4. likong vs lim

8/20/2019 4. likong vs lim

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#4. Fulltext Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURTManilaSECON !"!S!ON A.C. No. 14$ %u&ust 1'( 1$$4

CER!N% ). *!+ON,( petitione-(s.%TT/. %*E0%NER . *!M( -espon2ent. Flo-entino ,. Te3po-al fo- co3plainant. T-abao *i3*a5 O6ce fo- -espon2ent.P%!**%( 7.8 Ce-ina ). *i9on& :le2 this a23inist-atie case a&ainst %tt;. %lexan2e- . *i3(see9in& the latte-<s 2isba-3ent fo- alle&e2 3alp-actice an2 &-ae 3iscon2uct.

The ci-cu3stances 5hich le2 to the :lin& of this co3plaint a-e as follo5s8So3eti3e in Septe3be- 1$=4( co3plainant obtaine2 a loan of P$>(1??.?? f-o3 a ce-tain,eesnell *. /ap. Co3plainant execute2 a p-o3isso-; note in fao- of /ap an2 a 2ee2 ofassi&n3ent( assi&nin& to /ap pension chec9s 5hich she -e&ula-l; -eceies f-o3 the Unite2States &oe-n3ent as a 5i2o5 of a US pensione-. The afo-e3entione2 2ee2 of assi&n3entstates that the sa3e shall be i--eocable until the loan is full; pai2. Co3plainant li9e5ise

execute2 a special po5e- of atto-ne; autho-i@in& /ap to &et( 2e3an2( collect an2 -eceiehe- pension chec9s f-o3 the post o6ce at Ta&bila-an Cit;. The aboe 2ocu3ents 5e-eappa-entl; p-epa-e2 an2 nota-i@e2 b; -espon2ent %lexan2e- . *i3( /ap<s counsel.On 11 ece3be- 1$=4( about th-ee AB 3onths afte- the execution of the afo-e3entione2special po5e- of atto-ne;( co3plainant info-3e2 the Ta&bila-an Cit; post o6ce that she5as -eo9in& the special po5e- of atto-ne;. %s a conseuence( ,eesnell /ap :le2 aco3plaint fo- inunction 5ith 2a3a&es a&ainst co3plainant. Respon2ent %lexan2e- . *i3appea-e2 as counsel fo- /ap 5hile %tt;s. Rolan2 ). !ntin& an2 E-ico ). %u3enta2oappea-e2 fo- co3plainant Aas 2efen2antB. % 5-it of p-eli3ina-; inunction 5as issue2 b;the t-ial cou-t on> 7anua-; 1$=D( p-eentin& co3plainant f-o3 &ettin& he- pension chec9s f-o3 the

Ta&bila-an Cit; post o6ce. /ap late- :le2 an u-&ent o3nibus 3otion to cite co3plainant in

conte3pt of cou-t fo- atte3ptin& to ci-cu3ent the p-eli3ina-; inunction b; chan&in& he-a22-ess to Man2aue Cit;. Upon 3otion b; /ap( the cou-t also issue2 an o-2e- 2ate2 >1 Ma;1$=D expan2in& the scope of the p-eli3ina-; inunction to p-eent all post o6ces in thePhilippines f-o3 -eleasin& pension chec9s to co3plainant.On > 7ul; 1$=D( co3plainant an2 /ap :le2 a oint 3otion to allo5 the latte- to 5ith2-a5the pension chec9s. This 3otion 2oes not bea- the si&natu-es of co3plainant<s counsel of-eco-2 but onl; the si&natu-es of both pa-ties( assiste2 b; -espon2ent %tto-ne;%lexan2e- . *i3.On > %u&ust 1$=D( co3plainant an2 /ap ente-e2 into a co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent a&ain5ithout the pa-ticipation of the fo-3e-<s counsel. !n the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent( it 5asstate2 that co3plainant Ce-ina ). *i9on& a23itte2 an obli&ation to /ap of P1D?(???.??. !t5as li9e5ise state2 the-ein that co3plainant an2 /ap a&-ee2 that the a3ount 5oul2 be

pai2 in 3onthl; install3ents oe- a pe-io2 of D4 3onths at an inte-est of 4?G pe- annu32iscounte2 ee-; six AB 3onths. The co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent 5as app-oe2 b; the t-ialcou-t on 1D %u&ust 1$=D.On >4 Noe3be- 1$='( Ce-ina ). *i9on& :le2 the p-esent co3plaint fo- 2isba-3ent( base2on the follo5in& alle&ations8'. !n all these 3otions( co3plainant 5as p-eente2 f-o3 see9in& assistance( a2isean2 si&natu-e of an; of he- t5o A>B la5;e-sH no cop; the-eof 5as fu-nishe2 to eithe- ofthe3 o- at least to co3plainant he-self 2espite the latte-<s pleas to be fu-nishe2 copies ofthe sa3eH=. Co3plainant 5as een a2ise2 b; -espon2ent that it 5as not necessa-; fo- he- toconsult he- la5;e-s un2e- the p-etense that8 AaB this coul2 onl; eopa-2i@e the settle3entH



