QUICKIE NOTES LEGAL COUNSELING
THE LAWYER AND SOCIETY
LAWYER’S)OATH)
) give! notice! or! render! any! kind! of! service,!
I___________# of# ___________# do# solemnly# swear#
that#I#will#maintain#allegiance#to#the#Republic#of#the#
Philippines:# I# will# support# its# Constitution# and# obey#
laws# as# well# as# the# legal# orders# of# the# duly#
constituted#authorities#therein:#I#will#do#no#falsehood,#
nor# consent# to# the# doing# of# any# court:# I# will# not#
wittingly#nor#willingly#promote#or#sue#any#groundless,#
false#or#unlawful#suit,#or#give#aid#nor#consent#to#the#
same:#I#will#delay#no#man#for#money#or#malice,#and#
will#conduct#myself#as#a#lawyer#according#to#the#best#
of#my#knowledge#and#discretion#with#all#good#fidelity#
as#well#to#the#courts#as#to#my#clients:#and#I#impose#
upon# myself# this# voluntary# obligations# without# any#
mental# reservation# or# purpose# of# evasion.# So# help#
me#God.!
) which! calls! for! legal! knowledge,! training!
General)Concepts)
)
Practice)of)law,)definition.)
Practice!of!law!means!any!activity,!in!or!out!of!court,!
which! requires! the! application! of!
law,!legal!procedures,! knowledge,! training! and!
experience.! To! engage! in! the! practice! of! law! is! to!
perform! those! acts! which! are! characteristic! of! the!
profession.! Generally,! to! practice! law! is! to! give!
advice! or! render! any! kind! of! service! that!
involves!legal!knowledge!or!skill.!The!practice!of!law!
is! not! limited! to! the! conduct! of! cases! in! court.! It!
includes!legal!advice! and! counsel,! and! the!
preparation! of!legal!instruments! and! contracts! by!
which!legal!rights!are!secured,!although!such!matter!
may!or!may!not!be!pending!in!a!court.!In!the!practice!
of!his!profession,!a!licensed!attorney!at!law!generally!
engages! in! three! principal! types! of! professional!
activity:!legal!advice! and! instructions! to! clients! to!
inform! them! of! their! rights! and! obligations,!
preparation! for! clients! of! documents! requiring!
knowledge! of!legal!principles! not! possessed! by!
ordinary!layman,!and!appearance!for!clients!before!
public! tribunals! which! possess! power! and! authority!
to! determine! rights! of! life,! liberty,! and! property!
according! to! law,! in! order! to! assist! in! proper!
interpretation! and! enforcement! of! law.! When! a!
person!participates!in!a!trial!and!advertises!himself!
as! a! lawyer,! he! is! in! the! practice! of! law.! One! who!
confers! with! clients,! advises! them! as! to!
their!legal!rights! and! then! takes! the! business! to! an!
attorney!and!asks!the!latter!to!look!after!the!case!in!
court,! is! also! practicing! law.! Giving! advice! for!
compensation! regarding! the!legal!status! and! rights!
of! another! and! the! conduct! with! respect! thereto!
constitutes! a! practice! of! law.! One! who! renders! an!
opinion! as! to! the! proper! interpretation! of! a! statute,!
and!receives!pay!for!it,!is,!to!that!extent,!practicing!
law.#(Ulep#v.#Legal#Clinic,#Inc.)#
# or!may!not!practice!law!
PRACTICE)OF)LAW)
MODERN)DEFINITION)(CAYETANO)V.)MONSOD))
•! Practice!of!law!means!any!activity,!in!or!out!of!
court,!which!requires!the!application!of!law,!
legal! procedure,! knowledge,! training! and!
experience!!
•! To!engage!in!the!practice!of!law!is!to!perform!
those!acts!which!are!characteristics!of!the!
databril2018APR6
profession.! Generally,! to! practice! law! is! to!
which!device!or!service!requires!the!use!in!
any!degree!of!legal!knowledge!or!skill.!
•! It! is! not! limited! to! appearing! in! court,! or!
advising! and! assisting! in! the! conduct! of!
litigation,! but! embraces! the! preparation! of!
pleadings,! and! other! papers! incident! to!
actions! and! special! proceedings,!
conveyancing,! the! preparation! of! legal!
instruments!of!all!kinds,!and!the!giving!of!all!
legal!advice!to!clients.!
!
OLD)DEFINITION)
•! Habituality!
•! compensation!
•! application! of! law,! legal! principle,! procedure!
and!experience!
•! attorneyEclient!relationship!
Is)teaching)of)law)practice)of)law?)
•! a! law! professor! does! not! actually! deal! with!
clients!whose!rights!are!or!may!be!subject!
to! legal! controversiesG! he! does! not! hold!
himself!out!to!the!public!as!a!lawyer,!but!as!
a!mentor!learned!in!the!law!who!is!qualified,!
by! reason! of! his! legal! training! to! instruct!
students! on! legal! subjects! (minister! of!
justice!opinion!no!89,!s!1986)!
)
THREE) PRINCIPAL) TYPES) OF) PROFESSIONAL)
ACTIVITY)
•! legal! advice! and! instructions! to! clients! to!
inform!them!of!their!rights!and!obligations!
•! preparation!for!clients!of!document!requiring!
knowledge! of! legal! principles! not!
possessed!by!the!ordinary!layman!
•! appearance!for!clients!before!tribunals!!
)
PROFESSION,)NOT)A)BUSINESS)
•! public!service!
•! fiduciary!relations!to!clients!
•! lawyer!is!an!officer!of!the!court!
•! candor,!fairness!and!honesty!are!requisites!
)
PRACTICE) OF) LAW) AS) A) MATTER) OF)
PRIVILEGE)AND)RIGHT)
•! practice! of! law! is! not! a! property! right! but! a!
privilege!which!may!be!taken!away!
•! lawyers! must! bow! to! the! intermittent!
regulatory! power! of! the! court! to! exact!
compliance! with! the! lawyer’s! public!
responsibilities!
•! but!it!is!also!a!right!in!the!sense!that!lawyers!
cannot! be! restricted! from! practicing! law!
without!valid!reasons!
•! only!the!SC!can!declare!when!a!lawyer!may!
)
Who)can)practice)law?)
•! admitted!as!member!of!the!bar!
•! good!an!regular!standing!(Section!1,!rule!138,!
rules!of!court)!
)
Why)is)the)practice)of)law)is)generally)limited)to)
lawyers?)
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•! to! protect! party! litigants! because! of! the!
complex!nature!of!judicial!proceedings!
•! to!protect!public!interest!through!assuring!that!
jurisdiction!
Sanctions)for)unauthorized)practice)of)law:)
•! Injunction! to! restrain! continuation! of!
unauthorized! practiceG! contempt! of! court!
)section! 3€! rule! 71,! ROC),! criminal!
prosecution,! damages,! denial! of! right! to!
fees!
) Government! of! the! Philippines! n!
Appearance)“pro)hac)vice”)
•! appearance!by!a!lawyer!who!is!not!licensed!
to! practice! in! jurisdiction,! but! only! in!
connection! with! a! particular! caseG! may! be!
allowed! by! courts! under! very! limited!
instances,! if! the! appearance! is! only! in! an!
isolated! case! and! no! compensation! is!
charged!for!the!service!
) superior!court!
Appearance) “in) propia) persona”) or) “pro) se”)
practice)
•! appearance! in! court! by! a! nonElawyer! for!
himself! and! without! the! assistance! of! a!
member!of!the!bar!
•! Basis:!Due!process!
•! While! pro! se! practice! is! allowed,! it! is! not!
advisable!(in!re:!Joaquin!T.!Borromeo,!
•! “a!little!learning!is!a!dangerous!thing.!He!who!
acts! as! his! own! lawyer! has! a! fool! for! a!
client)!
! •! Members!of!Congress!cannot!appear!before!
BASIC) REQUIREMENTS) FOR) ADMISSION) TO)
THE)BAR)
Sec.!2,!Rule!138,!Revised!Rules!of!Court!
•! citizen!of!the!Philippines!
•! at!least!21!
•! good!moral!character!
•! resident!of!the!Philippines!
•! produce!evidence!of!good!moral!character!
•! no! charges! against! him! of! a! crime! involving!
moral!turpitude!
•! taking!of!lawyer's!oath!
•! signing!roll!of!attorneys!
!
EDUCATIONAL)REQUIREMENTS)
Sec.!5,!Rule!138,!Revised!Rules!of!Court!
•! PreE!law!
•! Law!course!!
!
WHO)ARE)ENTITLED)TO)PRACTICE)LAW)
Section!1,!Rule!138!
•! any!person!admitted!as!a!member!of!the!bar..!
who!is!in!good!and!regular!standing!
!
!
NONVLAWYERS)WHO)MAY)APPEAR)IN)COURT)
•! in!MTC!cases,!a!party!may!conduct!his!own!
case!or!litigation!in!person!with!the!aid!of!an!
agent!or!friend!!
•! in! all! other! court,! a! party! may! conduct!
litigation! personally! but! if! with! assistance!
must!be!an!authorized!member!of!the!bar!
•! in!criminal!cases!in!MTC!in!a!locality!with!no!
lawyers,!court!may!appoint!a!nonElawyer!
•! in! any! court,! senior! law! student! with! direct!
databril2018APR6
supervision!of!an!authorized!lawyer!but!with!
no!compensation!(law!student!practice!rule)!
•! in!NLRC,!nonElawyers!may!appear!if!
•! they!represent!themselves!
•! they!represent!their!organization!or!members!
with!authorization!of!the!latter!
•! accredited!members!of!any!legal!aid!office!
