dodging full text cases

8/9/2019 Dodging Full Text Cases

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CASES:

1. PEOPLE VS JARDIN: consti right (speedy disposition). Case dismissed. but it was the party

who repeatedly asked for postponement. No double jeopardy

2. JAVELLANA VS LUTERO: counsel of Javellana (Hautea) asked for postponement

(businesses elsewhere); nung granted, did not appear on the date of postponed trial dahil “nasa

Manila”. Javellana was not deprived of his day in court.

3. ACHACOSO VS CA: Achacoso’s lawyer, Nera, asked for extensions for filing of motions, but

did not submit a reply

4. AUSTRIA VS MASAQUEL: Austria was charged with contempt + Php 50 since he, while

being examined by the judge, admitted na walang trust sa judge na he is impartial because the

other party’s new counsel was a former assistant of the judge; court held that no contempt

charge + fee since nasa judge na sana na mahiya at magdesist from participating in the case

dahil may former relationship sila ng new counsel

5. STA MARIA VS TUASON: Tuason, Sta Maria’s lawyer obtained from the Sheriff, the amountof P22,930.64, which he applied in the following manner: (1) P10,000.00 for his alleged

attorney's fees; (2) P1,648.00 to supposed expenses of litigation, which he claimed to have

advanced in the prosecution of the case; and (3) the balance of P11,282.64, to plaintiff Fausto

E. Chincuanco, his uncle. Sta Maria was not given his share in the money. The attorney’s fees

and litigation fee was too much since the case did not really involve much litigation and work on

Tuason’s part

6. LEDESMA VS CLIMACO : Ledesma was appointed counsel de oficio for a case. He appealed

to Climaco that he be relieved from being the counsel sicne he was appointed as the Election

officer of Cadiz, Neg. Occ. Court held he can’t be relieved as counsel de officio because he was

appointed so and his help was needed in the case. indispensable role of a member of the Bar inthe defense of an accused. Such a consideration could have sufficed for petitioner not being

allowed to withdraw as counsel de oficio

7. DOMINADOR VS MAGULTA: Magulta asked for a Php 25,000 filing fee from Dominador

Burbe for filing a money claim and civil case for breach of contract. It turns out the case was

never filed

8. COJUANCO VS PALMA: gross immoral conduct. Eduardo Cojuangco filed a disbarment case

against Atty Palma for marrying her daughter, Lisa, even if Palma was already married to

another (alam nyo nay an)

PEOPLE VS JARDIN

Petition for certiorari on decision of CFI Quezondismissing te crimina! cases against

accusedDemetrio Jardin "ecause is constitutiona! rigt tos#eed$ tria! %as a!!eged!$

&io!ated'

FAC(S



) (e crimina! #rosecutions originated from a !etter)com#!aint of te Pro&incia!

Auditor of Quezonre*uesting te Pro&incia! Fisca! to +!e te necessar$crimina! action

under Artic!e ,-. of te Re&ised Pena!Code against Demetrio Jardin for ma!&ersation

of #u"!ic funds tru fa!si+cation of #u"!ic documents onsi/ counts'

0-12.3

) 4(is case is fu!! of de!a$ing tactics5)

PI -

6 accused mo&ed to #ost#one 7 times8 andfai!ed to a##ear e&er$time') PI %as

ne&erte!ess conducted' And te si/ crimina!informations %ere +!ed in CFI')

AR -

6 accused mo&ed to #ost#one 7 time8 ne&era##eared9 counse! as:ed for

rein&estigation on teground tat te accused %as not gi&en teo##ortunit$ to#resent is defense during te#re!iminar$ in&estigation' Court granted motion')

PI ,

6 accused mo&ed to #ost#one man$ times8 fai!ed sti!! to a##ear' ;en e +na!!$

a##eared %itis counse!8 te$ as:ed for -< da$s to +!ememorandum' (e

memorandum %as ne&er +!ed8 sote in&estigating +sca! +!ed a manifestation

"eforete court tat te records of tese cases "e returnedand te tria! on te

merits of te same "e set') (e court transferred te case to ne% "ranc of

CFIQuezon %itout acting on manifestation'Arraignment date %as set')

AR ,

6 more #ost#onements at instance of accused9 mo&ed for rein&estigation again'

Court granted')

PI =

6 reset "ecause no so%' Counse! ten as:edfor < da$s to +!e %ritten s%orn

statement of accusedas defense' No statement %as su"mitted so terecords of te

case %ere returned to court' A date%as set for arraignment')

AR =

6 accused as:ed for #ost#onement' )

Arraignment +na!!$ a##ened on Se#t >8-1.?

