplary damages, P100,000 for attorney’s fees and the total cost and expenses of the litigation.