canon 14 full cases

8/9/2019 Canon 14 Full Cases

1/27

MA. GINA L. FRANCISCO, A.C. No. 6155

JOSEPHINE S. TAN and CARLOS

M. JOAQUIN,

Complanan!",

P#$"$n!%

& '$#"(" & QUISUM)ING,J.,

Chairman,

CARPIO,

CARPIO MORALES, and

TINGA,JJ.

ATT*. JAIME JUANITO P.

PORTUGAL,

R$"pond$n!. P#om(l+a!$d%

Ma#- 1, /006

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D E C I S I O N

TINGA, J.%

Complanan!" 2l$d 3$2o#$ !-" Co(#! an a22da'!&omplan!41on 15 A(+("! /00 a+an"!

A!!7. Jam$ J(an!o P. Po#!(+al 8#$"pond$n!9 2o# 'ola!on o2 !-$ La:7$#;" Oa!-, +#o""

m"ond(!, and +#o"" n$+l+$n$. Complanan!" a#$ #$la!$d !o p$!!on$#" n G.R. No. 15/6/1&

/ $n!!l$d SPO1 Ernest C. Francisco, SPO1 Donato F. Tan and PO3 Rolando M. Joaquin .

Peo!le o" the Phili!!ines, n :-o"$ 3$-al2 #$"pond$n! 2l$d !-$ P$!!on 2o# R$'$: on

C$#!o#a# 8#d Cautelam9 n !-$ a"$.

T-$ omplan! a+an"! #$"pond$n! o#+na!$d 2#om -" all$+$d m"-andln+ o2 !-$ a3o'$&

m$n!on$d p$!!on :-- $'$n!(all7 l$d !o !" d$nal :!- 2nal!7 37 !-" Co(#! !o !-$ p#$


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T-$ 2a!" a#$ a" 2ollo:"%

On /1 Ma#- 1==, SPO1 E#n$"!o C. F#an"o, SPO1 >ona!o F. Tan and PO Rolando

M. Joa?(n 8$'$n!(all7 p$!!on$#" n G.R. No. 15/6/1&/, oll$!'$l7 #$2$##$d !o -$#$n a" !-$

a("$d9 :$#$ n'ol'$d n a "-oo!n+ nd$n! :-- #$"(l!$d n !-$ d$a!- o2 !:o nd'd(al"

and !-$ "$#o(" n


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In -" Comm$n!,46#$"pond$n! "!a!$" !-a! ! " o2 '!al "+n2an$ !-a! !-$ Co(#! no!$"

!-a! -$ :a" no! !-$ o#+nal o(n"$l o2 !-$ a("$d. H$ onl7 m$! !-$ a("$d d(#n+ !-$

p#om(l+a!on o2 !-$ Sand+an3a7an d$"on on'!n+ !-$ a("$d o2 !:o o(n!" o2 -omd$

and on$ o(n! o2 a!!$mp!$d -omd$. H$ :a" m$#$l7 #$?($"!$d 37 !-$ o#+nal o(n"$l !o 3$ on

-and, a"""! !-$ a("$d, and 3$ p#$"$n! a! !-$ p#om(l+a!on o2 !-$ Sand+an3a7an d$"on.

R$"pond$n! lam" !-a! !-$#$ :a" no 2o#mal $n+a+$m$n! (nd$#!aB$n 37 !-$ pa#!$". )(!

onl7 3$a("$ o2 -" "n$#$ $22o#! and n !#($ "p#! o2 !-$ La:7$#;" Oa!- dd -$ 2l$ !-$ Mo!on

2o# R$on"d$#a!on. T-o(+- adm!!n+ !" -+-l7 ##$+(la# -a#a!$#, #$"pond$n! al"o mad$

n2o#mal 3(! (#+$n! and p$#"onal #$p#$"$n!a!on :!- !-$ m$m3$#" o2 !-$ >'"on o2 !-$

Sand+an3a7an :-o p#om(l+a!$d !-$ d$"on o2 on'!on. H$ a""$#!" !-a! 3$a("$ o2 all !-$

$22o#!" -$ p(! n!o !-$ a"$ o2 !-$ a("$d, -" o!-$# p#o2$""onal o3l+a!on" :$#$ n$+l$!$d and

!-a! all !-$"$ :$#$ don$ :!-o(! p#op$# and ad$?(a!$ #$m(n$#a!on.