' Accused #!eaded NO( @IL(B and as:ed fortria! to "e #ost#oned' On #ost#oned

date8 accusedas:ed for anoter #ost#onement') Oct -1.?8 accused and counse!

%ere at tria!9 "ut noone a##eared for #rosecution8 e/ce#t for a state%itness'



Counse! mo&ed 0ora!!$3 for dismissa!8in&o:ing accused rigt to a s#eed$ tria!'

Courtgranted motion and dismissed te c

,' ;ON tis a##ea! #!aces te accused in dou"!e eo#ard$

ELD

-' NO) (e res#ondent court committed a gra&e a"use of discretion in dismissing

te cases and in "asing tedismissa! on te constitutiona! rigt of te accused

tos#eed$ tria!') (e rigt to a s#eed$ tria! means tat te accusedis free from

&e/atious8 ca#ricious8 and o##ressi&ede!a$s8 its sa!utar$ o"ecti&e "eing to assure

tat aninnocent #erson ma$ "e free from an/iet$ ande/#ense of a court !itigation

or8 if oter%ise8 of a&ing is gui!t determined %itin te sortest#ossi"!e time

com#ati"!e %it te #resentation andconsideration of %ate&er !egitimate defense

e ma$inter#ose') (e de!a$s in te #rosecution of te oenses %erea!! caused "$

te accused so e cannot in&o:econstitutiona! rigt to s#eed$ tria!' $ is

o%nde!i"erate acts8 e is deemed to a&e %ai&ed ora"andoned is rigt to a s#eed$

tria!,' NO) (e dismissa! of te crimina! cases against teaccused "$ te

res#ondent court on te ground tatis rigt to s#eed$ tria! ad "een &io!ated %as

de&oidof factua! and !ega! "asis') In order tat te #rotection against dou"!e

eo#ard$ma$ inure to te "ene+t of an accused8 te fo!!o%ingre*uisites must "e

#resent in te +rst #rosecution60a3 a &a!id com#!aint or information90"3 a com#etent

court90c3 te defendant ad #!eaded to te carge9 and0d3 te defendant %as

ac*uitted8 or con&icted8 or tecase against im %as dismissed or

oter%iseterminated %itout is e/#ress consent') (e !ast re*uisite is not #resent

"ecause te orderof te CFI udge %as nu!! and &oid'

Dis#ositi&e

Petition granted' (e crimina! cases arereinstated and te #ro#er regiona! tria! court

isordered to #roceed %it a!! de!i"erate s#eed in tese cases



a##eared at te tria!' is a"sence on te !atter date %as not occasioned "$

i!!nessor some oter su#er&ening occurrence %ic una&oida"!$ and usti+a"!$

#re&entedim from a##earing in court'It %as te "ounden dut$ of te said counse!8

under te circumstances8 togi&e #referentia! attention to te case' As tings %ere8

e regarded te munici#a!court as a mere marionette tat must e&er a%ait is

#!easure' (is attitude on is#art is censura"!e as it re&ea!s more tan ust a

modicum of disres#ect for te udiciar$ and te esta"!ised maciner$ of ustice

@'R' No' L)=<>2. June ,>8 -1.=



FRANCISCO A. ACHACOSO, in his own behalf and in behalf of Capital

Insurance & Surety Co., Inc.,s. !H" HON. CO#R! OF A$$"A%S, CO!RA,

S.A., CA$I!A% %IF" ASS#RANC" COR$., 'OA(#IN ). )ARRI*O, respondents.

