Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=45931:ac-4711&amp;catid=1459&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:36:14+00:00

Document:
ROMEO H. SIBULO, Complainant, v. FELICISIMO ILAGAN, Respondent.
TO MR. ARMANDO ABAPO, ET AL.
On February 27, 2004, the Board of Governors of the IBP issued Resolution No. XVI-2004-66,12 adopting the findings of the Commission with modification. The Board of Governors recommended that respondent be suspended for one (1) year due to his defiance of the lawful orders of this Court and the IBP Commission on Bar Discipline.
After a careful consideration of the complaint as well as the report and recommendation of the IBP, the Court finds that there is no merit in the complainant's charge therein.
A reading of respondent's February 20, 1997 letter to complainant in its entirety gives rise to the conclusion that respondent merely replied to a letter sent by complainant to his clients, asking them to vacate the house which they were occupying. There is nothing in the record to indicate that respondent urged his clients to engage in unlawful acts, or to defy the Court's resolution in G.R. No. 126982. Indeed, the apparent dispute between complainant and respondent's clients should be resolved not in an administrative case against respondent, as counsel for complainant's adversaries, but in another case filed in the proper court.
However, the Court also agrees with the IBP that respondent should be sanctioned for his repeated failure to obey the lawful orders of this Court and of the IBP. Nevertheless, it finds the penalty imposed by the IBP excessive under the circumstances.
Again, respondent was given several opportunities to express his side on the charge during the investigation thereof by the IBP. Although he appeared once for a scheduled hearing, he did not explain why he should not be found liable therefor. Neither did he file a position paper as required by the Commission on Bar Discipline. Again, he merely ignored the Commission's directives.
Respondent should strive harder to live up to his duties of observing and maintaining the respect due to the courts,19 respect for law and for legal processes,20 and of upholding the integrity and dignity of the legal profession21 in order to perform his responsibilities as a lawyer effectively.
Considering, however, that respondent was absolved of the administrative charge against him and is being taken to task for his intransigence and lack of respect, the Court finds that the penalty of suspension would not be warranted under the circumstances.
Commission on Bar Discipline, with a WARNING that a more drastic punishment will be imposed upon him for a repetition of the same act.
Puno, J., C.J., Austria-Martinez, Callejo, Sr., Chico-Nazario, JJ., concur.
1 Flora Macorol v. The Honorable Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court, Pasay City, Branch 119, et al.
3 Emphasis in the original; Id. at 3.
5 Resolution dated August 3, 1998, id. at 7.
6 Resolution dated September 3, 2001, id. at 8.
7 IBP Report and Recommendation, id. at 17; see also Order dated September 13, 2002, id. at 11.
8 Order dated October 16, 2002, id. at 13.
13 Resolutions dated June 18, 1997 and August 3, 1998, id. at 6-7.
14 Resolution dated September 3, 2001, id. at 8.
15 Ong v. Grijaldo, A.C. No. 4724, April 30, 2003, 402 SCRA 1; Sencio v. Calvadores, Adm. Case No. 5841, January 20, 2003, 395 SCRA 393.
16 Ngayan v. Tugade, Adm. Case No. 2490, February 7, 1991, 193 SCRA 779.
17 Ong v. Grijaldo, supra note 14.
18 Rule 139-B, Revised Rules of Court.
19 Canon 11, Code of Professional Responsibility.
20 Canon 1, Code of Professional Responsibility.
21 Canon 7, Code of Professional Responsibility.
22 In Sipin-Nabor v. Atty. Baterina [412 Phil 419 (2001)], Atty. Baterina was meted a two-year suspension from the practice of law for demanding payment of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) from his client as payment for the filing of an answer with counterclaim which he did not file. In Ngayan v. Tugade [supra note 15], Atty. Tugade was suspended from the practice of law for one (1) year for disclosing information prejudicial to his former clients in a criminal case.
23 In re: Atty. David Briones, 415 Phil 203 (2001). The Court suspended Atty. Briones from the practice of law for six (6) months for his unjustified failure to file the appellant's brief on time in G.R. No.130965.
24 Gamilla v. MariÃ±o, Jr., Adm. Case No. 4763, March 20, 2003, 399 SCRA 308.

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