•! in!Cadastral!court,!nonElawyer!can!represent!
claimant!
•! any! person! appointed! to! appear! for! the!
accordance!with!law!(Rule!138,!sec.33)!
•! in! Department! of! Agrarian! Reform!
Adjudication! Board,! nonElawyer! may!
represent!party!!
)
PUBLIC) OFFICIALS) CANNOT) DO) PRIVATE)
PRACTICE)OF)LAW)
•! judges!and!other!officials!or!employees!of!the!
•! officials!and!employees!of!OSG!
•! Government!prosecutors!
•! President,! ViceEpresident,! members! of! the!
Cabinet,!deputies!and!assistants!!
•! Members!of!Constitutional!Commissions!
•! Members!of!the!Judicial!Bar!Council!
•! Ombudsman!and!his!deputies!
•! All!governors!and!mayors!(city!and!municipal)!
•! all!others!prohibited!by!special!law!
!
CAN)PRACTICE)WITH)SOME)RESTRICTIONS)
court!!
•! Sanggunian! Members! may! practice! law!
provided!(RA!7160,!sec.90)!
o! cannot! appear! as! counsel! in! any!
civil!case!wherein!the!government!
is!the!adverse!party!
o! cannot! appear! as! counsel! in! any!
criminal!case!wherein!government!
official! or! employeed! accused! in!
an!office!in!relation!to!his!office!
o! collect! any! fee! for! appearance! in!
administrative! proceedings!
involving!LGU's!in!which!he!is!an!
official!
o! use! property! and! personnel! of!
Government!
•! Retired!Justices!and!judges!(RA!910,!Sec.!1)!
o! cannot!act!as!counsel!in!any!civil!
case! or! criminal! case! with! the!
government! or! its! official! or!
employees!as!adverse!party!!
!
RESUMPTION) OF) PRIVILEGE) TO) PRACTICE)
LAW) BY) A) FILIPINO) LAWYER) WHO) LOST)
PHILIPPINE)CITIZENSHIP)BUT)LATE)ACQUIRED)
DUAL)CITIZENSHIP)
•! any! Filipino! lawyer! who! lost! citizenship! but!
reacquired! it! by! RA9225! may! practice! law!
again!provided:!
•! he! update! and! pay! in! full! his! annual!
membership!dues!in!the!IBP!
•! payment!of!profession!tax!
•! completion! of! at! least! 36! credit! hours! of!
mandatory!continuing!legal!education!
•! retaking!of!the!lawyer's!oath!
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CHAPTER#I!
The#Lawyer#and#Society!
CANON) 1! —! A! lawyer! shall! uphold! the!
constitution,! obey! the! laws!of!the! land! and!
promote!respect!for!law!and!for!legal!processes.!
•! to! uphold! the! Constitution,! obey! the! laws! of!
the! land! and! promote! respect! for! law! and!
legal!processes.!
•! enshrined!in!the!attorney's!oath!!
•! also! in! the! Rules! of! Court,! "To! maintain!
allegiance!to!the!Republic!of!the!Philippines!
and! to! support! the! Constitution! and! obey!
the! laws! of! the! Philippines! (Rule! 138,! sec!
20!(a)!RRC)!
! Unlawful)conduct)
Lawyer's) Oath) is) a) Sacred) Trust,) Not) a) mere)
ceremony))
•! not!mere!words,!drift!and!hollow!
•! the!lawyer!is!most!sacredly!bound!to!uphold!
the!laws!!
•! Delay!no!man!for!money!or!malice!!
•! contains!in!capsule!from!the!ethical!standards!
required!for!lawyers!
! •! shows!unfitness!to!protect!the!administration!
Lawyers)will)be)disciplined)for)disobeying)legal)
orders)or)process)of)courts)
•! failing! to! answer! to! appointments! and!
comment!when!required!by!the!SC!
•! all! lawyers! are! expected! to! recognize! the!
authority!of!the!Supreme!Court!and!to!obey!
its!lawful!processes!and!orders!
! •! essential! for! every! lawyer! to! retain! his!
Significance)of)Lawyer’s)Oath))
•! an!attorney!becomes!a!guardian!of!truth!and!
the! rule! of! law,! and! an! indispensable!
instrument! in! the! fail! and! impartial!
administration!of!justice!E!a!vital!function!of!
democracy,!a!failure!of!which!is!disastrous!
to!society!
! action,!or!fails!so!to!measure!up!
Effect)of)Failure)to)take)the)Oath)
•! cannot!be!admitted!into!the!bar!without!having!
actually! taken! his! oath! of! office! as! an!
attorney!!
•! Oath!alone!will!not!make!a!bar!passer!a!fullE
fledged!member!!
•! must! also! sign! the! roll! of! attorneys!
(makes!him!fullE!!!fledged!lawyer)!
!
RULE)1.01!A!lawyer!shall!not!engage!in!unlawful,!
dishonest,!immoral!or!deceitful!conduct.!
! •! willful,! flagrant,! or! shameless,! and! which!
Lawyer) must) CONSTANTLY) be) of) GOOD) moral)
character)
•! moral! character! displayed! when! he! applied!
for! the! Bar! must! be! maintained! otherwise!
his!privilege!to!practice!law!may!be!revoked!
•! good! moral! character! E! its! continued!
possession! is! also! essential! for! remaining!
in!the!practice!of!law!
•! gross!immoral!conduct!and!deceit!grounds!for!
suspension!or!disbarment!
databril2018APR6
)
PURPOSE) of) Requirement) for) Good) moral)
character!
•! to!protect!the!public!
•! protect!the!public!image!of!lawyers!!
•! to!protect!prospective!clients!!
•! to!protect!errant!lawyers!from!themselves!!
!
Unlawful)acts)or)violation)of)laws)
•! may! be! disciplined! because! a! lawyer! is!
supposed!to!be!a!model!in!the!community!
in!so!far!as!respect!to!the!law!is!concerned!!
•! transgression! of! any! provision! of! law! by! a!
lawyer!is!a!repulsive!and!reprehensible!act!
which!the!court!will!not!countenance!
!
•! includes! violation! of! the! statutory! prohibition!
on! a! government! employee! to! "engage! in!
the!private!practice!of!his!profession!unless!
authorized! by! the! constitution! or! law,!
provided!that!such!practice!willl!not!conflict!
or!tend!to!conflict!with!his!official!functions!!
!
Convictions)for)crimes)Involving)Moral)Turpitude))
of!justice,!may!be!disbarred!!
!
Honesty)
•! still!the!lawyer's!best!virtue!!
•! lawyer's! must! deal! with! their! clients,! brother!
lawyers,!courts!of!justice!and!the!public!with!
honesty!!
standing!as!a!member!of!the!bar!
•! dishonesty!ground!for!disciplinary!action!!
!
Morality,)Concept))
•! that! quality! of! a! human! act! whereby! it!
measures!up!to!what!it!should!be!as!a!step!
towards! the! objective! last! end! of! human!
•! consists! therefore! in! the! relation! existing!
between! human! acts! and! the! norm! of!
morality!
!
Morality)understood)in)law)
•! moral! turpitude! includes! everything! done!
contrary! to! justice,! honesty,! modesty! or!
good!morals!
•! the!will!to!do!the!unpleasant!thing!if!it!is!right!
and!the!resolve!not!to!do!the!pleasant!thing!
if!it!is!wrong!
!
Immoral)Conduct)definition)
shows! moral! indifference! to! the! opinion! of!
the! good! and! respectable! members! of! the!
community!
•! not!confined!to!sexual!matters!!
!
Moral)character)v.)Good)Reputation)
•! Moral!character!is!what!a!person!really!is!
•! Good!reputation!is!the!estimate!in!which!he!is!
held!by!the!public!in!the!place!where!he!is!
known!
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•! Psychological! incapacity! does! not! make! barratry))

one!an!unfit!member!of!the!bar!
! •! mulcting! of! innocent! persons! by! judgments!
RULE) 1.02)A! lawyer! shall! not! counsel! or! abet!
activities! aimed! at! defiance!of!the! law! or! at!
lessening!confidence!in!the!legal!system.!
Defiance)of)the)law)not)to)be)abetted)
•! lawyer! should! not! render! any! service! or!
advice! to! any! client! which! will! involve!
disloyalty! to! the! laws! of! the! country! which!
he!is!bound!to!uphold!and!obey!
! !
What)a)Lawyer)should)do)to)advance)the)honor)
of)his)profession)
•! when! he! renders! service! or! gives! advice!
tending!to!impress!upon!the!client!and!his!
undertaking! exact! compliance! with! the!
stictest!principles!of!moral!law!
•! lawyers!are!free!and!entitlted!to!advice!about!
a!statute!as!to!its!validity!and!as!to!what!he!
conscientiously! believe! to! be! its! just!
meaning! and! extent! until! construed! and!
interpreted!by!competent!adjudication!
! condemned!
Duty)to)be)performed)within)the)law)
•! client! entitled! to! every! benefit! of! any! and!
every! remedy! and! defense! but! must! be!
within!the!confines!of!law!!
•! lawyers!must!obey!their!own!conscience!and!
not!that!of!his!client!!
•! acts! that! are! unlawful,! dishonest,!
immoral,!or!deceitful!corrode!public!confidence!in!
the!legal!system!
! unprofessional)acts:)
RULE) 1.03!A! lawyer! shall! not,! for! any! corrupt!
motive! or! interest,! encourage! any! suit! or!
proceeding!or!delay!any!man's!cause.!
Basis)of)the)rule)(sec.)20)(g))of)Rule)138))
•! it!is!the!duty!of!an!attorney!E!not!to!encourage!
either! the! commencement! or! the!
continuance!of!an!action!or!proceeding,!or!
delay! any! man's! cause! from! any! corrupt!
motive!or!interest!
