Presumption of regular appointment or election of public officer

The records show that petitioner was appointed Chief of Hospital of the Olongapo City General Hospital on 1 September 1971. As such, he is entitled to the basic constitutional rights to due process of law and security of tenure. Except for dismissal for just cause and in the manner provided by law, therefore, petitioner can neither be removed nor suspended without due process of law. The law presumes, in protecting such rights, that a person acting in a public office was regularly appointed or elected to it and that official duty has been regularly performed. [G.R. No. 107841. November 14, 1996]