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AbB she 5oul2 onl; be incu--in& eno-3ous expense if she consulte2 a ne5 la5;e-H AcB-espon2ent 5as assistin& he- an;5a;H A2B she ha2 nothin& to 5o--; about the 2ocu3entsfoiste2 upon he- to si&nH AeB co3plainant nee2 not co3e to cou-t afte-5a-2s to sae he-ti3eH an2 in an; eent -espon2ent al-ea2; too9 ca-e of ee-;thin&H$. Co3plainant ha2 been p-eente2 f-o3 exhibitin& full; he- case b; 3eans of f-au2(2eception an2 so3e othe- fo-3 of 3en2acit; p-actice2 on he- b; -espon2entH1?. Finall;( -espon2ent f-au2ulentl; o- 5ithout autho-it; assu3e2 to -ep-esentco3plainant an2 connie2 in he- 2efeatH . . . 1Respon2ent :le2 his %ns5e- statin& that counsel fo- co3plainant(%tt;. Rolan2 ). !ntin& ha2 aban2one2 his client. %tt;. *i3 fu-the- state2 that the othe-counsel( %tt;. En-ico %u3enta2o( 2i2 not actiel; pa-ticipate in the case an2 it 5as uponthe -euest of co3plainant an2 anothe- 2ebto- of /ap( C-ispina %cuna( that heA-espon2entB 3a2e the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent.Respon2ent states that he :-st inst-ucte2 co3plainant to notif; he- la5;e-s but 5asinfo-3e2 that he- la5;e- ha2 aban2one2 he- since she coul2 not pa; his atto-ne;<s fees.Co3plainant :le2 a -epl; 2en;in& that she ha2 been aban2one2 b; he- la5;e-s.Co3plainant state2 that -espon2ent nee- fu-nishe2 he- la5;e-s 5ith copies of theco3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent an2 a 3otion to 5ith2-a5 the inunction cash bon2 2eposite2 b;

/ap.%t the outset( it is 5o-th notin& that the te-3s of the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent a-e in2ee2&-ossl; loa2e2 in fao- of ,eesnell *. /ap( -espon2ent<s client.Co3plainant<s o-i&inal obli&ation 5as to pa; P$>(1??.?? 5ithin one A1B ;ea- f-o3 4Octobe- 1$=4. The-e is no p-oision in the p-o3isso-; note si&ne2 b; he- 5ith -espect toan; inte-est to be pai2. The onl; a22itional a3ount 5hich /ap coul2 collect base2 on thep-o3isso-; note 5as >DG of the p-incipal as atto-ne;<s fees in case a la5;e- 5as hi-e2 b;hi3 to collect the loan.!n the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent p-epa-e2 b; -espon2ent( 2ate2 > %u&ust 1$=D(co3plainant<s 2ebt to /ap 5as inc-ease2 to P1D?(???.?? Af-o3 $>(1??.??B afte- the lapseof onl; ten A1?B 3onths. This t-anslates to an inte-est in excess of seent;I:e pe-centA'DGB pe- annu3. !n a22ition( the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent p-oi2es that the P1D?(???.??2ebt 5oul2 be pa;able in :ft;Ifou- AD4B 3onthl; install3ents at an inte-est of fo-t; pe-centA4?GB pe- annu3. No &-eat a3ount of 3athe3atical p-o5ess is -eui-e2 to see that thete-3s of the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent a-e &-ossl; p-eu2icial to co3plainant.Jith -espect to-espon2ent<s failu-e to notif; co3plainant<s counsel of the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent( it is of-eco-2 that co3plainant 5as -ep-esente2 b; t5o A>B la5;e-s( %tt;s. !ntin& an2 %u3enta2o.Co3plainant states that -espon2ent p-eente2 he- f-o3 info-3in& he- la5;e-s b; &iin&he- the -easons enu3e-ate2 in the co3plaint an2 ea-lie- uote2 in this 2ecision.The-e isno sho5in& that -espon2ent een t-ie2 to info-3 opposin& counsel of the co3p-o3isea&-ee3ent. Neithe- is the-e an; sho5in& that -espon2ent info-3e2 the t-ial cou-t of thealle&e2 aban2on3ent of the co3plainant b; he- counsel.!nstea2( een assu3in& that co3plainant 5as -eall; aban2one2 b; he- counsel(-espon2ent sa5 an oppo-tunit; to ta9e a2anta&e of the situation( an2 the -esult 5as the