A" !o !-$ ad cautelamp$!!on, #$"pond$n! man!an" !-a! ! :a" 2l$d on !m$. H$ "!#$""$"

!-a! !-$ la"! da7 o2 2ln+ o2 !-$ p$!!on :a" on Ap#l /00/ and on !-a! '$#7 da7, -$ 2l$d :!-

!-" Co(#! a Mo!on 2o# E!$n"on o2 Tm$ !o Fl$ P$!!on 2o# R$'$:,4"$$Bn+ an add!onal

!-#!7 809 da7" !o 2l$ !-$ p$!!on. S(3"$?($n!l7, on Ma7 /00/, -$ 2l$d !-$ p$!!on 37

#$+"!$#$d mal and pad !-$ o##$"pondn+ doB$! 2$$". H$n$, "o -$ onl(d$", ! :a" 2l$d

:!-n !-$ #$+l$m$n!a#7 p$#od.

Soon !-$#$a2!$#, #$"pond$n! #$o(n!$d all !-$ D-$#(l$an $22o#!" -$ mad$ n a"""!n+ !-$

a("$d 2o# almo"! a 7$a# a2!$# !-$ p#om(l+a!on o2 !-$ Sand+an3a7an d$"on. H$ on"d$#$d

!-$ 2a! !-a! ! :a" a a"$ -$ -ad


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R$"pond$n! "!a!$" !-a! -$ -a" a"B$d !-$ a("$d !-a! -$ 3$ d"-a#+$d 2#om !-$ a"$ and

$ndo#"$d !-$ No!$ o2 !-d#a:al !o PO Joa?(n 2o# !-$ la!!$# !o 2l$ :!- !-$ Co(#!

Un2o#!(na!$l7, PO Joa?(n dd no! do "o, a" -$ :a" B$$nl7 a:a#$ !-a! ! :o(ld 3$ d22(l! !o

2nd a n$: o(n"$l :-o :o(ld 3$ a" $?(all7 aommoda!n+ a" #$"pond$n!. R$"pond$n!

"(++$"!" !-" m+-! -a'$ 3$$n !-$ #$a"on 2o# !-$ "$'$#al all" omplanan!" mad$ !o -" o22$.

On = F$3#(a#7 /00, !-$ Co(#! #$"ol'$d !o #$2$# !-$ ma!!$# !o !-$ In!$+#a!$d )a# o2 !-$

P-lppn$" 8I)P9 2o# n'$"!+a!on, #$po#! and #$omm$nda!on.

T-$ a"$ :a" a""+n$d !o In'$"!+a!n+ Comm""on$# L$land R. lladold, J#

8Comm""on$# lladold9 :-o "$n! no!$" o2 -$a#n+ !o !-$ pa#!$" 3(! o2 !-$ !-#$$

omplanan!", onl7 omplanan! Ca#lo" Joa?(n app$a#$d. T-(", n !-$ manda!o#7 on2$#$n$

-$ld, !-$ o!-$# !:o omplanan!" :$#$ d$la#$d a" -a'n+ :a'$d !-$# #+-!" !o 2(#!-$#pa#!pa!$ n !-$ I)P p#o$$dn+".4

T-$ pa#!$" :$#$ d#$!$d !o 2l$ !-$# #$"p$!'$ po"!on pap$#" and on / Ma7 /005,

Comm""on$# lladold "(3m!!$d -" R$po#! and R$omm$nda!on 2ndn+ #$"pond$n! +(l!7

o2 'ola!on o2 !-$ Cod$ o2 P#o2$""onal R$"pon"3l!7 4=and #$omm$nd$d !-$ mpo"!on o2

p$nal!7 #an+n+ 2#om #$p#mand !o "("p$n"on o2 " 869 mon!-". 410On 1/ No'$m3$# /005, !-$

)oa#d o2 >#$!o#" o2 !-$ I)P #$"ol'$d !o adop! and

app#o'$ Comm""on$# lladold;" #$omm$nda!on !o 2nd #$"pond$n! +(l!7 and "p$2all7

!o #$omm$nd -" "("p$n"on 2o# " 869 mon!-" a" p$nal!7.