! •!!Searching!for!unknown!heirs!and!soliciting!
Barratry))
•! offense! of! frequently! exciting! and! stirring! up!
quarrels!and!suits,!either!at!law!or!otherwise!
to!offer!his!legal!services!to!one!of!them!for!
monetary!motives!or!purposes!!
•! refers!to!any!action!
!
Ambulance)chasing))
•! lawyer's! act! of! chasing! an! ambulance!
carrying! the! victim! of! an! accident! for! the!
purpose! of! talking! to! the! said! victim! or!
relatives!and!offering!his!legal!services!for!
the!filing!of!a!case!against!the!person!who!
caused!the!accident!(even!if!done!for!free)!
E!client!must!always!go!to!the!lawyer!!
•! only!to!personal!injury!action!
! appeals,! and! in! all! matters! of! ordinary!
Evils) spawned) by) ambulance) chasing) and)
•! fomenting!of!litigation!!
•! subornation!of!perjury!
upon!manufactured!cases!of!actions!
•! defrauding! of! injured! persons! having! proper!
causes!of!action!but!ignorant!of!legal!rights!
and!court!procedure!!
)
Volunteering) Legal) advice) to) bring) a) lawsuit) is)
unethical)EXCEPT:)
•! when!ties!of!blood,!relationship!or!trust!make!
it!his!duty!to!do!so!
Tempering)Client's)propensity)to)litigate)
•! lawyer's!duty!to!resist!the!whims!and!caprices!
of! his! client! and! to! temper! his! client's!
propensity!to!litigate!
•! lawyers! must! not! file! pointless! petitions! that!
only!add!to!the!workload!of!the!judiciary!!
!
Lawyers) should) not) be) an) instigator) of)
controversy) but) a) mediator) for) concord) and)
conciliator)for)compromise)
•! Delaying!any!man's!cause!for!corrupt!motive,!
•! one!of!the!duties!of!a!layer!not!to!encourage!
either! the! commencement! or! the!
continuance!of!an!action!or!proceeding,!or!
delay! any! man's! cause! from! any! corrupt!
motive!or!interest!
•! Appealing! a! case! for! purposes! of! delay! is!
obstruction!of!justice!!
!
A)lawyer)owes)to)the)society)and)to)the)court)the)
duty) not) to) stir) up) litigation.) The) following) are)
•! Volunteering! advice! to! bring! lawsuit! except!
when! ties! of! blood,! relationship! and! trust!
make!it!a!duty!to!do!so!
•! Hunting!up!defects!in!titles!or!other!causes!of!
actionG! to! breed! litigation! by! seeking! out!
claims!for!personal!injuries!
•! Employing!agents!or!runners!
•! Paying!direct!or!indirect!reward!to!those!who!
bring! or! influence! the! bringing! of! cases! to!
his!office!
their!employment!
!
RULE)1.04!A!lawyer!shall!encourage!his!clients!to!
avoid,! end! or! settle! the! controversy! if! it! will!
admit!of!a!fair!settlement.!
Nature)of)Compromise))
•! nature! of! a! compromise! agreement! is! such!
that!a!party!must!give!up!some!of!the!rights!
that!he!has,!in!consideration!of!the!same!act!
on!the!part!of!the!other!side!!
!
Authority)of)a)lawyer)to)bind)clients)
•! bind! clients! in! any! agreement! in! relation!
thereto! made! in! writing,! and! in! taking!
judicial!procedure!

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•! but! cannot! compromise! client's! litigation!
without!special!authority!or!receive!anything!
in! discharge! of! a! client's! claim! but! the! full!
amount!in!cash!
! every! wrong! interpretation! of! the! law! is! to! be!
Settlement)of)cases)authorized)and)encouraged)
by)law)
Articles!2028E2029!Civil!Code!
•! law!does!not!limit!compromise!to!cases!about!
to! be! filed! or! cases! already! pending! in!
courts!
•! compromise! which! may! be! effected! even!
after!final!judgment!is!impliedly!allowed!by!
article!2040!of!the!civil!code!
! this! Court,! which! is! burdened! enough! as! it! is.! A!
Lawyers)must)encourage)fair)settlement))
•! compromise! is! as! often! the! better! part! of!
justice! as! prudence! is! the! part! of! valor! a!
lawyer!who!encourages!compromise!is!no!
less!the!client's!champion!in!settlement!out!
of!court!than!he!is!the!client's!champion!in!
the!battle!in!court!!
) !
Attorney's) Fees) not) ground) for) disapproval) of)
compromise)
•! right!of!lawyers!to!fees!for!services!in!litigation!
cannot! have! a! higher! standing! than! the!
rights! of! the! clients! or! the! parties!
themselves!!
•! lawyer's! rights! cannot! be! invoked! by! some!
parties! as! ground! for! disapproving! the!
compromise!!
•! A! lawyer! cannot! compromise! case! without!
client's!consent,!EXCEPT!WHEN:!
•! in! the! exclusive! management! of! the!
procedural!aspect!of!the!litigation!including!
the! enforcement! of! rights! and! remedies! of!
the!client!!
! bringing!to!the!attention!of!this!Court!the!abuses!and!
Banogon)v.)Zerna,)G.R.)No.)LV35469,)[October)9,)
1987])) –) Ponente# was# in# beast# mode# while# writing#
this#Decision.#
) could!find!the!time!to!perform!his!duties!at!all.!Such!
"'Litigation! must! end! and! terminate! sometime! and!
somewhere,! and! it! is! essential! to! an! effective! and!
efficient! administration! of! justice! that,! once! a!
judgment!has!become!final,!the!winning!party!be!not,!
through!a!mere!subterfuge,!deprived!of!the!fruits!of!
the!verdict.!Courts!must!therefore!guard!against!any!
scheme! calculated! to! bring! about! that! result.!
Constituted! as! they! are! to! put! an! end! to!
controversies,!courts!should!frown!upon!any!attempt!
to!prolong!them.'!
! to! stir! up! litigation.! The! Code! of! Professional!
"There!should!be!a!greater!awareness!on!the!part!of!
litigants!that!the!time!of!the!judiciary,!much!more!so!
of!this!Court,!is!too!valuable!to!be!wasted!or!frittered!
away!by!efforts,!far!from!commendable,!to!evade!the!
operation! of! a! decision! final! and! executory,!
especially!so,!where,!as!shown!in!this!case,!the!clear!
and! manifest! absence! of! any! right! calling! for!
vindication,!is!quite!obvious!and!in!disputable.”!
! are!called!upon!to!resist!the!whims!and!caprices!of!
One!reason!why!there!is!a!degree!of!public!distrust!
for!lawyers!is!the!way!some!of!them!misinterpret!the!
law! to! the! point! of! distortion! in! a! cunning! effort! to!
achieve! their! purposes.! By! doing! so,! they! frustrate!
the! ends! of! justice! and! at! the! same! time! lessen!
popular! faith! in! the! legal! profession! as! the! sworn!
upholders! of! the! law.! While! this! is! not! to! say! that!
condemned,!as!indeed!most!of!them!are!only!honest!
errors,!this!Court!must!express!its!disapproval!of!the!
adroit!and!intentional!misreading!designed!precisely!
to!circumvent!or!violate!it.!
!
As!officers!of!the!court,!lawyers!have!a!responsibility!
to!assist!in!the!proper!administration!of!justice.!They!
do!not!discharge!this!duty!by!filing!pointless!petitions!
that!only!add!to!workload!of!the!judiciary,!especially!
judicious!study!of!the!facts!and!the!law!should!advise!
them! when! a! case,! such! as! this,! should! not! be!
permitted! to! be! filed! to! merely! clutter! the! already!
congested!judicial!dockets.!They!do!not!advance!the!
cause! of! law! or! their! clients! by! commencing!
litigations!that!for!sheer!lack!of!merit!do!not!deserve!
the!attention!of!the!courts.!
!
Visbal) v.) Buban,) A.M.) No.) MTJV02V1432,)
[September)3,)2004],)481)PHIL)111V12)
In!a!Resolution!dated!July!7,!2004,!the!Court!directed!
com!
plainant! to! show! cause! why! he! should! not! be! held!
administratively!liable!for!his!propensity!for!filing!false!
charges!against!officials!and!employees!of!the!court!
within!a!nonEextendible!period!of!ten!(10)!days!from!
notice.!Complainant!thereafter!filed!his!Compliance!
stating! that! although! some! of! those! administrative!
complaints! may! not! have! merited! the! judicious!
evaluation!of!this!Court,!it!is!his!honest!belief!that!the!
administrative!complaints!he!filed!were!wellEfounded.!
Furthermore,!he!had!noble!intentions!of!particularly!
irregularities!in!the!lower!court!for!appropriate!action.!
!
We! find! complainant's! explanation! unsatisfactory.!
His!propensity!to!litigate!raises!doubts!as!to!how!he!
an!excessive!tendency!to!complain!even!the!slightest!
of! administrative! infractions! in! some! of! the! cases!
constitutes!an!oppressive!and!gross!abuse!of!legal!
processes.!This!imposes!on!the!precious!time!of!the!
Court! and! impedes! the! speedy! and! efficient!
dispensation! of! justice.! Complainant! should! be!
reminded!that!it!is!the!duty!of!a!lawyer!as!an!officer!
of!the!court!not!to!foment!suits!among!individuals.!
!
A!lawyer!owes!to!society!and!to!the!court!the!duty!not!