(e Court censures te #ractice of counse!s %o secure re#eated e/tensions of time

to +!e teir #!eadings and tereafter sim#!$ !et te #eriod !a#se %itout su"mittingte #!eading or e&en an e/#!anation or manifestation of teir fai!ure to do so' (e

Court erein re#rimands #etitionerGs counse! for suc misconduct %it te %arning

tat a re#etition tereof %i!! "e dea!t %it more se&ere!$'

#on te +!ing on Decem"er -<8 -1., of te #etition at "ar for re&ie% of te Court

of A##ea!sG decision dismissing #etitionerGs #etition for mandamus +!ed %it said

court to com#e! te Hani!a court of +rst instance to a!!o% #etitionerGs #ro#osed

a##ea! from its ad&erse udgment dismissing #!aintiGs com#!aint8 te Court #er its

reso!ution of Decem"er ,,8 -1., re*uired res#ondents to comment tereon'

Res#ondents +!ed on Fe"ruar$ >8 -1.= an e/tensi&e eigteen #age comment and

#etitionerGs counse!8 Rodrigo H' Nera8 +!ed on Fe"ruar$ -,8 -1.= a motion for !ea&e

to +!e re#!$ %itin -< da$s from notice a!!eging tat tere %as need for suc re#!$

in order tat tis onora"!e Court ma$ "e fu!!$ and com#!ete!$ informed of te

nature of te contro&ers$ %ic ga&e rise to te instant #etition' (e Court granted

suc !ea&e #er its reso!ution of Fe"ruar$ ,=8 -1.= and notice of suc !ea&e %as

ser&ed on counse! on Fe"ruar$ ,.8 -1.='

On te !ast da$ for +!ing of te re#!$8 &iz8 Harc -78 -1.= counse! as:ed for an

additiona! -< da$s a&erring tat due to te #ressure of urgent #rofessiona! %or:

and dai!$ tria! engagements of te undersigned counse! during te origina! #eriod

granted8 e as not ad sucient materia! time to com#!ete te #re#aration of#etitionerGs re#!$' (e Court granted te re*uested e/tension #er its reso!ution of

Harc ,?8 -1.='

On te !ast da$ of te e/tended #eriod for +!ing of te re#!$8 &iz8 Harc ,18 -1.=

counse! again as:ed for sti!! anoter -<)da$ e/tension stating tat due to te

#ressure of urgent #rofessiona! %or: and dai!$ tria! engagements of te

undersigned counse!8 e as not ad sucient materia! time to com#!ete te

#re#aration of #etitioners re#!$' (e undersigned counse! um"!$ a#o!ogizes tat in

&ie% of is cro%ded scedu!e8 e as "een constrained to as: for tis e/tension8 "ut

res#ectfu!!$ assures te onora"!e Court tat tis %i!! "e te !ast one re*uested'G As

#er its reso!ution of A#ri! 28 -1.=8 te Court granted counse!Gs motion for suc tirdand !ast e/tension'

(e #eriod for te +!ing of #etitionerGs re#!$ !a#sed on A#ri! -=8 -1.= %itout

counse! a&ing +!ed an$ re#!$ manifestation e/#!aining is fai!ure to do so'

According!$8 te Court in its reso!ution of Ha$ ,78 -1.= den$ing te #etition for

re&ie% for !ac: of merit8 furter re*uired #etitionerGs counse! to so% cause %$



disci#!ine action sou!d not "e ta:en against im for fai!ure to +!e te re#!$ after

a&ing o"tained suc !ea&e and tree e/tensions time %itin %ic to do so'

Counse! +!ed in due course is &eri+ed E/#!anation dated June .8 -1.= stating tat

e %as retained in te ease on a #iece)%or: "asis on te &er"a! understanding tat

a!! e/#enses for te #re#aration of #!eadings and te cost of ser&ices ofstenogra#er)t$#ist sa!! "e furnised in ad&ance "$ #etition u#on "eing noti+ed

tereof8 tat %en e as:ed for a tird e/tension on Harc ,18 -1.=8 e so

informed #etitioner and re*uested im to remit te e/#enses for te #re#aration of

re#!$ as #er agreement and tat e tried to contact #etitioner "efore te e/#iration

of te e/tended #eriod "ut fai!ed to do as #etitioner %as ten most of te time out

of is oce'