T-$ onl7 ""($ !o 3$ #$"ol'$d n !-$ a"$ a! 3a# ", on"d$#n+ all !-$ 2a!" p#$"$n!$d,

:-$!-$# #$"pond$n! omm!!$d +#o"" n$+l+$n$ o# m"ond(! n -andln+ G.R. No. 15/6/1&

/, :-- $'$n!(all7 l$d !o !-$ ad cautelamp$!!on;" d"m""al :!- 2nal!7.

A2!$# a#$2(l on"d$#a!on o2 !-$ #$o#d" o2 !-$ a"$, !-$ Co(#! 2nd" !-$ "("p$n"on#$omm$nd$d 37 !-$ I)P p#op$#.

In a #mnal a"$ lB$ !-a! -andl$d 37 #$"pond$n! n 3$-al2 o2 !-$ a("$d, #$"pond$n!

-a" a -+-$# d(!7 !o 3$ #(m"p$! n d$2$ndn+ !-$ a("$d 2o# ! " no! onl7 !-$ p#op$#!7 o2

!-$ a("$d :-- "!and" !o 3$ lo"! 3(! mo#$ mpo#!an!l7, !-$# #+-! !o !-$# l2$ and l3$#!7. A"

-$ld nRe$ala . Sandi$an%a&an%411
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6/27

-$ don$ "o, -$ and omplanan!" o(ld -a'$ !-#$"-$d o(! all (n#$"ol'$d ma!!$#" 3$!:$$n

!-$m.

Had #$"pond$n! !#(l7 n!$nd$d !o :!-d#a: -" app$a#an$ 2o# !-$ a("$d, -$ a" a la:7$#

:-o " p#$"(ma3l7 "!$$p$d n o(#! p#o$d(#$" and p#a!$", "-o(ld -a'$ 2l$d !-$ no!$ o2

:!-d#a:al -m"$l2 n"!$ad o2 !-$ a("$d. A! !-$ '$#7 l$a"!, -$ "-o(ld -a'$ n2o#m$d !-"Co(#! !-#o(+- !-$ app#op#a!$ man2$"!a!on !-a! -$ -ad al#$ad7 +'$n n"!#(!on" !o -" l$n!"

on !-$ p#op$# :a7 !o +o a3o(! !-$ 2ln+ o2 !-$ No!$ o2 !-d#a:al, a" "(++$"!$d 37

Comm""on$# lladold. In no! "o don+, -$ :a" n$+l+$n! n -andln+ !-$ a"$ o2 !-$

a("$d.

C$#!anl7, #$"pond$n! o(+-! !o Bno: !-a! -$ :a" !-$ on$ :-o "-o(ld -a'$ 2l$d !-$ No!$

!o !-d#a: and no! !-$ a("$d. H" !al$ !-a! -$ "$n! a #$+"!$#$d l$!!$# !o !-$ a("$d and +a'$

!-$m n"!#(!on" on -o: !o +o a3o(! #$"pond$n!;" :!-d#a:al 2#om !-$ a"$ d$2$" #$d(l!7. I!

"-o(ld -a'$ 3$$n #$"pond$n! :-o (nd$#!ooB !-$ app#op#a!$ m$a"(#$" 2o# !-$ p#op$#

:!-d#a:al o2 -" #$p#$"$n!a!on. H$ "-o(ld no! -a'$ #$l$d on -" l$n! !o do ! 2o# -m 2 "(-

:a" !#(l7 !-$ a"$. !-o(! !-$ p#$"$n!a!on o2 !-$ all$+$d #$+"!#7 #$$p! 8o# !-$ #$!(#n a#d,

:-- on2#m" !-$ #$$p! o2 !-$ mal 37 !-$ #$p$n!9 o2 !-$ l$!!$# -$ all$+$dl7 "$n! !o PO

Joa?(n, !-$ Co(#! anno! l$nd #$d$n$ !o #$"pond$n!;" naB$d lam, $"p$all7 "o !-a!