execution of the co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent 5hich( as p-eiousl; 2iscusse2( is &-ossl; an2patentl; 2isa2anta&eous an2 p-eu2icial to co3plainant.Un2oubte2l;( -espon2ent<s con2uct is unbeco3in& a 3e3be- of the le&al p-ofession.Canon $ of the Co2e of P-ofessional Ethics states8$. Ne&otiations 5ith opposite pa-t;.% la5;e- shoul2 not in an; 5a; co33unicate upon the subect of cont-oe-s; 5ith a pa-t;-ep-esente2 b; counselH 3uch less shoul2 he un2e-ta9e to ne&otiate o- co3p-o3ise the3atte- 5ith hi3( but shoul2 2eal onl; 5ith his counsel. !t is incu3bent upon the la5;e-3ost pa-ticula-l; to aoi2 ee-;thin& that 3a; ten2 to 3islea2 a pa-t; not -ep-esente2 b;counsel an2 he shoul2 not un2e-ta9e to a2ise hi3 as to the la5.

The Co2e of P-ofessional Responsibilit; states8



Rule 1.?1 K % la5;e- shall not en&a&e in unla5ful( 2ishonest( i33o-al( o- 2eceitfulcon2uct.Rule =.?> K % la5;e- shall not( 2i-ectl; o- in2i-ectl;( enc-oach upon the p-ofessionale3plo;3ent of anothe- la5;e-H ho5ee-( it is the -i&ht of an; la5;e-( 5ithout fea- o-fao-( to &ie p-ope- a2ice an2 assistance to those see9in& -elief a&ainst unfaithful o-ne&lectful counsel.Rule 1D.? K % la5;e- shall not -ep-esent conLictin& inte-ests except b; 5-ittenconsent of all conce-ne2 &ien afte- a full 2isclosu-e of the facts.

The iolation of the afo-e3entione2 -ules of p-ofessional con2uct b; -espon2ent %tt;.%lexan2e- . *i3( 5a--ants the i3position upon hi3 of the p-ope- sanction f-o3 this Cou-t.Such acts constitutin& 3alp-actice an2 &-ae 3iscon2uct cannot be left unpunishe2 fo-not onl; 2o the; e-o2e con:2ence an2 t-ust in the le&al p-ofession( the; li9e5ise p-eent

ustice f-o3 bein& attaine2.%CCOR!N,*/( -espon2ent %tt;. %lexan2e- . *i3 is he-eb; i3pose2 the penalt; ofSUSPENS!ON f-o3 the p-actice of la5 fo- a pe-io2 of ONE A1B /E%R( eectie i33e2iatel;upon his -eceipt of this 2ecision.*et a cop; of this 2ecision be ente-e2 in -espon2ent<spe-sonal -eco-2 as atto-ne; an2 3e3be- of the )a-( an2 fu-nishe2 the )a- Con:2ant( the!nte&-ate2 )a- of the Philippines an2 the Cou-t %23inist-ato- fo- ci-culation to all cou-ts inthe count-;.SO ORERE.

#4 Case 2i&est%.C. No. 14$ %u&ust 1'( 1$$4CER!N% ). *!+ON,( petitione-( s.%TT/. %*E0%NER . *!M(-espon2ent.P%!**%( 7.8Ce-ina ). *i9on& :le2 this a23inist-atie casea&ainst %tt;.%lexan2e- . *i3( see9in& thelatte-<s 2isba-3ent fo- alle&e2 3alp-actice an2&-ae3iscon2uct.On Septe3be- 1$=4( co3plainant obtaine2 aloan of P$>(1??.?? f-o3 ace-tain ,eesnell *./ap. Co3plainant execute2 a p-o3isso-; note infao- of /ap an2 a2ee2 of assi&n3ent(assi&nin& to /ap pension chec9s 5hich she-e&ula-l;-eceies f-o3 the Unite2 States&oe-n3ent as a 5i2o5 of a US pensione-.