Counse! re!ates tat it %as on!$ on Ha$ =?8 -1.= %en e recei&ed notice of te

CourtGs reso!ution of Ha$ ,78 -1.= den$ing te #etition and re*uiring is

e/#!anation K !ong after te e/#iration on A#ri! -=8 -1.= of te e/tended #eriod for

te +!ing of te re#!$ K tat e %rote #etitioner and in turn as:ed te #etitioner toe/#!ain te !atterGs fai!ure to com#!$ %it is re*uest for a remittance of P<??'?? to

co&er te necessar$ e/#enses8 and tat #etitioner ad re#!ied tat counse!Gs !etter

ad "een mis#!aced "$ a c!er: and ence8 #etitioner ad fai!ure to act on te

same'

Counse! #!eads tat tis counse! as not te !east intention of de!a$ing te

administration of ustice and muc !ess trie %it te reso!utions and orders of tis

onora"!e Court' (e ina"i!it$ of tis counse! to su"mit te re#!$ %itin te

e/tension granted "$ tis onora"!e Court %as due to su#er&ening circumstances

%ic cou!d not "e attri"uted to tis counse! and tat if tis #oor and um"!e

#ractitioner as "een im#e!!ed to inaction it sure!$ %as not intentiona! on is #art8te trut of te matter "eing tat tis counse! %as ust e!#!ess in te face of

#etitionerGs fai!ure to com#!$ %it is commitments aforesaid9 and tat tis

counse! dee#!$ regrets tis incident and ere"$ a#o!ogizes to tis onora"!e Court

for a!! is sortcomings re!ati&e to tis case8 %ic after a!! %ere due to causes and

circumstances not of is o%n ma:ing and far "e$ond is contro!'

Counse!Gs e/#!anation is far from satisfactor$' If indeed e %as not in a +nancia!

#osition to ad&ance te necessar$ e/#enses for #re#aring and su"mitting te re#!$8

ten e cou!d a&e +!ed time!$ te necessar$ manifestation tat e %as foregoing

te +!ing of suc re#!$ on #etitionerGs "ea!f' is inaction undu!$ de!a$ed te CourtGs

#rom#t dis#osition of te case after te +!ing "$ res#ondents on Fe"ruar$ >8 -1.= of

teir comments on te #etition so%ing its !ac: of merit'

(e Court %ou!d a&e ten so dis#osed of te #etition ad it not "een for

#etitionerGs #!ea to "e gi&en time and o##ortunit$ to +!e a re#!$ to te comments in

order to fu!!$ a##rise te Court of te nature of te contro&ers$8 %ic #!ea te

Court granted in re!iance on is good fait' Bet after a&ing o"tained tree



e/tensions of time for te +!ing of te re#!$8 counse! sim#!$ fai!ed to +!e an$ re#!$

nor to gi&e te Court te courtes$ of an$ e/#!anation or manifestation for is fai!ure

to do so'

Counse! readi!$ #ercei&ed in is e/#!anation tat is conduct comes c!ose to

de!a$ing te administration of ustice and triing %it te CourtGs #rocesses' It doesnot reect %e!! on counse!Gs conduct as an ocer of te Court tat after assuring

te Court tat te tird e/tension re*uested "$ im in &ie% of is cro%ded

scedu!e and of urgent #rofessiona! %or: and dai!$ tria! engagements %ou!d "e

te !ast %itin %ic #eriod e %ou!d at !ast +!e te a%aited re#!$8 for im

tereafter to !et te #eriod sim#!$ !a#se %itout an$ e/#!anation %atsoe&er8 and

%orse8 to %ait to "e found out8 and a&e te Court re*uire im to e/#!ain'

Considering8 o%e&er8 tat counse!Gs record so%s no #re&ious infractions on is

#art since is admission to te Pi!i##ine ar in -1<=8 te Court is dis#osed to "e

!enient in tis instance'

ACCORDIN@LB8 te Court ere"$ administers a re#rimand on Att$' Rodrigo H' Nera8

%it te %arning tat a re#etition of te same or simi!ar acts sa!! "e dea!t %it

more se&ere!$' Let a co#$ of tis reso!ution "e +!ed in is #ersona! record'