Responsibility!states!that!"a!lawyer!shall!not,!for!any!
corrupt! motive! or! interest! encourage! any! suit! or!
proceeding."!Thus,! a! lawyer! is! ordered! "not! to!
become!an!instigator!of!controversy!and!a!predator!
of! conflict! instead! of! a! mediator! of! concord! and! a!
conciliator!for!compromise,!a!virtuoso!of!technicality!
in!the!conduct!of!litigation!instead!of!a!true!exponent!
of!the!primacy!of!truth!and!justice."!!In!fact,!lawyers!
their!clients!and!to!temper!the!latter's!propensity!to!
litigate! because! the! Lawyer's! Oath! to! uphold! the!
cause!of!justice!is!superior!to!his!duty!to!his!clients.!!

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! law.! For! the! judge! to! return! that! regard,! the! latter!
The! foregoing! dictum! which! is! embodied! in! the!
Canons! of! Professional! Responsibility! applies! with!
equal!vigor!to!lawyers!in!the!government!service!like!
complainant.! Indeed,!Rule! 7.03! of! the! Code! of!
Professional!Responsibility!explicitly!states!that!—!
! doctrines!of!this!Court.!!If!the!judge!is!already!aware!
Rule#7.03.#—#A#lawyer#shall#not#engage#in#conduct#
that#adversely#reflects#on#his#fitness#to#practice#law,#
nor#shall#he,#whether#in#public#or#private#life,#behave#
in#a#scandalous#manner#to#the#discredit#of#the#legal#
profession.###
! principle!that!when!questions!arise!as!to!ownership!
Government! lawyers! who! are! public! servants! owe!
utmost! fidelity! to! the! public! service! because! public!
service!is!a!public!trust.!z!A!lawyer!does!not!shed!his!
professional! obligations! upon! assuming! public!
office.!! In! fact,! his! professional! obligations! should!
make! him! more! sensitive! to! his! official! obligations!
because! a! lawyer's! disreputable! conduct! is! more!
likely!to!be!magnified!in!the!public!eye.!!
! which! must! be! submitted! to! the! trial! court! in! the!
We!must!stress!that!gross!ignorance!of!the!law!is!a!
serious! accusation.!It! therefore! behooves!
complainant! to! be! more! circumspect! in! hurling! this!
charge.!Indeed,! a! person! who! accuses! a! judge! of!
this!very!serious!offense!must!be!sure!of!the!grounds!
for!the!accusation,!or!else!be!found!ignorant!of!the!
law,!as!in!this!case.!Judges,!while!expected!to!be!a!
cut! above! the! rest! in! the! legal! profession,! are! not!
inured! to! the! strain! concomitant! with! baseless! and!
unfair! aspersions! on! their! competence.! They!
certainly!deserve!a!better!treatment,!especially!from!
a!prosecutor!who!should!know,!at!the!very!least,!the!
basic!provisions!of!the!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure.!
! prudence!and!circumspection!which!the!law!requires!
Uy) v.) DizonVCapulong,) A.M.) No.) RTJV91V766)
(Resolution),)[April)7,)1993)
In!Special!Proceedings!No.!335EVE88!pending!before!
her!sala,!respondent!Judge!committed!the!following!
highly! irregular! and! questionable! acts! indicative! of!
gross! ignorance! of! the! law! and! grave! misconduct!
prejudicial! to! the! public! interest,! to! wit:! (a)!
respondent! Judge! cancelled! on! mere! motion! of! a!
party! the! titles! of! complainants! Jose! P.!Uy!and!
Rizalina!Cortes,!who!were!not!parties!to!the!case,!to!
the!great!prejudice!of!the!latterG!(b)!respondent!Judge!
issued!two!(2)!orders!which!disregarded!the!Decision!
of!the!Court!of!Appeals!annulling!her!disputed!Order!
of! 7! June! 1989G!! (c)! respondent! Judge! issued!
another! order! authorizing! the! sale! of! the! other!
properties! previously! titled! in! the! complainant! Jose!
P.!UyG!!(d)!respondent!Judge!issued!still!two!(2)!more!
orders!approving!deeds!of!sale!even!after!this!Court!
had! already! affirmed! the! Decision! of! the! Court! of!
Appeals!annulling!her!Order!of!7!June!1989.!!
These!actuations!of!respondent!Judge!clearly!stress!
her! blatant! disobedience! to! the! lawful! orders! of!
superior!courts!and!belie!any!claim!that!she!rendered!
the!erroneous!orders!in!good!faith!as!would!excuse!
her!from!administrative!liability.!
Time!and!again!We!emphasize!that!the!judge!is!the!
visible!representation!of!law!and!justice!from!whom!
the!people!draw!their!will!and!awareness!to!obey!the!
must!be!the!first!to!abide!by!the!law!and!weave!an!
example!for!the!others!to!follow.!The!judge!should!be!
studiously! careful! to! avoid! even! the! slightest!
infraction!of!the!law.!To!fulfill!this!mission,!the!judge!
should! keep! abreast! of! the! law,! the! rulings! and!
of!them,!the!latter!should!not!deliberately!refrain!from!
applying! them,! otherwise! such! omission! can! never!
be!excused.!!!
Every! judge! should! be! cognizant! of! the! basic!
of! property! alleged! to! be! part! of! the! estate! of! a!
deceased!person,!but!claimed!by!some!other!person!
to! be! his! property,! not! by! virtue! of! any! right! of!
inheritance!from!the!deceased!but!by!title!adverse!to!
that!of!the!deceased!and!his!estate,!such!questions!
cannot!be!determined!in!the!courts!of!administration!
proceedings.!The!trial!court,!acting!as!probate!court,!
has! no! jurisdiction! to! adjudicate! such! contentions,!
exercise! of! its! general! jurisdiction.!! The! failure! of!
respondent! judge! to! apply! this! basic! principle!
indicates! a! manifest! disregard! of! wellEknown! legal!
rules.!
We!consider!this!willful!disobedience!and!continued!
disregard! of! Our! Resolution! as! grave! and! serious!
misconduct.! Indeed,! respondent! Judge! displayed!
open! defiance! to! Our! authority! and! utterly! failed! to!
show! proper! respect! for,! and! due! and! needed!
cooperativeness!with!resolutions!of!this!Court.!!
By! her! acts! and! omissions,! respondent! Judge! has!
failed!to!observe!in!the!performance!of!her!duties!that!
for! public! service.! She! has! made! a! mockery! of! the!
judicial!system!of!which!she!is!a!part!and!which!she!
is!sworn!to!uphold.!This!Court!cannot!countenance!
any!act!or!omission!which!would!diminish!the!faith!of!
the!people!in!the!administration!of!justice.!As!Chief!
Justice!Jose!Abad!Santos!articulated,!"the!power!of!
the! judiciary! rests! upon! the! faith! of! the! people! and!
the!integrity!of!the!courts.!Take!this!faith!away!and!
the!moral!influence!of!the!court!is!gone!and!popular!
respect!impaired."!
!
! !

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CANON)2!—!A!lawyer!shall!make!his!legal!services!
available! in! an! efficient! and! convenient! manner!
compatible! with! the! independence,! integrity! and!
effectiveness!of!the!profession.!
) The) practice) of) law) is) a) profession) and) not) a)
Attitude)in)Practice,)Efficiency)
•! whenever!a!lawyer!does!his!services,!he!must!
do!so!with!efficiency!and!convenience!with!
the! end! in! view! of! maintaining! the!
independence,! integrity! and! effectiveness!
of!the!legal!profession!at!all!times!
! mere!trade!!
RULE) 2.01!A! lawyer! shall! not! reject,! except! for!
valid!reasons,!the!cause!of!the!defenseless!or!the!
oppressed.!
Cause)of)the)defenseless)or)the)oppressed,)not)
to)be)rejected)
•! except! for! valid! reasons,! lawyers! must! not!
reject!the!oppressed!and!defenseless!
•! prime!duty!of!the!lawyer!to!see!to!it!that!justice!
be!accorded!to!all!without!discrimination!
EXCEPTIONS))
•! Rule! 14.03! is! an! exception! E! lawyer! cannot!
represent,!cannot!effectively!do!it!(unethical!
for! him! to! take! the! case! knowing! he! is!
incompetent)!
•! conflict!of!interests!!
•! a!lawyer!assigned!as!counsel!for!an!indigent!
prisoner!must!not!ask!to!be!excused!for!any!
trivial! reason! and! should! always! exert! his!
best!efforts!in!his!behalf!!
•! a!lawyer!must!treat!a!paying!client!and!a!nonE
paying!one!equally!
! !
Legal) Aid) not) a) matter) of) Charity,) but) a) public)
responsibility))
•! for!the!correction!of!social!imbalance!that!may!
and!often!do!lead!to!injustice!which!reason!
it!is!a!public!responsibility!of!the!Bar!
•! spirit!of!public!service!should!underlie!all!legal!
aid!offices!!
! !
MLAS)(mandatory)legal)aid)service)for)practicing)
lawyers))
•! 60!hours!of!service!every!year!!
! •! made!in!a!modest!and!decorous!manner,!
Indigent)and)pauper)litigants)
•! those! whose! gross! income! and! that! of! their!
immediate!family!do!not!exceed!an!amount!
double! the! monthly! minimum! wage! of! an!
employee!and!those!who!not!own!any!real!
property.!
•! they!are!exempt!from!payment!of!docket!
fees! and! lawful! fees! as! well! as! transcripts! of!
stenographic!notes!
) Advertisements)
RULE)2.02)In!such!cases,!even!if!the!lawyer!does!
not! accept! a! case,! he! shall! not! refuse! to! render!
legal!advice!to!the!person!concerned!if!only!to!the!
extent!necessary!to!safeguard!the!latter's!rights.!
! he! cannot! accept! employment! from! such!