omplanan!" -a'$ 3$$n #$"ol(!$ n !-$# "!and !-a! !-$7 dd no! -$a# 2#om #$"pond$n! a2!$# !-$

la!!$# -ad 2l$d !-$ ad cautelamp$!!on. H$ o(ld #$l$'$ -m"$l2 o2 -" #$"pon"3l!7 a"

o(n"$l onl7 2#"! 37 "$(#n+ !-$ :#!!$n on2o#m!7 o2 !-$ a("$d and 2ln+ ! :!- !-$ o(#!

p(#"(an! !o R(l$ 1, S$!on /6 o2 !-$ R(l$" o2 Co(#!.415

T-$ #(l$ n !-"


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$ a+#$$ :!- Comm""on$# lladold !-a! !-$ d"m""al o2 !-$ ad cautelamp$!!on

:a" p#ma#l7 d($ !o !-$ +#o"" n$+l+$n$ o2 #$"pond$n!. T-$ Co(#! -a" "!#$""$d

n#romin . 'oncail41 !-a!%

On$ -$ a+#$$" !o !aB$ (p !-$ a("$ o2 !-$ l$n!, !-$ la:7$# o:$" 2d$l!7 !o "(- a("$

and m("! al:a7" 3$ mnd2(l o2 !-$ !#("! and on2d$n$ #$po"$d n -m. H$ m("! "$#'$ !-$ l$n!:!- omp$!$n$ and dl+$n$, and -ampon !-$ la!!$#;" a("$ :!- :-ol$-$a#!$d 2d$l!7, a#$,

and d$'o!on. El"$:"$ "!a!$d, -$ o:$" $n!#$ d$'o!on !o !-$ n!$#$"! o2 !-$ l$n!, :a#m @$al n!-$ man!$nan$ and d$2$n"$ o2 -" l$n!;" #+-!", and !-$ $$#!on o2 !-$ -" (!mo"! l$a#nn+ and

a3l!7 !o !-$ $nd !-a! no!-n+ 3$ !aB$n o# :!--$ld 2#om -" l$n!, "a'$ 37 !-$ #(l$" o2 la:,

l$+all7 appl$d. T-" "mpl7 m$an" !-a! -" l$n! " $n!!l$d !o !-$ 3$n$2! o2 an7 and $'$#7#$m$d7 and d$2$n"$ !-a! " a(!-o#@$d 37 !-$ la: o2 !-$ land and -$ ma7 $p$! -" la:7$# !o

a""$#! $'$#7 "(- #$m$d7 o# d$2$n"$. I2 m(- " d$mand$d 2#om an a!!o#n$7, ! " 3$a("$ !-$

$n!#("!$d p#'l$+$ !o p#a!$ la: a##$" :!- ! !-$ o##$la!'$ d(!$" no! onl7 !o !-$ l$n! 3(!

al"o !o !-$ o(#!, !o !-$ 3a#, and !o !-$ p(3l. A la:7$# :-o p$#2o#m" -" d(!7 :!- dl+$n$ andando# no! onl7 p#o!$!" !-$ n!$#$"! o2 -" l$n! -$ al"o "$#'$" !-$ $nd" o2


8/27

A :#!!$n on!#a! " no! an $""$n!al $l$m$n! n !-$ $mplo7m$n! o2 an a!!o#n$7 !-$ on!#a! ma7

3$ $p#$"" o# mpl$d. To $"!a3l"- !-$ #$la!on, ! " "(22$n! !-a! !-$ ad'$ and a"""!an$ o2 ana!!o#n$7 " "o(+-! and #$$'$d n an7 ma!!$# p$#!n$n! !o -" p#o2$""on. 4//

H$n$, $'$n 2 #$"pond$n! 2$l! (nd$#&omp$n"a!$d n !-$ a"$ -$ (nd$#!ooB !o d$2$nd, -"

o3l+a!on $m3od$d n !-$ La:7$#;" Oa!- and !-$ Cod$ o2 P#o2$""onal R$"pon"3l!7 "!ll#$man" (n:a'$#n+. T-$ @$al and !-$ d$+#$$ o2 2$#'o# n -andln+ !-$ a"$ "-o(ld n$!-$#

dmn"- no# $a"$ ERE>.
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10/27

#$l$2 o2 !-$ app$a#an$ o2 PAO a" de o"icioo(n"$l 2o# a("$d P#$"d$n! Jo"$p- E"!#ada and

Jo"$ E"!#ada n !-$# #mnal a"$" 3$2o#$ !-$ Sand+a3a7an. Ho:$'$#, !-$ #$?($"! :a"

d$n$d.