Theafo-e3entione2 2ee2 of assi&n3ent states thatthe sa3e shall be i--eocable untilthe loan isfull; pai2. Co3plainant li9e5ise execute2 aspecial po5e- of atto-ne;

autho-i@in& /ap to &et(2e3an2( collect an2 -eceie he- pension chec9sf-o3 the posto6ce at Ta&bila-an Cit;. Theaboe 2ocu3ents 5e-e appa-entl; p-epa-e2an2nota-i@e2 b; -espon2ent %lexan2e- . *i3(/ap<s counsel.%bout th-ee AB 3onthsafte- the execution of theafo-e3entione2 special po5e- of atto-ne;(co3plainantinfo-3e2 the Ta&bila-an Cit; posto6ce that she 5as -eo9in& the special po5e-ofatto-ne; p-eentin& co3plainant f-o3 &ettin& he-pension chec9s f-o3 the

Ta&bila-an Cit; posto6ce( %s a conseuence( ,eesnell /ap :le2 aco3plaint fo-inunction 5ith 2a3a&es a&ainstco3plainant. e 5as -ep-esente2 b; %tt; *i3the-espon2ent in the case.On 7ul; 1$=D( co3plainant an2 /ap :le2 a oint3otion to allo5the latte- to 5ith2-a5 thepension chec9s( 5he-ein Ce-ina 5as not-ep-esente2b; he- counsel( sa3e 5ith %u&1$=D 5he-e a co3p-o3ise a&-ee3ent5e-eente-e2 into b; Ce-ina an2 /ap( %tt; *i3 5asntthe-e to -ep-esent he- client.Jith

this( petitione- :le2 a co3plaint fo-2isba-3ent( base2 on the follo5in& alle&ations8co3plainant 5as p-eente2 f-o3 see9in&assistance( a2ise an2 si&natu-e of an; ofhe-t5o A>B la5;e-sH no cop; the-eof 5as fu-nishe2to eithe- of the3 o- at least toco3plainanthe-self 2espite the latte-<s pleas to be fu-nishe2copies of the sa3e.Co3plainant 5as een a2ise2 b; -espon2entthat it 5as not necessa-; fo- he- to consulthe-la5;e-s un2e- the p-etense that8 AaB this coul2onl; eopa-2i@e the settle3entH AbBshe 5oul2onl; be incu--in& eno-3ous expense if sheconsulte2 a ne5 la5;e-HAcB -espon2ent 5asassistin& he- an;5a;H A2B she ha2 nothin& to5o--; about the2ocu3ents foiste2 upon he- tosi&nH AeB co3plainant nee2 not co3e tocou-tafte-5a-2s to sae he- ti3eH an2 in an; eent-espon2ent al-ea2; too9 ca-e ofee-;thin&H Co3plainant ha2 been p-eente2 f-o3exhibitin& full; he- case b;



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3eans of f-au2(2eception an2 so3e othe- fo-3 of 3en2acit;p-actice2 on he- b;-espon2entH Finall;( -espon2ent f-au2ulentl; o- 5ithoutautho-it; assu3e2 to-ep-esent co3plainant an2connie2 in he- 2efeatH!SSUE8 Jhethe- o- not -espon2ent is&uilt; of3iscon2uct un2e- the Co2e of P-ofessionalResponsibilit;.E*8 TheSup-e3e Cou-t hel2 that /ES( the-espon2ent 5as &uilt; of M!SCONUCT un2e-the Co2eof P-ofessional Responsibilit;pa-ticula-l; Canon $ 5hich states thatNe&otiations5ith opposite pa-t;. % la5;e-shoul2 not in an; 5a; co33unicate uponthesubect of cont-oe-s; 5ith a pa-t; -ep-esente2b; counselH 3uch less shoul2 heun2e-ta9e tone&otiate o- co3p-o3ise the 3atte- 5ith hi3(but shoul2 2eal onl;5ith his counsel. !t isincu3bent upon the la5;e- 3ost pa-ticula-l; toaoi2ee-;thin& that 3a; ten2 to 3islea2 apa-t; not -ep-esente2 b; counsel an2 heshoul2not un2e-ta9e to a2ise hi3 as to the la5Q( an2Canon 1.?1( =.?> an2 1D.?.Suchacts of the -espon2ent constitutin&3alp-actice an2 &-ae 3iscon2uct cannot beleftunpunishe2 fo- not onl; 2o the; e-o2econ:2ence an2 t-ust in the le&alp-ofession( the;li9e5ise p-eent ustice f-o3 bein& attaine2.Respon2ent 5assuspen2e2 f-o3 the p-actice oLa5 fo- 1 ;ea-

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4. likong vs lim