RULE) 2.03)A! lawyer! shall! not! do! or! permit! to! be!
done! any! act! designed! primarily! to! solicit! legal!
business.!
moneyVmaking)trade)
•! it!is!not!a!business!but!a!profession!
•! lawyers! must! welcome! appointments! as!
counsel! de! officio! for! this! makes! manifest!
the! principle! that! the! practice! of! law! is!
dedicated!to!the!ideal!of!service!and!not!a!
!
The) Primary) characteristics) which) distinguish)
the)legal)profession)from)business)
•! a! duty! of! public! service,! of! which! the!
emolument! is! a! byEproduct,! and! in! which!
one! may! attain! the! highest! eminence!
without!making!much!money!
•! a! relation! as! an! officer! of! court! to! the!
administration!of!justice!involving!thorough!
sincerity,!integrity,!and!reliability!
•! a! relation! to! clients! in! the! highest! degree! of!
fiduciary!
•! a! relation! to! colleagues! at! the! bar!
characterized! by! candor,! fairness,! and!
unwillingness!to!resort!to!current!business!
methods! of! advertising! and! encroachment!
on! their! practice,! or! dealing! directly! with!
their!clients!!
!
Improper) solicitation) of) legal) business,)
prohibited))
•! highly! unethical! for! an! attorney! to! advertise!
his!talents!or!skill!as!a!merchant!!
Advertisement) lowers) the) standards) of) the)
profession))
•! destructive!of!the!honor!of!a!great!profession!
and!lowers!the!standards!of!that!profession!
•! works! against! the! confidence! of! the!
community!in!the!integrity!of!the!members!
of!the!bar!
Solicitation)of)legal)business,)when)permissible)
•! must! be! compatible! with! dignity! of! the! legal!
profession!
•! simple!signs!stating!the!name!or!names!of!the!
lawyers,! professional! cards! bearing! the!
name! of! the! lawyer! or! lawyers,! the! office!
and!residence!address!and!special!lines!in!
law,! advertisements! in! legal! periodicals!
bearing!the!same!breif!data!are!permissible!!
•! publication!in!reputable!law!lists,!in!a!manner!
consistent! with! the! standards! of! conduct!
imposed!by!the!canon!
!
in) newspapers,) when)
permissible)
•! modest! announcements! in! newspapers,!
periodicals!and!magazines!!
•! Writing! legal! articleG! for! legal! publications! in!
which!he!gives!information!upon!the!law!but!
publication!to!advice!inquiries!in!respect!to!
individual!rights!of!persons!

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•! Law! lists,! but! only! a! brief! biographical! and!

informative!data!
•! Ordinary!professional!cards!
•! Notice!to!other!local!lawyers!and!publishing!in!
a!legal!journal!of!one’s!availability!
•! Proffer! of! free! legal! services! to! the! indigent,!
even! when! broadcasted! over! the! radio! or!
tendered! through! circulation! of! printed!
matter!to!the!general!public!
•! Simple!announcement!of!the!opening!of!a!law!
firm! or! of! changes! in! the! partnership,! firm!
name! or! office! address,! being! for! the!
convenience!of!the!profession!
•!Listing!in!a!phone!directory,!but!not!under!a!
designation!of!a!special!branch!law!
!
RULE)2.04!A!lawyer!shall!not!charge!rates!lower!
than! those! customarily! prescribed! unless! the!
circumstances!so!warrant.!

)
Rates)to)be)charged))
•! Some! IBP! Chapters! in! the! country! have!
approved! schedules! of! attorney's! fees!
providing!specific!guidelines!in!the!fixing!of!
attorney's!fees!for!legal!services!
•! lawyers!should!be!as!much!as!possible!be!in!
unison! in! respecting! such! custom! or!
tradition!
•! but!if!the!attorney's!fees!charged!in!an!area!is!
too! low! and! petty! which! affect! the!
respectability! of! the! legal! profession,!
lawyers!may!agree!to!modify!and!calculate!
the! rates! chargeable! within! the! paying!
capacity!of!the!ordinary!clients!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
! !

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CANON)3!—!A!lawyer!in!making!known!his!legal!
services!shall!use!only!true,!honest,!fair,!dignified!
and!objective!information!or!statements!of!facts.!
A) LAWYER) MAY) MAKE) KNOWN) HIS) LEGAL)
SERVICES!
•! it!is!not!illegal!for!a!lawyer!to!make!known!his!
legal! services! but! must! be! done! in! a! true,!
honest,! fair,! dignified,! and! objective!
information!or!statement!of!facts!!
•! the!practice!of!law!is!not!a!trade!like!the!sale!
of!commodities!to!the!general!public!where!
the!usual!exaggerations!in!trade,!when!the!
other!party!had!the!opportunity!to!know!the!
facts,!are!not!in!themselves!fraudulent!
•! A! lawyer! cannot! advertise! his! talent,! as!
he! is! a! member! of! an! honorable! profession!
the! primary! purpose! of! which! is! to! render!
public! service! and! secure! justiceG!
remuneration!is!a!mere!incident!
! Of!course,!not!all!types!of!advertising!or!solicitation!
RULE) 3.01!A! lawyer! shall! not! use! or! permit! the!
use!of!any! false,! fraudulent,! misleading,!
deceptive,! undignified,! selfElaudatory! or! unfair!
statement! or! claim! regarding! his! qualifications! or!
legal!services.!
SELFVPRAISES) OR) FALSE) CLAIMS) ON)
QUALIFICATIONS) OR) QUALITY) OF) LEGAL)
SERVICES,)UNETHICAL)
•! intertwined!with!2.03!
•! claims! of! lawyers! must! not! be! deceptive,!
undignified,!selfElaudatory!or!unfair!
•! he! must! not! lie! just! to! get! the! trust! of! a!
prospective!client!!
! numbers,! cable! addressesG! branches! of! law!
Ulep) v.) Legal) Clinic,) Inc.,) B.M.) No.) 553)
(Resolution),)[June)17,)1993])
Anent! the! issue! on! the! validity! of! the! questioned!
advertisements,! the! Code! of! Professional!
Responsibility! provides! that! a! lawyer! in! making!
known!his!legal!services!shall!use!only!true,!honest,!
fair,!dignified!and!objective!information!or!statement!
of!facts.!!He!is!not!supposed!to!use!or!permit!the!use!
of! any! false,! fraudulent,! misleading,! deceptive,!
undignified,! selfElaudatory! or! unfair! statement! or!
claim! regarding! his! qualifications!
or!legal!services.!!Nor!shall!he!pay!or!give!something!
of! value! to! representatives! of! the! mass! media! in!
anticipation! of,! or! in! return! for,! publicity! to!
attract!legal!business.! Prior! to! the! adoption! of! the!
Code! of! Professional! Responsibility,! the! Canons! of!
Professional! Ethics! had! also! warned! that! lawyers!
should! not! resort! to! indirect! advertisements! for!
professional! employment,! such! as! furnishing! or!
inspiring! newspaper! comments,! or! procuring! his!
photograph! to! be! published! in! connection! with!
causes!in!which!the!lawyer!has!been!or!is!engaged!
or! concerning! the! manner! of! their! conduct,! the!
magnitude!of!the!interest!involved,!the!importance!of!
the!lawyer's!position,!and!all!other!like!selfElaudation.!
The! standards! of! the!legal!profession! condemn! the!
lawyer's! advertisement! of! his! talents.! A! lawyer!
databril2018APR6
cannot,!without!violating!the!ethics!of!his!profession,!
advertise!his!talents!or!skills!as!in!a!manner!similar!
to! a! merchant! advertising! his! goods.!! The!
proscription! against! advertising! of!legal!services! or!
solicitation! of!legal!business! rests! on! the!
fundamental! postulate! that! the! practice! of! law! is! a!
profession.!
We!repeat,!the!canons!of!the!profession!tell!us!that!
the!best!advertising!possible!for!a!lawyer!is!a! wellE
merited! reputation! for! professional! capacity! and!
fidelity!to!trust,!which!must!be!earned!as!the!outcome!
of!character!and!conduct.!Good!and!efficient!service!
to!a!client!as!well!as!to!the!community!has!a!way!of!
publicizing! itself! and! catching! public! attention.! That!
publicity! is! a! normal! byEproduct! of! effective! service!
which! is! right! and! proper.! A! good! and! reputable!
lawyer!needs!no!artificial!stimulus!to!generate!it!and!
to!magnify!his!success.!He!easily!sees!the!difference!
between!a!normal!byEproduct!of!able!service!and!the!
unwholesome!result!of!propaganda.!!!
are! prohibited.! The! canons! of! the! profession!
enumerate!exceptions!to!the!rule!against!advertising!
or! solicitation! and! define! the! extent! to! which! they!
may!be!undertaken.!The!exceptions!are!of!two!broad!
categories,! namely,! those! which! are! expressly!
allowed! and! those! which! are! necessarily! implied!
from!the!restrictions.!!!
The! first! of! such! exceptions! is! the! publication! in!
reputable! law! lists,! in! a! manner! consistent! with! the!
standards!of!conduct!imposed!by!the!canons,!of!brief!
biographical!and!informative!data.!"Such!data!must!
not!be!misleading!and!may!include!only!a!statement!
of! the! lawyer's! name! and! the! names! of! his!
professional! associatesG! addresses,! telephone!
practicedG!date!and!place!of!birth!and!admission!to!
the! barG! schools! attended! with! dates! of! graduation,!
degrees!and!other!educational!distinctionG!public!or!
quasiEpublic! officesG! posts! of!
honorG!legal!authorshipsG!legal!teaching! positionsG!
membership! and! offices! in! bar! associations! and!
committees! thereof,! in!legal!and! scientific! societies!
and!legal!fraternitiesG! the! fact! of! listings! in! other!
reputable! law! listsG! the! names! and! addresses! of!
referencesG! and,! with! their! written! consent,! the!
names!of!clients!regularly!represented."!!!