On Ma7 , /00/, !-$ C-$2 P(3l A!!o#n$7 2l$d an U#+$n! and E()ParteMo!on !o 3$

R$l$'$d a" Co(#!&Appon!$d Co(n"$l :!- !-$ Sp$al >'"on o2 !-$ Sand+an3a7an, p#a7n+

!-a! "-$ 3$ #$l$'$d o2 -$# d(!$" and #$"pon"3l!$" a" o(n"$l de o"icio2o# !-$ "ad a("$d on!-$ +#o(nd !-a! "-$ -ad a ":$lln+ :o#Bload on""!n+ o2 admn"!#a!'$ ma!!$#" and !-a! !-$

a("$d a#$ no! nd+$n! p$#"on" -$n$, !-$7 a#$ no! ?(al2$d !o a'al !-$m"$l'$" o2 !-$

"$#'$" o2 PAO.

On Ma7 =, /00/, #$"pond$n! Co(#! 2o(nd !-$ #$a"on" o2 !-$ C-$2 P(3l A!!o#n$7 !o 3$

pla("3l$ and #$l$'$d !-$ C-$2 P(3l A!!o#n$7 a" o(n"$l de o"icioo2 2o#m$# P#$"d$n! Jo"$p-

E"!#ada and Ma7o# Jo"$ E"!#ada.

On Ma7 1, /00/, !-$ #$mann+ $+-! PAO la:7$#" 2l$d anE()ParteMo!on To )$

R$l$'$d A" Co(#!&Appon!$d Co(n"$l" :!- #$"pond$n! Co(#! on !-$ +#o(nd !-a! !-$ a("$d,

2o#m$# P#$"d$n! Jo"$p- E"!#ada and Jo"$ E"!#ada, a#$ no! nd+$n!" !-$#$2o#$, !-$7 a#$ no!

?(al2$d !o a'al !-$m"$l'$" o2 !-$ "$#'$" o2 PAO.

On Ma7 /, /00/, #$"pond$n! Co(#! ""($d a R$"ol(!on d$n7n+ !-$ mo!on, 3(!

#$!ann+ !:o o2 !-$ $+-! PAO la:7$#", nam$l7, !-$ p$!!on$#" A!!7. U"!a, J#. and A!!7

And#$". T-$ p$#!n$n! po#!on o2 !-$ R$"ol(!on #$ad"%

. . . T-$#$ 3$n+ no omp$lln+ and "(22$n! #$a"on" !o a3andon !-$ Co(#!;"

p#$'o(" #(ln+", !-$ n"!an! mo!on " -$#$37 >ENIE>. -l$ ! " !#($ !-a! a "mla#

mo!on 2l$d 37 !-$ PAO C-$2 P(3l A!!o#n$7 P$#"da R($da&Ao"!a :a" +#an!$d p$#

Co(#!;" R$"ol(!on o2 Ma7 =, /00/, !-$ #a!onal@a!on ad'an$d 37 A!!7. R($da :a"

2o(nd m$#!o#o(" 37 !-$ Co(#! n !-a! !-$#$ :a" (n$p$!$d (p"(#+$ n -$#

admn"!#a!'$ :o#Bload a" -$ad o2 !-$ o22$ nl(dn+ !-$ admn"!#a!on and

"(p$#'"on o2 mo#$ o# l$"" 1,000 PAO la:7$#" and 00 "!a22 na!on:d$ and man7

o!-$# 2(n!on" :-- #$?(#$ -$# mm$da!$ a!!$n!on and (nd'd$d !m$.

