This case has been cited 1 times or more.
|
2003-09-03 |
PER CURIAM |
||||
| This is not the first time that respondent has been charged with and found guilty of conduct unbecoming a lawyer. In Gil T. Aquino vs. Atty. Wenceslao C. Barcelona,[25] respondent misrepresented to the complainant that he could secure the restructuring of the complainant's loan with the PNB through his connection with a certain Gonzalo Mericullo, legal assistant in the PNB. Based on such misrepresentation, respondent asked and received the amount of P60,000.00 from the complainant allegedly to be paid to the PNB. It turned out that there was no such employee in the PNB by the name Gonzalo Mericullo and the complainant's property was eventually foreclosed. As in the present case, respondent did not appear before the IBP Commission on Bar Discipline despite receipt of the notices sent and duly received by him. After due proceedings, the IBP Board of Governors found respondent guilty of professional misconduct, and recommended that he be suspended from the practice of law for six months and ordered to render the accounting and restitute whatever remained of the P60,000.00 to the complainant. The Court adopted such finding and recommendation and respondent was ordered suspended from the practice of law for six months, effective immediately. | |||||