The! law! list! must! be! a! reputable! law! list! published!
primarily! for! that! purposeG! it! cannot! be! a! mere!
supplemental! feature! of! a! paper,! magazine,! trade!
journal!or!periodical!which!is!published!principally!for!
other! purposes.! For! that! reason,! a! lawyer! may! not!
properly! publish! his! brief! biographical! and!
informative! data! in! a! daily! paper,! magazine,! trade!
journal!or!society!program.!Nor!may!a!lawyer!permit!
his! name! to! be! published! in! a! law! list! the! conduct,!
management!or!contents!of!which!are!calculated!or!
likely!to!deceive!or!injure!the!public!or!the!bar,!or!to!
lower!the!dignity!or!standing!of!the!profession.!!!
The! use! of! an! ordinary! simple! professional! card! is!
also! permitted.! The! card! may! contain! only! a!
statement! of! his! name,! the! name! of! the! law! firm!
which! he! is! connected! with,! address,! telephone!
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number! and! special! branch! of! law! practiced.! The!
publication!of!a!simple!announcement!of!the!opening!
of! a! law! firm! or! of! changes! in! the! partnership,!
associates,!firm!name!or!office!address,!being!for!the!
convenience!of!the!profession,!is!not!objectionable.!
He!may!likewise!have!his!name!listed!in!a!telephone!
directory! but! not! under! a! designation! of! special!
branch!of!law.)
!Verily,! taking! into! consideration! the! nature! and!
contents!of!the!advertisements!for!which!respondent!
is! being! taken! to! task,! which! even! includes! a!
quotation! of! the! fees! charged! by! said! respondent!
corporation! for! services! rendered,! we! find! and! so!
hold!that!the!time!definitely!do!not!and!conclusively!
cannot! fall! under! any! of! the! aboveEmentioned!
exceptions.!
! sanggunian!member!(RA!7160!sec..!90)!
RULE)3.02!In!the!choice!of!a!firm!name,!no!false,!
misleading!or!assumed!name!shall!be!used.!The!
continued!use!of!the!name!of!a!deceased!partner!
is!permissible!provided!that!the!firm!indicates!in!all!
its!communications!that!said!partner!is!deceased.!
WHAT) NAME) SHALL) NOT) BE) INCLUDED) IN) A)
FIRM)NAME)
•! no! false! name! or! misleading! or! assumed!
name! shall! be! used! in! the! firm! name!
adopted!!
•! no!name!not!belonging!to!any!of!the!partners!
or!associates!may!be!used!in!the!firm!name!
for!any!purpose!
•! if! partner! dies,! name! can! still! be! used!
provided!that!the!firm!makes!it!know!that!he!
is!dead!at!all!times!
THE)RULE)IN)EFFECT)IS)AN)ABANDONMENT)OF)
THE)SYCIP)CASE)
•! in!this!case,!the!name!of!a!dead!partner!must!
be! dropped! as! its! retention! has! the!
tendency!to!impropely!exploit!its!advertising!
value!
•! but! under! new! rule,! it! is! allowed! provided!
there! is! a! clear! indication! the! partner! is!
deceased!!
•! purpose!of!retaining!the!name!of!a!deceased!
partner!is!to!maintain!clients!who!have!been!
provided!legal!services!by!the!law!firm!
•! death! of! a! partner! does! not! extinguish! the!
clientElawyer!relationship!with!the!law!firm!
! detriment!
NAME)TO)USE)IN)THE)PRACTICE)OF)LAW)
•! cannot!use!any!other!name!other!than!the!one!
inscribed!in!the!roll!of!attorneys!
! possible! is! the! establishment! of! a! wellE
NAME)OF)A)PARTNER)IN)LAW)FIRM)SHOULD)BE)
DROPPED) IF) APPOINTED) AS) JUDGEm) OTHER)
POSITIONS)
•! because! he! is! no! longer! allowed! to! practice!
law!
•! public! will! be! misled! if! his! name! will! be!
retained!!
•! also! when! appointed! to! positions! with!
prohibition!of!practice!of!law!
!
USE) OF) THE) FIRM) NAME) OF) A) FOREIGN) LAW)
FIRM)IS)UNETHICAL)
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•! firm! is! not! authorized! to! practice! law! in! this!
jurisdiction!!
!
NEGLIGENCE)OF)A)MEMBER)IN)THE)LAW)FIRM)
IS)NEGLIGENCE)OF)THE)FIRM)
!
RULE)3.03!Where!a!partner!accepts!public!office,!
he!shall!withdraw!from!the!firm!and!his!name!shall!
be! dropped! from! the! firm! name! unless! the! law!
allows!him!to!practice!law!concurrently.!
NAME) OF) PARTNER) SHOULD) BE) DROPPED)
FROM) THE) FIRM) NAME) WHEN) HE) ACCEPTS)
PUBLIC)OFFICE)
•! exception:!
•! if! the! law! allows! him! to! practice! law!
concurrently!while!holding!the!position!like!
•! rule! is! made! to! prevent! the! law! firm! or!
partners! from! making! use! of! the! name! of!
the! public! official! to! attract! legal! business!
and! to! avoid! suspicion! of! undue! influence!
(such!as!the!position!of!a!judge)!
!
RULE) 3.04!A! lawyer! shall! not! pay! or! give!
anything!of!value! to! representatives!of!the! mass!
media!in!anticipation!of,!or!in!return!for,!publicity!to!
attract!legal!business.!
SEEKING)PUBLICITY,)PROHIBITED)
•! doing! such! is! debasing! the! legal! profession!
especially!if!he!pays!something!of!value!for!
it!
•! indirect!advertisements!such!as!furnishing!or!
inspiring! newspaper! comments,! or!
procuring! his! photograph! for! publicity!
offend!the!traditions!and!lower!the!ne!of!the!
profession!
•! if! competitive! advertising! is! allowed! among!
lawyers,!the!good!and!ethical!lawyers!wull!
be!pushed!to!the!sides!by!the!moneyed!and!
unscrupulous!ones!!
•! advertising! may! then! lead! to! assertions! of!
fraudulent! claims,! corruption! of! public!
officials,!etc,!!
•! also! leads! to! creation! of! false! status! and!
reputation! of! lawyers! which! in! the! end! will!
mislead! the! public! and! clients! to! their!
!
BEST)ADVERTISEMENT)FOR)A)LAWYER)
•! most! worthy! and! effective! advertisement!
merited!reputation!for!professional!capacity!
and!fidelity!to!trust!
•! cannot!be!forced!but!must!be!the!outcome!of!
character!and!conduct!
•! wellEdeserved! reputation! for! competence,!
honesty,! and! fidelity! to! private! trust! and!
public!duty!
•! honesty! reigns! paramount! and! through!
honesty!he!gains!public!confidence!and!this!public!
confidence!is!his!greatest!advertisement!
!
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CANON) 4! —! A! lawyer! shall! participate! in! the!
development!of!the! legal! system! by! initiating! or!
supporting! efforts! in! law! reform! and! in! the!
improvement!of!the!administration!of!justice.!
IMPROVEMENT)OF)THE)LEGAL)SYSTEM)
•! by! presenting! position! papers! or! resolutions!
for! the! introduction! of! pertinent! bills! in!
Congress!
•! experienced! legal! practitioners! and!
professors! of! law! may! write! legal!
publications! or! books! as! an! avenue! of!
improving!the!legal!system!
•! lawyers!that!are!members!of!congress!are!in!
the!best!position!to!take!a!close!look!at!the!
system! and! introduce! bills! for! the!
improvement!thereof!
•! Not!a!matter!of!strict!duty!
) official!tasks.!
LAWYERS) MUST) UPDATE) THEMSELVES) WITH)
THE) LAW) AND) MUST) PARTICIPATE) IN) THE)
DISSEMINATION)THEREOF)
•! Bar! was! integrated! for! the! attainment! of! the!
following!objectives!!
o! elevate!the!standards!of!the!legal!
professions!
o! improve! the! administration! of!
justice!
o! enable! the! bar! to! discharge! its!
public! responsibility! more!
effectively!!
•! in! line! with! these! objectives,! lawyers! must!
keep! themselves! abreast! of! legal!
developments!!
•! must!acquaint!self!with!the!new!promulgated!
laws!and!jurisprudence!
) •! all! public! officials! and! employees! are!
JUDGES) MUST) ALSO) KEEP) ABREAST) OF) THE)
LAWS,) RULINGS) AND) DOCTRINES) OF) THE)
SUPREME)COURT)
•! it!is!by!the!nature!of!their!functions!!
LEGAL)EDUCATION)DOES)NOT)STOP)WITH)THE)
LAWYER'S)ADMISSION)TO)THE)BAR)
•! once!a!person!becomes!a!lawyer,!he!incurs!a!
3Efold!obligation!
o! owes! it! to! himself! to! continue!
improving! his! knowledge! of! the!
law!
o! he!owes!it!to!his!profession!to!take!
an! active! interest! in! the!
maintenance!of!high!standards!of!
legal!education!
o! owes! it! to! the! lay! public! to! make!
the! law! a! part! of! their! social!
consciousness!
•! In! the! integration! of! the! Philippine! Bar,! the!