Adelino H. %edes+a . Hon. Rafael C. Cli+aco

Facts6

Petitioner Ledesma %as assigned as counse! de #arte for an accused in a case

#ending in te sa!a of te res#ondent udge' On Octo"er -=8 -1278 Ledesma %asa##ointed E!ection Registrar for te Hunici#a!it$ of Cadiz8 Negros Occidenta!' e

commenced discarging is duties8 and +!ed a motion to %itdra% from is #osition

as counse! de #arte' (e res#ondent Judge denied im and a!so a##ointed im as

counse! de o+cio for te t%o defendants' On No&em"er 28 Ledesma +!ed a motion to

"e a!!o%ed to %itdra% as counse! de o+cio8 "ecause te Come!ec re*uires fu!! time

ser&ice %ic cou!d #re&ent im from and!ing ade*uate!$ te defense' Judge

denied te motion' So Ledesma instituted tis certiorari #roceeding'

Issue6

;eter or not te order of te res#ondent udged in den$ing te motion of te#etitioner is a gra&e a"use of discretionM

o!ding6

No8 LedesmaGs %itdra%a! %ou!d "e an act so%ing is !ac: of +de!it$ to te dut$

r*euired of te !ega! #rofession' e ougt to a&e :no%n tat mem"ersi# in te

"ar is "urdened %it conditions' (e !ega! #rofession is dedicated to te idea! of



ser&ice8 and is not a mere trade' A !a%$er ma$ "e re*uired to act as counse! de

o+cio to aid in te #erformance of te administration of ustice' (e fact tat suc

ser&ices are rendered %itout #a$ sou!d not diminis te !a%$erGs zea!'

Ratio6

(e on!$ attorne$s %o cannot #ractice !a% "$ reason of teir oce are Judges8 or

oter ocia!s or em#!o$ees of te su#erior courts or te oce of te so!icitor

@enera! 0Section =, Ru!e -,. of te Ru!es of Court Section =< of Ru!e -=> of te

Re&ised Ru!es of Court' (e !a%$er in&o!&ed not "eing among tem8 remained as

counse! of record since e did not +!e a motion to %itdra% as defendant)

a##e!!ants counse! after is a##ointment as Register of Deeds' Nor %as su"stitution

of attorne$ as:ed eiter "$ im or "$ te ne% counse! for te defendant)a##e!!ant

0Peo#!e &s' ;i!!iams CA @'R' Nos' ??=.<).28 Fe"ruar$ ,>8 -12=3

(o a&oid an$ frustration tereof8 es#ecia!!$ in te case of an indigent

defendant8 a !a%$er ma$ "e re*uired to act as counse! de ocio 0Peo#!e &' Da"an3

Horeo&er8 (e rigt of an accused in a crimina! case to "e re#resented "$ counse! is

a constitutiona! rigt of te igest im#ortance8 and tere can "e no fair earing

%it due #rocess of !a% un!ess e is fu!!$ informed of is rigts in tis regard and

gi&en o##ortunit$ to eno$ tem 0Peo#!e &s' o!gado8 L),>?18 Harc ,,8 -1<?3

(e tria! court in a crimina! case as autorit$ to #ro&ide te accused %it

a counse! de ocio for suc action as it ma$ deem +t to safeguard te rigts of te

accused 0Pro&incia! Fisca! of Riza! &s' Judge Huoz Pa!ma8 L)-<=,<8 August =-8 -1=?3

S!A. ARIA S. !#ASON -- SCRA /0 1"thics2

(is is a #etition for te dis"arment of Att$' Eduardo H' (uason8 instituted "$ Emi!ioSta' Haria'

Sometime in June -1<<8 Att$' (uason re#resented te #artnersi# of Sta' Haria8

@uanzon and Cincuanco in a co!!ection case against Enri*ueta de ida!go8

in&o!&ing a #romissor$ note of P<?8???'??' Defendant ida!go in tis case %as

dec!ared in defau!t and %as ordered to #a$' $ &irtue of a %rit of e/ecution8 te

#ro&incia! seri of Pam#anga %as a"!e to o"tain te amount of P,,81=?'27'

