CANON 10 - A LAWYER OWES CANDOR, FAIRNESS AND GOOD FAITH TO THE COURT.

Rule 10.01 - A lawyer shall not do any falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in Court; nor shall he mislead, or
allow the Court to be misled by any artifice.

Rule 10.02 - A lawyer shall not knowingly misquote or misrepresent the contents of paper, the language or the
argument of opposing counsel, or the text of a decision or authority, or knowingly cite as law a provision already
rendered inoperative by repeal or amendment, or assert as a fact that which has not been proved.

Rule 10.03 - A lawyer shall observe the rules of procedure and shall not misuse them to defeat the ends of justice.

Attorney; Honesty; Practice of law is not a right but a privilege. Lawyers are officers of the court,
called upon to assist in the administration of justice. They act as vanguards of our legal system,
protecting and upholding truth and the rule of law. They are expected to act with honesty in all their
dealings, especially with the court. Verily, the Code of Professional Responsibility enjoins
lawyers from committing or consenting to any falsehood in court or from allowing the courts
to be misled by any artifice. Moreover, they are obliged to observe the rules of procedure and not
to misuse them to defeat the ends of justice. Indeed, the practice of law is not a right but merely a
privilege bestowed upon by the State upon those who show that they possess, and continue to
possess, the qualifications required by law for the conferment of such privilege. One of those
requirements is the observance of honesty and candor. Candor in all their dealings is the very
essence of a practitioner’s honorable membership in the legal profession. Lawyers are required to
act with the highest standard of truthfulness, fair play and nobility in the conduct of litigation
and in their relations with their clients, the opposing parties, the other counsels and the courts. They
are bound by their oath to speak the truth and to conduct themselves according to the best of
their knowledge and discretion, and with fidelity to the courts and their clients. 

From the foregoing, it is clear that respondent violated his duties as a lawyer to avoid dishonest and
deceitful conduct, (Rule 1.01, Canon 1) and to act with candor, fairness and good faith (Rule 10.01,
Canon 10). Also, respondent desecrated the solemn oath he took before this Court when he sought
admission to the bar, i.e., not to do any falsehood nor consent to the doing of any in Court. 

Sonic Steel Industries, Inc. v. Atty. Nonnatus P. Chua, A.C. No. 6942, July 17, 2013.

Likewise, the respondent violated his duty as an attorney and his oath as a lawyer "never to mislead
the judge or any judicial officer by an artifice or false statement of fact or law." The respondent failed
to remember that his duty as an officer of the court makes him an indispensable participant in the
administration of justice, and that he is expected to act candidly, fairly and truthfully in his work. His
duty as a lawyer obligates him not to conceal the truth from the court, or to mislead the court in any
manner, no matter how demanding his duties to his clients may be.

 CONRADO QUE vs. ATTY. ANASTACIO REVILLA, JR., A.C. No.  7054,

December 4, 2009
Suppression of facts which are material to the case.

The allegations raised in this complaint for disbarment are more sordid, if not
tawdry, from the usual.

Disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer, with the intent to deceive the court, makes a false statement,
submits a false document, or improperly withholds material information, and causes serious or potentially serious
injury to a party, or causes a significant or potentially significant adverse effect on the legal proceeding.

Candor towards the Courts is a cardinal requirement of the practicing lawyer. To say one thing today and another
tomorrow is a transgression of this imperative. Counsel should be made to account before his peers. (Paluwagan ng
Bayan Savings Bank v. King, 172 SCRA 60).

Proposal: Baseless accusation and misquoting pleadings against lawyers