Supreme! Court! has! given! renewed!
significance!to!the!obligations!to:!
o! encourage! and! foster! legal!
education!
o! devise!and!maintain!a!program!of!
continuing! legal! education! for!
practicing! attorneys! in! order! to!
elevate! the! standards! of! the!
profession!throughout!the!country!
o! Conduct! campaigns! to! educate!
the!people!on!their!legal!rights!and!
databril2018APR6
obligations,! on! the! importance! of!
preventive! legal! service,! and! on!
the! true! functions! of! the! Filipino!
lawyer!!
!
CANON)5!—!A!lawyer!shall!keep!abreast!of!legal!
developments,! participate! in! continuing! legal!
education! programs,! support! efforts! to! achieve!
high! standards! in! law! schools! as! well! as! in! the!
practical! training!of!law! students! and! assist! in!
disseminating! information! regarding! the! law! and!
jurisprudence.!
!
CANON)6!—!These!canons!shall!apply!to!lawyers!
in! government! service! in! the! discharge!of!their!
CANONS)APPLY)TO)LAWYERS)IN)THE)SERVICE)
OF)THE)GOVERNMENT)
•! Solicitors!of!the!OSG!
•! however,!judges!are!governed!by!the!Code!of!
Judicial!Conduct!
•! Incumbent! judges! may! be! suspended! or!
removed!by!the!Supreme!Court!on!grounds!
other! than! those! enumerated! in! the! Rule!
138,!section!27.!
•! complaints!against!judges!shall!be!governed!
mainly!by!rule!140!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!
Court,!Constitution,!Special!laws!and!other!
rules!promulgated!by!the!SC!
!
CODE) OF) CONDUCT) AND) ETHICAL)
STANDARDS)UNDER)RA)6713)
governed!by!the!CCES!!
•! Public!officials!(incl.!government!lawyers)!
•! Elective,! appointive,! permanent,! temporary,!
career,! nonEcareer! (incl.! military! and!
police),! whether! or! not! they! receive!
compensation,!regardless!of!the!amount.!
!
GOVERNMENT)LAWYERS))
•! prohibited!to!engage!in!the!private!practice!of!
their! profession! unless! authorized! by! the!
Constitution! or! law,! provided! that! such!
practice! will! not! conflict! or! tend! to! conflict!
with!their!official!functions!!
•! prohibition!will!continue!for!one!year!after!their!
separation!from!public!office,!in!connection!
with! any! matter! pending! before! the! office!
they!used!to!be!with!
!
MISCONDUCT) IN) OFFICE) AS) PUBLIC) OFFICIAL)
MAY)BE)A)GROUND)FOR)DISCIPLINARY)ACTION)
•! if!lawyer's!misconduct!in!the!discharge!of!
his!official!duties!as!government!official!is!of!such!
character! that! will! affect! his! qualifications! as! a!
lawyer,!he!may!be!discipline!as!a!lawyer!
RULE)6.01)The!primary!duty!of!a!lawyer!engaged!
in! public! prosecution! is! not! to! convict! but! to! see!
that!justice!is!done.!The!suppression!of!facts!or!the!
concealment!of!witnesses! capable!of!establishing!
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the! innocence!of!the! accused! is! highly!
reprehensible!and!is!cause!for!disciplinary!action.!
PRIMARY)DUTY)OF)A)PROSECUTOR)
•! a! prosecutor! is! a! quasiEjudicial! officer!
(hearing! and! deciding! cases! but! not!
connected! to! the! judiciary)! and! as! such,!
should!seek!equal!and!impartial!justice!
•! concerned!that!no!innocent!man!suffers!as!in!
seeing!that!no!guilty!man!excapes!
•! quasiEjudicial!during!preliminary!investigation!
when!complaint!is!filed!and!evaluate!if!there!
is!probable!cause!!
!
IF) A) PROSECUTOR) FINDS) THAT) THERE) IS) NO)
SUFFICIENT)EVIDENCE:)
•! In!the!preliminary!investigation:!resolve!
to! the! effect! that! there! is! no! probable!
cause.!
•! If! case! has! already! been! filed:! file! a!
motion! before! the! court! for! the!
dismissal!of!the!action!
•! If! case! on! appeal:! recommend! before!
the!appellate!court!the!acquittal!of!the!
accused!
!!
INTEREST)OF)A)PROSECUTOR)
•! not!to!win!a!case!but!to!see!that!justice!is!done!
•! should! present! evidence! in! their! true! and!
proper!significance!!
•! should!see!to!it!that!the!accused!is!given!a!fair!
and!impartial!trial!and!not!deprived!of!any!of!
his!statutory!or!constitutional!rights!!
•! refrain! from! improper! methods! calculated! to!
produce!a!wrongful!conviction!as!it!is!to!use!
every!legitimate!means!to!bring!about!a!just!
one!
•! should! not! present! proofs! of! the! guilt! of! the!
accused! which! is! illegally! seized! or!
acquired!such!as!those!prohibited!under!the!
bill!of!rights!!
! officer!of!the!Bank!
FACTS) TO) BE) LAID) METHODICALLY) AND)
METICULOUSLY)BY)PROSECUTOR)
!!!!!!!!•!clarifying!contradictions!and!filling!up!gaps!
and!loopholes!in!their!evidence!
! employed! by! the! government! and! the!
RULE) 6.02)A! lawyer! in! the! government! service!
shall! not! use! his! public! position! to! promote! or!
advance!his!private!interests!nor!allow!the!latter!to!
interfere!with!his!public!duties.!
THE) CODE) IS) EQUALLY) APPLICABLE) TO)
LAWYERS)IN)THE)GOVERNMENT)SERVICE))
•! more! restrictions! than! lawyers! in! private!
practice!or!nongovernment!lawyers!!
•! government!lawyers!owe!utmost!fidelity!to!the!
public!service!(public!office!is!a!public!trust)!
•! they!do!not!shed!their!professional!obligations!
in!assuming!public!positions!
•! the! should! be! more! sensitive! to! their!
professional! obligations! as! their!
disreputable! conduct! is! more! likely! to! be!
magnified!by!the!public!!(RA!6713)!
) constituted!a!violation!of!his!oath!as!a!lawyer.)
databril2018APR6
PROMOTION) OF) PRIVATE) INTERESTS)
PROHIBITED))
•! a!lawyer!in!government!service!shall!not!use!
his! public! position! to! promote! or! advance!
his!private!interest!
•! if!such!a!lawyer!is!engaged!in!the!practice!of!
law,!he!should!not!use!his!public!position!to!
enhance! his! private! practice! of! law! or! a!
private!business!of!his!for!that!matter!!
)
MISCONDUCT)IN)THE)DISCHARGE)OF)OFFICIAL)
DUTIES) AS) GOVERNMENT) OFFICIALS) IS)
GENERALLY)NOT)DISCIPLINABLE,)EXCEPT:)
•!if!misconduct!will!affect!his!qualification!
as! a! lawyer! or! show! moral! delinquency,! may! be!
disciplined!as!a!member!of!the!bar!
!
RULE) 6.03)A! lawyer! shall! not,! after! leaving! a!
government! service,! accept! engagement! or!
employment!in!connection!with!any!matter!in!which!
he!had!intervened!while!in!said!service.!
RESTRICTIONS) AGAINST) GOVERNMENT)
LAWYERS)WHO)LEFT)THE)SERVICE)
•! when!leaving,!they!are!prohibited!by!the!rule!
from!accepting!engagement!or!employment!
in! connection! with! any! matter! in! which! he!
had!intervened!while!in!said!service!
•! any!public!official!(even!if!not!lawyer)!is!bound!
by!similar!restrictions!although!more!severe!
(RA!6713)!
!
!
VIOLATION)OF)RESTRICTION)IS)TANTAMOUNT)
TO)REPRESENTING)CONFLICTING)INTERESTS))
•! former! PNB! officer! violates! the! rule! in!
accepting! engagement! or! employment!
against! his! form! employer! in! transactions!
which! he! formerly! handled! while! still! an!
!
ADVERSEVINTEREST)CONFLICTS))
•! where! the! matter! in! which! the! former!
government! lawyer! represents! a! client! in!
private!practice!is!substantially!related!to!a!
matter! that! the! lawyer! dealt! with! while!
interests! of! the! current! and! former! are!
adverse!
!
CONGRUENTVINTEREST) REPRESENTATION)
CONFLICTS)
•! unique! to! government! lawyers! and! apply!
primarily!to!former!government!lawyers!
!
Collantes) v.) Renomeron,) A.C.) No.) 3056,)
[August)16,)1991],)277)PHIL)668V676)
The!issue!in!this!disbarment!proceeding!is!whether!
the!respondent!register!of!deeds,!as!a!lawyer,!may!
also! be! disciplined! by! this! Court! for! his!
malfeasances! as! a! public! official.! The! answer! is!
yes,! for! his! misconduct! as! a! public! official! also!
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The!lawyer's!oath!(Rule!138,!Section!17,!Rules!of!
CourtG! People! vs.! De! Luna,! 102! Phil.! 968),!
imposes! upon! every! lawyer! the! duty! to! delay! no!
man! for! money! or! malice.! The! lawyer's! oath! is! a!
source! of! his! obligations! and!its# violation# is# a#
ground# for# his# suspension,# disbarment# or# other#
disciplinary#action.)
The!Code!of!Professional!Responsibility!applies!to!
lawyers!in!government!service!in!the!discharge!of!
their!official!tasks!(Canon!6).!Just!as!the!Code!of!
Conduct!and!Ethical!Standards!for!Public!Officials!
requires!public!officials!and!employees!to!process!
documents! and! papers! expeditiously! (Sec.! 5,!
subpars.! [c]! and! [d]! and! prohibits! them! from!
directly!or!indirectly!having!a!financial!or!material!
interest!in!any!transaction!requiring!the!approval!of!
their!office,!and!likewise!bars!them!from!soliciting!
gifts!or!anything!of!monetary!value!in!the!course!of!
any! transaction! which! may! be! affected! by! the!
functions! of! their! office! (Sec.! 7,! subpars.! [a]! and!