Non$!-$l$"", on"d$#n+ !-a! !-$#$ a#$ $+-! 89 de o"icioo(n"$l" 2#om !-$

P(3l A!!o#n$7;" O22$ 8PAO9, !-$ Co(#!, n !-$ $$#"$ o2 !" "o(nd d"#$!on,

d$$m" ! p#op$# !o #$d($ !-$# n(m3$# and #$!an onl7 !:o 8/9 o2 !-$m, nam$l7% A!!7.

l2#$do C. And#$" and A!!7. Mamo ). U"!a !o on!n($ !-$# d(!$" and

#$"pon"3l!$" a" o(n"$l" de o"icio2o# a("$d Jo"$p- and Jo"$ DJn++o7 E"!#ada.4/

T-$ #$!an$d la:7$#" o2 PAO


11/27

On J(n$ , /00/, p$!!on$#" 2l$d a mo!on 2o# #$on"d$#a!on o2 !-$ R$"ol(!on

da!$d Ma7 /, /00/.

In a R$"ol(!on da!$d J(n$ 10, /00/, #$"pond$n! d$n$d !-$ mo!on 2o# #$on"d$#a!on,

!-("%

I! app$a#n+ !-a! !-$ +#o(nd #a"$d 37 !-$ mo'an!" PAO la:7$#" a#$ m$#$

#$-a"-$"K#$!$#a!on" o2 !-$# p#$'o(" a#+(m$n!" :-- !-$ Co(#! 2nd" !o 3$ no! 'ald


12/27

LOI No. /0

S$. /0. T-$ C!@$n" L$+al A"""!an$ O22$ "-all #$p#$"$n!, 2#$$ o2 -a#+$,

nd+$n! p$#"on" m$n!on$d n R$p(3l A! No. 605, o# !-$ mm$da!$ m$m3$#" o2

!-$# 2aml7, n all 'l, admn"!#a!'$, and #mnal a"$" :-$#$ a2!$# d($

n'$"!+a!on !-$ n!$#$"! o2


13/27


14/27

I! $plan$d !-a! ! :a" 2an+ a #"" :-$n #$"pond$n! ""($d !-$ "(3


15/27

In an7 $'$n!, "n$ !-$"$ a"$" o2 !-$ a("$d n !-$ Sand+an3a7an -a'$ 3$$n 2nall7

#$"ol'$d, !-" p$!!on "$$Bn+ !-a! PAO, !-$ onl7 #$mann+ p$!!on$#, 3$ #$l$'$d a" o(n"$l de

o"icio!-$#$n -a" 3$om$ moo!.

$)EREFORE, !-$ p$!!on " DIS!ISSED2o# 3$n+ moo!.

No o"!".

SO ORDERED.

GORETTI ONG, complainant, vs. ATTY. JOEL M. GRIJALDO, respondent.


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D E C I S I O N

PER CURIAM:

The fiduciary duty of a lawyer and advocate is what places the law profession in a

unique position of trust and confidence, and distinguishes it from any other calling. Once

this trust and confidence is betrayed, the faith of the people not only in the individual

lawyer but also in the legal profession as a whole is eroded. To this end, all members ofthe bar are strictly required to at all times maintain the highest degree of public confidence

in the fidelity, honesty, and integrity of their profession. [1]In this administrative case for

disbarment, respondent tty. !oel ". #ri$aldo failed to perform his sworn duty to preserve

the dignity of the legal profession.

%omplainant #oretti Ong is a widow residing in Talayan &illage, 'ue(on %ity

)ometime in the early part of 1**+, she engaged the services of respondent, a practicing

lawyer in acolod %ity, as private prosecutor in %riminal %ase -o. /02 before the

"etropolitan Trial %ourt in %ities of acolod %ity, ranch , against 3emuel )embrano and

rlene &illamil for violation of Batas Pambansa Bilang //.[/]4uring one of the hearings of

the case, the accused offered to amicably settle their civil obligation to complainant by

paying the amount of 5106,666.66. %omplainant accepted the offer on the condition that

payment shall be made in cash.

t the hearing held on !uly 17, 1**+, respondent advised complainant to wait outside

the courtroom. 8hen he came out, he handed to complainant cash in the amount of

5166,666.66 and "etroban9 %hec9 -o. 6761/+20+/ for 506,666.66, postdated ugust1+, 1**+, drawn by tty. :oger :eyes, counsel for the accused. %omplainant ob$ected to

the chec9 payment and refused to settle the case, but he assured her that the chec9 was

drawn by a reputable lawyer. %omplainant was prevailed upon by respondent into signing

an affidavit of desistance, but she instructed him not to file it in court until the chec9 is

cleared.

