Lawyerly

AC. No. 8235

2015-01-27

JOSELITO F. TEJANO v. ATTY. BENJAMIN F. BATERINA

CARPIO, J.

The Court notes that in 2001, Atty. Baterina was also suspended for two years after being found guilty of gross misconduct.[35] In that case, Araceli Sipin-Nabor filed a complaint against Atty. Baterina for failing to file her Answer with Counterclaim in a case for quieting of title and recovery of possession where she and her siblings were defendants. Because of such failure, Sipin-Nabor was declared by the trial court to be in default and unable to present her evidence, and which, in turn, resulted in a decision adverse to her.

AC. No. 6732

2013-10-22

ATTY. OSCAR L. EMBIDO v. ATTY. SALVADOR N. PE

BERSAMIN, J.

It then becomes timely to remind all members of the Philippine Bar that they should do nothing that may in any way or degree lessen the confidence of the public in their professional fidelity and integrity.[26] The Court will not hesitate to wield its heavy hand of discipline on those among them who wittingly and willingly fail to meet the enduring demands of their Attorney's Oath for them to: x x x support [the] Constitution and obey the laws as well as the legal orders of the duly constituted authorities therein; xxx do no falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in court; x x x not wittingly or willingly promote or sue on groundless, false or unlawful suit, nor give aid nor consent to the same; x x x delay no man for money or malice, and x x x conduct [themselves as lawyers] according to the best of [their] knowledge and discretion with all good fidelity as well to the courts as to [their] clients x x x.

AC. No. 7434

2007-08-23

SPS. AMADOR AND ROSITA TEJADA v. ATTY. ANTONIUTTI K. PALAÑA

VELASCO, JR., J.

A lawyer shall at all times uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession. The trust and confidence necessarily reposed by clients requires in the attorney a high standard and appreciation of his duty to his clients, his profession, the courts and the public. The bar must maintain a high standard of legal proficiency as well as of honesty and fair dealing. Generally speaking, a lawyer can do honor to the legal profession by faithfully performing his duties to society, to the bar, to the courts and to his clients. To this end, members of the legal fraternity can do nothing that might tend to lessen in any degree the confidence of the public in the fidelity, honesty and integrity of the profession.[9]

AC. NO. 2591

2006-09-08

LETICIA ADRIMISIN v. ATTY. ROLANDO S. JAVIER

CARPIO, J.

We reiterate this reminder. Lawyers who convert the funds entrusted to them are in gross violation of professional ethics and are guilty of betrayal of public confidence in the legal profession.[29] Those who are guilty of such infraction may be disbarred or suspended from the practice of law.[30]

AC. NO. 1526

2005-01-31

NAZARIA S. HERNANDEZ v. ATTY. JOSE C. GO

PER CURIAM

Undoubtedly, respondent's conduct has made him unfit to remain in the legal profession. He has definitely fallen below the moral bar when he engaged in deceitful, dishonest, unlawful and grossly immoral acts. We have been exacting in our demand for integrity and good moral character of members of the Bar. They are expected at all times to uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession[5] and refrain from any act or omission which might lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the fidelity, honesty, and integrity of the legal profession.[6] Membership in the legal profession is a privilege.[7] And whenever it is made to appear that an attorney is no longer worthy of the trust and confidence of his clients and the public, it becomes not only the right but also the duty of this Court, which made him one of its officers and gave him the privilege of ministering within its Bar, to withdraw the privilege.[8] Respondent, by his conduct, blemished not only his integrity as a member of the Bar, but also the legal profession.

AC. No. 4914

2004-03-03

SPS. JENELINE DONATO AND MARIO DONATO v. ATTY. ISAIAH B. ASUNCION

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.

The practice of law is a sacred and noble profession. It is a special privilege bestowed only upon those who are competent intellectually, academically and morally.[3] We have been exacting in our demand for integrity and good moral character of members of the Bar.[4] We expect them at all times to uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession[5] and refrain from any act or omission which might lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the integrity of the legal profession.[6]

AC. No. 5082

2004-02-17

MILAGROS N. ALDOVINO v. ATTY. PEDRO C. PUJALTE

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.

This Court has been exacting in its demand for integrity and good moral character of members of the Bar. They are expected at all times to uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession[11] and refrain from any act or omission which might lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the fidelity, honesty, and integrity of the legal profession.[12] Membership in the legal profession is a privilege.[13] And whenever it is made to appear that an attorney is no longer worthy of the trust and confidence of the public, it becomes not only the right but also the duty of this Court, which made him one of its officers and gave him the privilege of ministering within its Bar, to withdraw the privilege.[14] Respondent, by his conduct, blemished not only his integrity as a member of the Bar, but also that of the legal profession.

AC. No. 4219

2003-12-08

LOTHAR SCHULZ v. ATTY. MARCELO G. FLORES

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.