[d]),! the! Code! of! Professional! Responsibility!
forbids!a!lawyer!to!engage!in!unlawful,!dishonest,!
immoral!or!deceitful!conduct!(Rule!1.01,!Code!of!
Professional! Responsibility),! or! delay! any! man's!
cause! "for! any! corrupt! motive! or! interest"! (Rule!
1.03).)
"A! lawyer! shall! not! engage! in! conduct! that!
adversely!reflects!on!his!fitness!to!practice!law,!nor#
shall#he,#whether#in#public#or#private#life,#behave#in#
a#scandalous#manner#to#the#discredit#of#the#legal#
profession."! (Rule! 7.03,! Code! of! Professional!
Responsibility.))
This! Court! has! ordered! that! only! those! who! are!
"competent,!honorable,!and!reliable"!may!practice!
the! profession! of! law! (Noriega! vs.! Sison,! 125!
SCRA!293)!for!every!lawyer!must!pursue!"only!the!
highest! standards! in! the! practice! of! his! calling"!
(Court!Administrator!vs.!Hermoso,!150!SCRA!269,!
278).)
The! acts! of! dishonesty! and! oppression! which!
Attorney!Renomeron!committed!as!a!public!official!
have! demonstrated! his! unfitness! to! practice! the!
high! and! noble! calling! of! the! law! (Bautista! vs.!
Judge! Guevarra,! 142! SCRA! 632G! Court!
Administrator!vs.!Rodolfo!G.!Hermoso,!150!SCRA!
269).!He!should!therefore!be!disbarred.)
! Law! Profession! attorneys! who! have! disregarded!
Office)of)the)Court)Administrator)v.)Yu,)A.M.)Nos.)
MTJV12V1813,) 12V1V09VMeTC,) MTJV13V1836,) MTJV
12V1815,) OCA) IPI) Nos.) 11V2398VMTJ,) 11V2399V
MTJ,)11V2378VMTJ,)12V2456VMTJ)&)A.M.)No.)MTJV
13V1821,)[November)22,)2016])
Judge!Yu!unquestionably! committed! several! gross!
and! serious! administrative! offenses! ranging! from!
gross!misconduct!and!gross!ignorance!to!the!lesser!
offense!of!conduct!unbecoming!of!a!judicial!officer.!
Under! Section! 8,! Rule! 140! of! the!Rules# of# Court,!
either!gross) misconduct!or!gross) ignorance) of)
the)law!is!punished!by!either:!(1)!dismissal!from!the!
service,! forfeiture! of! benefits,! and! disqualification!
from! reinstatement! to! any! public! officeG! or! (2)!
suspension! from! office! without! salary! and! other!
databril2018APR6
benefits! for! more! than! three! months! but! not!
exceeding! six! monthsG! or! (3)! fine! of! more! than!
P20,000.00! but! not! exceeding! P40,000.00.!Under!
Section! 46B,! Rule! 10! of! the!Revised# Rules# on#
Administrative# Cases# in# the# Civil# Service,!
either!oppression!or!gross) insubordination!—!
also!considered!grave!offenses!—!is!punishable!with!
suspension!from!office!for!a!period!ranging!from!six!
months!and!one!day!to!one!year!for!the!first!offense,!
and! dismissal! from! the! service! for! the! second!
offense.!Under!Section!11,!Rule!140!of!the!Rules#of#
Court,!conduct) unbecoming) of) a) judicial)
officer!merits! either:! (1)! fine! of! not! less! than!
P1,000.00! but! not! exceeding! P10,000.00G! or! (2)!
censureG! or! (3)! reprimandG! or! (4)! admonition! with!
warning.)
The! grossness! and! severity! of! her! offenses! taken!
together! demonstrated! Judge!Yu's! unfitness! and!
incompetence! to! further! discharge! the! office! and!
duties!of!a!Judge.!Her!arrogance!and!insubordination!
in!challenging!A.O.!No.!19E2011,!and!her!unyielding!
rejection! of! the! appointments! of! court! personnel!
constituted! gross! insubordination! and! gross!
misconduct,!and!warranted!her!immediate!dismissal!
from!the!Judiciary.!Her!requiring!her!fellow!Judges!to!
submit!to!her!authority!by!virtue!of!her!showEcause!
order,! whereby! she! revealed! her! utter! disrespect!
towards!and!disdain!for!them,!as!well!as!her!conduct!
unbecoming! of! a! judicial! officer! aggravated! her!
liability.! The! administration! of! justice! cannot! be!
entrusted! to! one! like! her! who! would! readily! ignore!
and!disregard!the!laws!and!policies!enacted!by!the!
Court!to!guarantee!justice!and!fairness!for!all.)
Under!Section!27,!Rule!138!of!the!Rules#of#Court,!an!
attorney! may! be! disbarred! on! the! ground! of!gross)
misconduct!and!willful) disobedience) of) any)
lawful)order)of)a)superior)court.!Given!her!wanton!
defiance! of! the! Court's! own! directives,! her! open!
disrespect! towards! her! fellow! judges,! her! blatant!
abuse! of! the! powers! appurtenant! to! her! judicial!
office,! and! her! penchant! for! threatening! the!
defenseless!with!legal!actions!to!make!them!submit!
to!her!will,!we!should!also!be!imposing!the!penalty!
of!disbarment.!The! object! of!disbarment!is! not! so!
much! to! punish! the! attorney! herself! as! it! is! to!
safeguard! the! administration! of! justice,! the! courts!
and!the!public!from!the!misconduct!of!officers!of!the!
court.! Also,!disbarment!seeks! to! remove! from! the!
their!Lawyer's!Oath!and!thereby!proved!themselves!
unfit! to! continue! discharging! the! trust! and! respect!
given!to!them!as!members!of!the!Bar.!
The! administrative! charges! against! respondent!
Judge!Yu!based!on!grounds!that!were!also!grounds!
for! disciplinary! actions! against! members! of! the! Bar!
could! easily! be! treated! as! justifiable! disciplinary!
initiatives!against!her!as!a!member!of!the!Bar.!This!
treatment! is! explained! by! the! fact! that! her!
membership!in!the!Bar!was!an!integral!aspect!of!her!
qualification!for!judgeship.!Also,!her!moral!and!actual!
unfitness! to! remain! as! a! Judge,! as! found! in! these!
cases,!reflected!her!indelible!unfitness!to!remain!as!
a!member!of!the!Bar.!At!the!very!least,!a!Judge!like!
her!who!disobeyed!the!basic!rules!of!judicial!conduct!
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 QUICKIE NOTES LEGAL COUNSELING
THE LAWYER AND SOCIETY

should!not!remain!as!a!member!of!the!Bar!because!
she!had!thereby!also!violated!her!Lawyer's!Oath.!

Indeed,! respondent! Judge!Yu's! violation! of! the!

fundamental! tenets! of! judicial! conduct! embodied! in!
the!New#Code#of#Judicial#Conduct#for#the#Philippine#
Judiciary!would! constitute! a! breach! of! the! following!
canons!of!the!Code#of#Professional#Responsibility,!to!
wit:)
CANON! 1! —! A! LAWYER! SHALL! UPHOLD!
THE!CONSTITUTION,! OBEY! THE! LAWS! OF! THE!
LAND!AND!PROMOTE!RESPECT!FOR!LAW!AND!
FOR!LEGAL!PROCESSES.!
Rule! 1.02! —! A! lawyer! shall! not! counsel! or! abet!
activities!aimed!at!defiance!of!the!law!or!at!lessening!
confidence!in!the!legal!system.!
CANON!6!—!THESE!CANONS!SHALL!APPLY!TO!
LAWYERS! IN! GOVERNMENT! SERVICE! IN! THE!
DISCHARGE!OF!THEIR!OFFICIAL!TASKS.!
Rule! 6.02! —! A! lawyer! in! the! government! service!
shall! not! use! his! public! position! to! promote! or!
advance!his!private!interests,!nor!allow!the!latter!to!
interfere!with!his!public!duties.!
CANON!11!—!A!LAWYER!SHALL!OBSERVE!AND!
MAINTAIN!THE!RESPECT!DUE!TO!THE!COURTS!
AND! TO! JUDICIAL! OFFICERS! AND! SHOULD!
INSIST!ON!SIMILAR!CONDUCT!BY!OTHERS.!
Rule! 11.03! —! A! lawyer! shall! abstain! from!
scandalous,! offensive! or! menacing! language! or!
behavior!before!the!Courts!
!
The! Court! does! not! take! lightly! the! ramifications! of!
Judge!Yu's!misbehavior!and!misconduct!as!a!judicial!
officer.!By!penalizing!her!with!the!supreme!penalty!of!
dismissal!from!the!service,!she!should!not!anymore!
be! allowed! to! remain! a! member! of! the! Law!
Profession.!
!
However,!this!rule!of!fusing!the!dismissal!of!a!Judge!
with!disbarment!does!not!in!any!way!dispense!with!
or!set!aside!the!respondent's!right!to!due!process.!As!
such,!her!disbarment!as!an!offshoot!of!A.M.!No.!02E
9E02ESC!without! requiring! her! to! comment! on! the!
disbarment! would! be! violative! of! her! right! to! due!
process.! To! accord! due! process! to! her,! therefore,!
she!should!first!be!afforded!the!opportunity!to!defend!
her! professional! standing! as! a! lawyer! before! the!
Court!would!determine!whether!or!not!to!disbar!her.!
!
!

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