;pon presentment on its maturity date, the chec9 was dishonored due to a stopowever, "ondia did not have that amount of money. ttached tothe complaint is the affidavit of -orma "ondia attesting to this fact. [+]

?urthermore, >enry Tiu, a former client of respondent, e@ecuted an affidavit, which is

attached to the complaint, alleging that he gave respondent the amount of 52,666.66 for

the purpose of posting his bail bond, but respondent did not post his bail which resulted in

Tiu=s arrest.[7]

3i9ewise, a certain 3u( 4imailig, whose affidavit is also attached to the complaint

averred that respondent represented her as counsel for plaintiff in a civil case before the:egional Trial %ourt of acolod %ity, ranch /Athat the case was dismissed by the tria

courtA that the appeal filed by respondent to the %ourt of ppeals was dismissed due to his

failure to file the appellant=s briefA and that the petition for review before the )upreme

%ourt was denied for lac9 of proof of service on the %ourt of ppeals, late filing and late

payment of doc9et fees. "oreover, 4imailig alleged that she gave respondent the amount

of 516,666.66 for settling the said civil case, but she later learned that he did not remit the

money to the defendants or their counsel.[0]

On !une /,1**7, respondent was required to file his comment within ten days fromnotice.[*]:espondent filed a "otion for B@tension of Time, alleging that he has not received

a copy of the complaint. [16]On ?ebruary ,1**0,[11] complainant furnished respondent a

copy of the complaint. >owever, despite receipt of a copy of the complaint, respondent still

failed to file his comment.

On October 1*, 1**0, respondent was required to show cause why he should not be

disciplinarily dealt with or held in contempt for failing to file his comment. [1/]:espondent
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filed a %ompliance, stating that the copy of the complaint he received from complainant

was not legible. %omplainant again furnished respondent with a clearer and more legible

copy of the complaint including its anne@esA but respondent still did not file his comment.

%onsequently, on !une 1, /666, another show cause order was issued against

respondent.[12]:espondent replied by stating that the quality of the copy furnished him by

complainant was worse than the first one he received.

4issatisfied with respondent=s e@planation, respondent was ordered to pay a fine of

51,666.66, which he complied with on -ovember /7, /666. [1]>owever, he again failed to

file his comment and, instead, moved for additional time to file said comment.

On ugust 12, /661, this case was referred to the Integrated ar of the 5hilippines

CI5D for investigation, report and recommendation. [1]The records of the I5 show that

respondent has not filed his comment to the complaint. On !anuary 10, /66/, the

Investigating %ommissioner, "anuel . Tiuseco, submitted his report recommending thedisbarment of respondent.[1+]>owever, in its :esolution -o. E&is negligence shows a glaring lac9 of the competence and
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diligence required of every lawyer.[10]>is infraction is rendered all the more deplorable by

the fact that complainant is a resident of 'ue(on %ity and the case was filed in acolod

%ity. It was precisely for this reason that complainant engaged the services of respondent,

a acolod


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showing that he had a lien over it. s a lawyer, he should have been scrupulously carefu

in handling money entrusted to him in his professional capacity, because a high degree of

fidelity and good faith on his part is e@acted. [/6]

lawyer, under his oath, pledges himself not to delay any man for money or malice

and is bound to conduct himself with all good fidelity to his clients. >e is obligated to report

promptly the money of his client that has come into his possession. >e should notcommingle it with his private property or use it for his personal purposes without his

client=s consent. :espondent, by converting the money of his client to his own persona

use without her consent, was guilty of deceit, malpractice and gross misconduct. -ot only

did he degrade himself but as an unfaithful lawyer he besmirched the fair name of an

honorable profession.[/1]

side from violating the %ode of 5rofessional :esponsibility, respondent=s failure to

promptly turn over the money to his client and his conversion of the same for his personal

use rendered him liable for contempt under :ule 120, )ection / of the :ules of %ourt, towitF

nla/"ul retention o" client0s "unds contem!t.))) -$n an a!!o#n$7 (n


21/27

-" l$n! -$ al"o "$#'$" !-$ $nd" o2 ence, such act amounted to doublee has proved himself unworthy of

membership in the legal profession and must, therefore, be disbarred.