The Court has time and again emphatically stated that the trust and confidence necessarily reposed by clients requires in the lawyer a high standard and an appreciation of his duty to his clients, his profession, the courts and the public.[13] Every case an attorney accepts deserves his full attention, diligence, skill and competence, regardless of its importance and whether he accepts it for a fee or for free.[14] To be sure, any member of the legal fraternity worth his title cannot afford to practice the profession in a lackadaisical manner.

AC. No. 5474

2003-08-28

REDENTOR S. JARDIN v. ATTY. DEOGRACIAS VILLAR

TINGA, J.

Once he agrees to take up the cause of a client, the lawyer owes fidelity to such cause and must always be mindful of the trust and confidence reposed in him. He must serve the client with competence and diligence, and champion the latter's cause with wholehearted fidelity, care, and devotion. Elsewise stated, he owes entire devotion to the interest of the client, warm zeal in the maintenance and defense of his client's rights, and the exertion of his utmost learning and ability to the end that nothing be taken or withheld from his client, save by the rules of law, legally applied. This simply means that his client is entitled to the benefit of any and every remedy and defense that is authorized by the law of the land he may expect his lawyer to assert every such remedy or defense. If much is demanded from an attorney, it is because the entrusted privilege to practice law carries with it the correlative duties not only to the client but also to the court, to the bar, and to the public. A lawyer who performs his duty with diligence and candor not only protects the interest of his client; he also serves the ends of justice, does honor to the bar, and helps maintain the respect of the community to the legal profession.[12] This Court has emphatically ruled that the trust and confidence necessarily reposed by clients requires in the attorney a high standard and appreciation of his duty to his clients, his profession, the courts and the public.[13] Every case a lawyer accepts deserves his full attention, diligence, skill and competence, regardless of its importance and whether he accepts it for a fee or free.[14] Certainly, a member of the Bar who is worth his title cannot afford to practice the profession in a lackadaisical fashion. A lawyer's lethargy from the perspective of the Canons is both unprofessional and unethical.

Adm. Case No. 99-634

2002-06-10

DOMINADOR P. BURBE v. ATTY. ALBERTO C. MAGULTA

PANGANIBAN, J.

We are not persuaded. Lawyers must exert their best efforts and ability in the prosecution or the defense of the client's cause. They who perform that duty with diligence and candor not only protect the interests of the client, but also serve the ends of justice. They do honor to the bar and help maintain the respect of the community for the legal profession.[5] Members of the bar must do nothing that may tend to lessen in any degree the confidence of the public in the fidelity, the honesty, and integrity of the profession.[6]