Res#ondent (uason got te %o!e amount from te seri and a##!ied it in te

fo!!o%ing manner 6 P-?8??? attorne$s fees8 P-827> su##osed e/#enses of !itigation

%ic e c!aimed to a&e ad&anced during te #rosecution and te "a!ance ofP--8,>,'27 to Fausto Cincuanco8 is unc!e'

Des#ite demands from Sta' Haria to turn o&er te mone$ to im or to te seri8

res#ondent fai!ed to com#!$ and contem#t #roceedings %ere instituted against

(uason' (e matter %as referred to te Oce of te So!icitor @enera! %o made te

+ndings and recommendation tat6 res#ondent (uason %as not in conni&ance %it

is unc!e Cincuanco in de#ri&ing #etitioner of is !a%fu! sare in te !i*uidation of



#artnersi# assets8 o%e&er8 te co!!ection of P-?8??? as attorne$s fees after te

case %as terminated after one "rief earing is unreasona"!e' (ere %as a!so no

e&idence #resented to so% tat (uason actua!!$ s#ent P-827> for te e/#enses'

(e So!' @en' recommended tat instead of a more se&ere #ena!t$ %ic e %ou!d

oter%ise deser&e8 res#ondent "e re#rimanded for #rofessiona! indiscretion8 %it a%arning tat a more se&ere #ena!t$ "e im#osed for te re#etition of te same of

simi!ar acts'

ISSE 6 ;eter res#ondent committed acts tat %ou!d merit is dis"arment'

RLIN@6

(e fact tat te res#ondent #!aced is #ri&ate and #ersona! interest o&er and

a"o&e tat of is c!ients constitutes a "reac of te !a%$ers oat8 to sa$ te !east'

Ca!! it #rofessiona! indiscretion or an$ oter name8 "ut te co!d fact remains tat te

act is not conduci&e to te ea!t gro%t of te !ega! #rofession' Res#ondent is

ere"$ admonised tat a re#etition of simi!ar acts %i!! merit more drastic action'

*OINA*OR $. 3#R3" S. A!!4. A%3"R!O C. A)#%!A AC NO. 556/78.

'#N" -9, 0990

Facts6 Petitioner engaged te ser&ices of te res#ondent to e!# im reco&er a c!aim

of mone$ against a creditor' Res#ondent #re#ared demand !etters for te #etitioner8

%ic %ere not successfu! and so te former intimated tat a case sou!d a!read$

"e +!ed' As a resu!t8 #etitioner #aid te !a%$er is fees and inc!uded a!so amounts

for te +!ing of te case'

A cou#!e of monts #assed "ut te #etitioner as not $et recei&ed an$ feed"ac: as

to te status of is case' Petitioner made se&era! fo!!o%)u#s in te !a%$ers oce

"ut to no a&ai!' (e !a%$er8 to #ro&e tat te case as a!read$ "een +!ed e&en

in&ited #etitioner to come %it im to te Justice a!! to &erif$ te status of te

case' Petitioner %as made to %ait for ours in te #rosecutors oce %i!e te

!a%$er a!!eged!$ %ent to te C!er: of Court to in*uire a"out te case' (e !a%$er

%ent "ac: to te #etitioner %it te ne%s tat te C!er: of Court %as a"sent tat

da$'

Sus#icious of te acts of te !a%$er8 #etitioner #ersona!!$ %ent to te oce of te

c!er: of court to see for imse!f te status of is case' Petitioner found out tat no

suc case as "een +!ed'

Petitioner confronted Att$' Hagu!ta %ere e continued to !ie to %it te e/cuse tat

te de!a$ %as "eing caused "$ te court #ersonne!8 and on!$ %en so%n te



certi+cation did e admit tat e as not at a!! +!ed te com#!aint "ecause e ad

s#ent te mone$ for te +!ing fee for is o%n #ur#ose9 and to a##ease #etitioners

fee!ings8 e oered to reim"urse im "$ issuing t%o 0,3 cec:s8 #ostdated June -

and June <8 -1118 in te amounts of P-,8???'?? and P>8???'??8 res#ecti&e!$'

