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DR. RAUL C. SANCHEZ v. ATTY. SALUSTINO SOMOSO

This case has been cited 5 times or more.

	AC. No. 5338 2009-02-23	EUGENIA MENDOZA v. ATTY. VICTOR V. DECIEMBRE PER CURIAM
The practice of law is not a right but merely a privilege bestowed by the State upon those who show that they possess, and continue to possess, the qualifications required by law for the conferment of such privilege.[25] A high sense of morality, honesty and fair dealing is expected and required of members of the bar.[26] They must conduct themselves with great propriety, and their behavior must be beyond reproach anywhere and at all times.[27]
	AC. No. 6972 2008-10-17	JERRY T. WONG v. ATTY. SALVADOR N. MOYA II LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.
Moreover, in Cuizon v. Macalino,[22] we also ruled that the issuance of checks which were later dishonored for having been drawn against a closed account indicates a lawyer's unfitness for the trust and confidence reposed on him, shows such lack of personal honesty and good moral character as to render him unworthy of public confidence, and constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. Similarly, Sanchez v. Somoso[23] held that the persistent refusal to settle due obligations despite demand manifests a lawyer's low regard to his commitment to the oath he has taken when he joined his peers, seriously and irreparably tarnishing the image of the profession he should, instead, hold in high esteem. This conduct deserves nothing less than a severe disciplinary action.
	AC. No. 4515 2008-07-14	CECILIA A. AGNO v. ATTY. MARCIANO J. CAGATAN. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.
The afore-cited canons emphasize the high standard of honesty and fairness expected of a lawyer not only in the practice of the legal profession but in his personal dealings as well. [36] A lawyer must conduct himself with great propriety, and his behavior should be beyond reproach anywhere and at all times.[37] For, as officers of the courts and keepers of the public's faith, they are burdened with the highest degree of social responsibility and are thus mandated to behave at all times in a manner consistent with truth and honor. [38] Likewise, the oath that lawyers swear to impresses upon them the duty of exhibiting the highest degree of good faith, fairness and candor in their relationships with others. [39] Thus, lawyers may be disciplined for any conduct, whether in their professional or in their private capacity, if such conduct renders them unfit to continue to be officers of the court.[40]
	AC. No. 6408 2004-08-31	ISIDRA BARRIENTOS v. ATTY. ELERIZZA A. LIBIRAN-METEORO AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ, J.
We have held that the issuance of checks which were later dishonored for having been drawn against a closed account indicates a lawyer's unfitness for the trust and confidence reposed on her. It shows a lack of personal honesty and good moral character as to render her unworthy of public confidence.[22] The issuance of a series of worthless checks also shows the remorseless attitude of respondent, unmindful to the deleterious effects of such act to the public interest and public order.[23] It also manifests a lawyer's low regard to her commitment to the oath she has taken when she joined her peers, seriously and irreparably tarnishing the image of the profession she should hold in high esteem.[24]