	AC. No. 8235 2015-01-27	JOSELITO F. TEJANO v. ATTY. BENJAMIN F. BATERINA CARPIO, J.
The Court notes that in 2001, Atty. Baterina was also suspended for two years after being found guilty of gross misconduct.[35] In that case, Araceli Sipin-Nabor filed a complaint against Atty. Baterina for failing to file her Answer with Counterclaim in a case for quieting of title and recovery of possession where she and her siblings were defendants. Because of such failure, Sipin-Nabor was declared by the trial court to be in default and unable to present her evidence, and which, in turn, resulted in a decision adverse to her.
	AC. No. 6732 2013-10-22	ATTY. OSCAR L. EMBIDO v. ATTY. SALVADOR N. PE BERSAMIN, J.
It then becomes timely to remind all members of the Philippine Bar that they should do nothing that may in any way or degree lessen the confidence of the public in their professional fidelity and integrity.[26] The Court will not hesitate to wield its heavy hand of discipline on those among them who wittingly and willingly fail to meet the enduring demands of their Attorney's Oath for them to: x x x support [the] Constitution and obey the laws as well as the legal orders of the duly constituted authorities therein; xxx do no falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in court; x x x not wittingly or willingly promote or sue on groundless, false or unlawful suit, nor give aid nor consent to the same; x x x delay no man for money or malice, and x x x conduct [themselves as lawyers] according to the best of [their] knowledge and discretion with all good fidelity as well to the courts as to [their] clients x x x.
	AC. No. 7434 2007-08-23	SPS. AMADOR AND ROSITA TEJADA v. ATTY. ANTONIUTTI K. PALAÑA VELASCO, JR., J.
A lawyer shall at all times uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession. The trust and confidence necessarily reposed by clients requires in the attorney a high standard and appreciation of his duty to his clients, his profession, the courts and the public. The bar must maintain a high standard of legal proficiency as well as of honesty and fair dealing. Generally speaking, a lawyer can do honor to the legal profession by faithfully performing his duties to society, to the bar, to the courts and to his clients. To this end, members of the legal fraternity can do nothing that might tend to lessen in any degree the confidence of the public in the fidelity, honesty and integrity of the profession.[9]
	AC. NO. 2591 2006-09-08	LETICIA ADRIMISIN v. ATTY. ROLANDO S. JAVIER CARPIO, J.
We reiterate this reminder. Lawyers who convert the funds entrusted to them are in gross violation of professional ethics and are guilty of betrayal of public confidence in the legal profession.[29] Those who are guilty of such infraction may be disbarred or suspended from the practice of law.[30]
	AC. NO. 1526 2005-01-31	NAZARIA S. HERNANDEZ v. ATTY. JOSE C. GO PER CURIAM
Undoubtedly, respondent's conduct has made him unfit to remain in the legal profession. He has definitely fallen below the moral bar when he engaged in deceitful, dishonest, unlawful and grossly immoral acts. We have been exacting in our demand for integrity and good moral character of members of the Bar. They are expected at all times to uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession[5] and refrain from any act or omission which might lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the fidelity, honesty, and integrity of the legal profession.[6] Membership in the legal profession is a privilege.[7] And whenever it is made to appear that an attorney is no longer worthy of the trust and confidence of his clients and the public, it becomes not only the right but also the duty of this Court, which made him one of its officers and gave him the privilege of ministering within its Bar, to withdraw the privilege.[8] Respondent, by his conduct, blemished not only his integrity as a member of the Bar, but also the legal profession.
	AC. No. 4914 2004-03-03	SPS. JENELINE DONATO AND MARIO DONATO v. ATTY. ISAIAH B. ASUNCION SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.
The practice of law is a sacred and noble profession. It is a special privilege bestowed only upon those who are competent intellectually, academically and morally.[3] We have been exacting in our demand for integrity and good moral character of members of the Bar.[4] We expect them at all times to uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession[5] and refrain from any act or omission which might lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the integrity of the legal profession.[6]
	AC. No. 5082 2004-02-17	MILAGROS N. ALDOVINO v. ATTY. PEDRO C. PUJALTE SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.
This Court has been exacting in its demand for integrity and good moral character of members of the Bar. They are expected at all times to uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession[11] and refrain from any act or omission which might lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the fidelity, honesty, and integrity of the legal profession.[12] Membership in the legal profession is a privilege.[13] And whenever it is made to appear that an attorney is no longer worthy of the trust and confidence of the public, it becomes not only the right but also the duty of this Court, which made him one of its officers and gave him the privilege of ministering within its Bar, to withdraw the privilege.[14] Respondent, by his conduct, blemished not only his integrity as a member of the Bar, but also that of the legal profession.
	AC. No. 4219 2003-12-08	LOTHAR SCHULZ v. ATTY. MARCELO G. FLORES YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.
The Court has time and again emphatically stated that the trust and confidence necessarily reposed by clients requires in the lawyer a high standard and an appreciation of his duty to his clients, his profession, the courts and the public.[13] Every case an attorney accepts deserves his full attention, diligence, skill and competence, regardless of its importance and whether he accepts it for a fee or for free.[14] To be sure, any member of the legal fraternity worth his title cannot afford to practice the profession in a lackadaisical manner.
	AC. No. 5474 2003-08-28	REDENTOR S. JARDIN v. ATTY. DEOGRACIAS VILLAR TINGA, J.
Once he agrees to take up the cause of a client, the lawyer owes fidelity to such cause and must always be mindful of the trust and confidence reposed in him. He must serve the client with competence and diligence, and champion the latter's cause with wholehearted fidelity, care, and devotion. Elsewise stated, he owes entire devotion to the interest of the client, warm zeal in the maintenance and defense of his client's rights, and the exertion of his utmost learning and ability to the end that nothing be taken or withheld from his client, save by the rules of law, legally applied. This simply means that his client is entitled to the benefit of any and every remedy and defense that is authorized by the law of the land he may expect his lawyer to assert every such remedy or defense. If much is demanded from an attorney, it is because the entrusted privilege to practice law carries with it the correlative duties not only to the client but also to the court, to the bar, and to the public. A lawyer who performs his duty with diligence and candor not only protects the interest of his client; he also serves the ends of justice, does honor to the bar, and helps maintain the respect of the community to the legal profession.[12] This Court has emphatically ruled that the trust and confidence necessarily reposed by clients requires in the attorney a high standard and appreciation of his duty to his clients, his profession, the courts and the public.[13] Every case a lawyer accepts deserves his full attention, diligence, skill and competence, regardless of its importance and whether he accepts it for a fee or free.[14] Certainly, a member of the Bar who is worth his title cannot afford to practice the profession in a lackadaisical fashion. A lawyer's lethargy from the perspective of the Canons is both unprofessional and unethical.
	Adm. Case No. 99-634 2002-06-10	DOMINADOR P. BURBE v. ATTY. ALBERTO C. MAGULTA PANGANIBAN, J.
We are not persuaded. Lawyers must exert their best efforts and ability in the prosecution or the defense of the client's cause. They who perform that duty with diligence and candor not only protect the interests of the client, but also serve the ends of justice. They do honor to the bar and help maintain the respect of the community for the legal profession.[5] Members of the bar must do nothing that may tend to lessen in any degree the confidence of the public in the fidelity, the honesty, and integrity of the profession.[6]

ARACELI SIPIN-NABOR v. ATTY. BENJAMIN BATERINA Y FIGUERAS