Issue6 ;eter or not te !a%$er sou!d "e dis"arred

e!d6 Bes' (e Su#reme Court u#e!d te decision of te Commission on ar

Disci#!ine of te IP as fo!!o%s6 It is e&ident tat te P,<8??? de#osited "$

com#!ainant %it te Res#icio La% Oce %as for te +!ing fees of te Reg%i!!

com#!aint' ;it com#!ainants de#osit of te +!ing fees for te Reg%i!! com#!aint8 a

corres#onding o"!igation on te #art of res#ondent %as created and tat %as to +!e

te Reg%i!! com#!aint %itin te time frame contem#!ated "$ is c!ient' (e fai!ure

of res#ondent to fu!+!! tis o"!igation due to is misuse of te +!ing fees de#osited

"$ com#!ainant8 and is attem#ts to co&er u# tis misuse of funds of te c!ient8

%ic caused com#!ainant additiona! damage and #reudice8 constitutes ig!$

disonest conduct on is #art8 un"ecoming a mem"er of te !a% #rofession' (esu"se*uent reim"ursement "$ te res#ondent of #art of te mone$ de#osited "$

com#!ainant for +!ing fees8 does not e/cu!#ate te res#ondent for is

misa##ro#riation of said funds'

Co:uan;co s $al+a

Facts6 On June ,,8 -1>,8 res#ondent Att$' Leo J' Pa!ma8 des#ite is su"sisting

marriage8 %ed Haria Luisa Couangco8 te daugter of com#!ainant Eduardo H'

Couangco8 Jr' (us8 te !atter +!ed on No&em"er -1>,8 a com#!aint dis"armentagainst res#ondent' Pa!ma mo&ed to dismiss te com#!aint'

On Harc ,8 -1>=8 te court referred te case to OS@ for in&estigation and

recommendation' (e Assistant So!icitor @enera! eard te testimonies of te

com#!ainant and is %itness in te #resence of res#ondents counse!'

On Harc -18 -1>7 res#ondent +!ed %it te OS@ an urgent motion to sus#end

#roceedings on te ground tat te +na! actions of is ci&i! case for te dec!aration

of nu!!it$ of marriage "et%een im and is %ife Lisa8 #oses a #reudicia! *uestion to

te dis"arment #roceeding8 "ut it %as denied'

(e OS@ transferred te dis"arment case to te IP8 te !atter found res#ondent

gui!t$ of gross immora! conduct and &io!ation of is oat as a !a%$er8 ence8 %as

sus#ended from te #ractice of !a% for a #eriod of tree $ears' In is motion for

reconsideration8 res#ondent a!!eged tat e acted under a +rm factua! and !ega!

con&iction in dec!aring "efore te ong Tong Harriage Registr$ tat e is a "ace!or

"ecause is +rst marriage is &oid e&en if tere is udicia! dec!aration of nu!!it$'

Issue6 ;eter or not a su"se*uent &oid marriage sti!! needs a udicia! dec!aration

of nu!!it$ for te #ur#ose of remarriage'



e!d6 Res#ondents arguments tat e %as of te +rm factua! and !ega! con&iction

%en e dec!ared "efore te IC autorities tat e %as a "ace!or since is +rst

marriage is &oid and does not need udicia! dec!aration of nu!!it$ cannot e/onerate

im' In (erre &s (erre8 te same defense %as raised "$ res#ondent !a%$er %ose

dis"arment %as a!so sougt' ;e e!d6/// res#ondent Jordan (erre8 "eing a !a%$er8 :ne% or sou!d a&e :no%n tat suc

an argument ran counter to te #re&ai!ing case !a% of tis court %ic o!ds tat

#ur#oses of determining %eter a #erson is !ega!!$ free to contract a second

marriage8 a udicia! dec!aration tat te +rst marriage %as nu!! and &oid an initio is

essentia!' E&en if %e %ere to assume8 arguendo mere!$8 tat Jordan (erre e!d tat

mista:en "e!ief in good fait8 te same resu!t %i!! fo!!o%' For if %e are to o!d Jordan

(erre to is o%n argument8 is frist marriage to com#!ainant Dorot$ (erre must "e

deemed &a!id8 %it te resu!t tat is second marriage must "e regarded as

"igamous and crimina!'

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