WHEREFORE,for dishonesty, grave misconduct, and grossly unethical behaviorrespondent TT. !OB3 #:I!34O is 4I)::B4 from the practice law. >is name is

ordered )T:I%JB- from the :oll of ttorneys. >e is further directed to 5 complainant

#oretti Ong the amount of 506,666.66 within ten C16D days from notice of this 4ecision.

This 4ecision shall ta9e effect immediately. %opies thereof shall be furnished the

Office of the ar %onfidant, to be appended to respondent=s personal recordA the

Integrated ar of the 5hilippinesA the Office of the 5residentA the 4epartment of !usticeA
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23/27

R E S O L U T I O N

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:

This is an administrative complaint[1]against tty. ernardito . ?lorido filed with the

Integrated ar of the 5hilippines CI5D %ommission on ar 4iscipline, praying that

appropriate sanctions be imposed on respondent for representing conflicting interests.

%omplainant is a ?ilipino by birth who had acquired merican citi(enship. >e resides

at 10+ -. 1th8ay, 5hoeni@, ri(ona 06//, ;.).. :espondent is a practicing lawyer

based in %ebu %ity.

On -ovember /0, 1*02, complainant engaged the professional services of respondent

through his attorney


24/27

%omplainant further averred that respondent admitted he was never authori(ed by the

former to appear as counsel for complainant=s e@


25/27

:espondent e@pressed regret over the oversight and averred that immediately after

discovering that he formerly represented complainant in )pecial 5roceeding -o. 2*71e denied any malice in his acts and alleged that it is not in his character to do malice

or falsehood particularly in the e@ercise of his profession.

In his %ommentsMObservations on :espondent=s nswer,[11]

complainant averred thatrespondent=s conduct was geared towards insuring a court victory for "ilagros ap in %ivil

%ase -o. %Bouston, Te@as, 77602, ;.).., when he 9new fully well that

complainant=s true and correct address was cMo &.. >ospital, 7 th)treet N Italian )choo

:oad, 5hoeni@, ri(ona, 0612, ;.).. y falsely stating and concealing his true and

correct address, respondent eventually succeeded in obtaining a default $udgment in favor

of his client.

4uring the pendency of these proceedings before the I5, it appeared thatrespondent=s son got married to the daughter of I5 -ational 5resident rthur 4

3im. Thus, tty. 3im inhibited himself from participating in the resolution of the case[1/] )ubsequently, a :esolution was issued requiring the I5 to elevate the entire records of

the case within thirty C26D days from notice. [12]

The main issue to be resolved in the case at bar is whether or not respondent violated

:ule 1.62 of the %ode of 5rofessional :esponsibility. The investigating commissione

found that respondent clearly violated the prohibition against representing conflicting

interests and recommended that he be suspended from the practice of law for a period ofthree C2D months.

8e find the recommendation well


26/27

matter in which he represents him and also whether he will be called upon in his new

relation, to use against his first client any 9nowledge acquired through their connection. [1+]

s pointed out by the investigating commissioner, respondent does not deny that he

represented complainant in )pecial 5roceedings -o. 2*71e also does not deny that

he is the lawyer of "ilagros ap baqueta in %ivil %ase -o. %B


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lawyer may not, without being guilty of professional misconduct, act as counsel for a

person whose interest conflicts with that of his former client. [//] The reason for the

prohibition is found in the relation of attorney and client which is one of trust and

confidence of the highest degree.[/2] Indeed, as we stated in !ibulo v' )abrera,[/]GThe

relation of attorney and client is based on trust, so that double dealing, which could

sometimes lead to treachery, should be avoided.H [/]

%redence cannot, however, be given to the charge that respondent fraudulently and

maliciously falsified the true and correct address of the complainant notwithstanding

respondent=s 9nowledge thereof. 3awyers normally do not have 9nowledge of the

personal circumstances of a party in a case and usually rely on the information supplied

by their clients. The fact that respondent sent a letter to complainant at the latter=s correct

address[/+]si@teen months before the filing of %ivil %ase -o. %Be is further 4"O-I)>B4 to e@ercise greater care and diligence in

the performance of his duties towards his clients and the court. >e is warned that a

repetition of the same or similar offense will be dealt with more severely.

SO ORDERED.
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