Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82083:a-c-no-9906,-july-29,-2013-atty-lester-r-nuique,-complainant,-v-atty-eduardo-sedillo,-respondent&catid=1572&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:26:46+00:00

Document:
ATTY. LESTER R. NUIQUE, Complainant, v. ATTY. EDUARDO SEDILLO, Respondent.
The Court resolves the Complaint1 for disbarment filed by Atty. Lester R. Nuique (complainant) with the Commission on Bar Discipline (Commission) of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) against Atty. Eduardo Sedillo (respondent) who is charged with: ( 1) violating the prohibition on representing conflicting interests; (2) using abusive language against and disrespecting the court; and (3) spreading rumors against a colleague in the legal profession.
The complainant alleged that, sometime in 1992, the respondent became the lawyer of Kiyoshi Kimura (Kiyoshi), a Japanese citizen, and his wife Estrelieta Patrimonio-Kimura (Estrelieta) in a case for collection/recovery of overpayment against Carlos Amasula, Jr. (Amasula).2 Since the spouses Kimura had to leave the country, the case was prosecuted by their representative Manuel Patrimonio (Manuel), Estrelieta’s brother. The spouses Kimura obtained a favorable decision in the trial court, but the case was still on appeal with this Court at the time when the instant complaint was filed. The respondent remained the counsel of record of the spouses Kimura until July 2007 when Kiyoshi terminated his services.
Sometime in November 2006, Kiyoshi engaged the services of the complainant. Kiyoshi, acting through his representative Danilo Estocoming (Danilo) and Kazuhiro Sampie (Kazuhiro), filed a complaint against Estrelieta and Manuel for falsification.4 The respondent appeared as counsel of Estrelieta and Manuel.
On February 22, 2007, a civil action for accounting, sum of money and attachment was filed by Kimura Business Concepts, Inc., an assignee of Kiyoshi, in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Dumaguete City, Branch 44, against Estrelieta and Manuel. The respondent likewise entered his appearance as counsel for Estrelieta and Manuel in the said case.5 Further, sometime in February 2007, Kiyoshi intervened in Civil Case No. 13866, entitled Nelson Patrimonio v. Development Bank of the Philippines, then pending before the RTC. The respondent opposed Kiyoshi’s motion for intervention in Civil Case No. 13866.
The complainant further alleged that, after the habeas corpus case was dismissed, the respondent had spread rumors against the complainant; that the complainant supposedly detained Kiyoshi and provided him with women.
In its Order8 dated February 15, 2008, the Commission directed the respondent to file his answer to the Complaint. In his Answer with Counterclaim,9 the respondent denied that he was guilty of representing conflicting interests, asserting that it was Manuel who sought his legal assistance and not Kiyoshi. He explained that the civil case against Amasula was actively handled and personally pursued by Manuel, albeit in representation of the spouses Kimura. He stressed that there has been no personal and active intervention by Kiyoshi or of Estrelieta in any of the stages of the case. The respondent claims that, for all intents and purposes, his client is Manuel and the spouses Kimura were merely “litigation- beneficiaries-in-waiting.” Further, with respect to the falsification case against Estrelieta and Manuel, the respondent claims that the same was instituted by Danilo and Kazuhiro and not Kiyoshi.
As to the charge of disrespect to the court, the respondent claims that the phrase “with a grain of salt” is but a common phraseology that is neither offensive nor disrespectful. The respondent further denied having spread rumors to malign the complainant.
Based on the complaint and the answer thereto, this Commission finds that there is no question that the respondent is the counsel in the case filed by [Kiyoshi] and Estrelieta against the building contractor, Carlos Amasula. Such engagement remained until July 31, 2007 when [Kiyoshi] executed his “Revocation of Special Power of Attorney and Termination of Attorney”.
Thus, when respondent entered his appearance as counsel for Estrelieta and her brother Manuel in the Falsification complaint (I.S. No. 2007-61), the respondent was still the counsel of [Kiyoshi] in the Amasula case. The defense of the respondent that his client was actually Manuel and not [Kiyoshi] and Estrelieta goes contrary to basic principles of law. The respondent admitted that Manuel was acting as mere agent of [Kiyoshi] and Estrelieta by virtue of a Special Power of Attorney. The respondent, therefore, can not deny that Manuel’s principals, [Kiyoshi] and Estrelieta, were his real clients.
Furthermore, when Estrelieta and Manuel were subjected to preliminary investigation for the Falsification charges which was filed by [Kiyoshi] through his representative Danilo Estocoming and Kazuhiro Sampie, respondent consciously and deliberately ran in conflict with his duty to [Kiyoshi] by appearing as counsel for Estrelieta and Manuel. The respondent continued to represent Estrelieta and Manuel opposite [Kiyoshi] when probable cause was found against his clients, on appeal with the Department of Justice and even when the information was filed against them (Criminal Case C-170).
The Investigating Commissioner absolved the respondent from the charge of disrespect to the court, asserting that the use of the phrase “with a grain of salt” is not offensive. The Investigating Commissioner likewise pointed out that no evidence was presented to show that the respondent had spread rumor to malign the complainant.
The Investigating Commissioner recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a period of six (6) months.
In a Notice of Resolution15 dated June 27, 2011, the IBP Board of Governors resolved to adopt and approve the Report and Recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner, finding the same to be fully supported by the evidence on record and the applicable laws and rules.
The respondent sought to reconsider the Resolution dated June 27, 2011,16 but the IBP Board of Governors denied his motion in its Resolution17 dated January 3, 2013.
The issue in this case is whether the respondent should be administratively sanctioned based on the allegations in the Complaint.
After a careful perusal of the records, the Court agrees with the findings and the recommendations of the Investigating Commissioner and the IBP Board of Governors.
Rule 15.03. – A lawyer shall not represent conflicting interests except by written consent of all concerned given after a full disclosure of the facts.
In broad terms, lawyers are deemed to represent conflicting interests when, in behalf of one client, it is their duty to contend for that which duty to another client requires them to oppose. Developments in jurisprudence have particularized various tests to determine whether a lawyer’s conduct lies within this proscription. One test is whether a lawyer is duty-bound to fight for an issue or claim in behalf of one client and, at the same time, to oppose that claim for the other client. Thus, if a lawyer’s argument for one client has to be opposed by that same lawyer in arguing for the other client, there is a violation of the rule.
Based on the established facts of this case, the Court finds substantial evidence to conclude that the respondent violated the prohibition on representation of conflicting interests. It is uncontroverted that the respondent was still the counsel on record of Kiyoshi and Estrelieta in the case against Amasula at the time when he represented Estrelieta and Manuel in the complaint for falsification filed by Kiyoshi. Further, the respondent likewise appeared as counsel for Estrelieta and Manuel in the case for accounting, sum of money and attachment that was filed by Kimura Business Concepts, Inc., the assignee of Kiyoshi, despite being the counsel of Kiyoshi in the case against Amasula. Clearly, the respondent violated the prohibition against representing conflicting interests.
The respondent’s representation of Estrelieta and Manuel against Kiyoshi, notwithstanding that he was still the counsel of Kiyoshi and Estrelieta in the case against Amasula, creates a suspicion of unfaithfulness or double-dealing in the performance of his duty towards his clients. Under the circumstances, the decent and ethical thing which the respondent should have done was to advise Estrelieta and Manuel to engage the services of another lawyer.
Likewise, the respondent’s claim that it was Manuel who was his client in the case against Amasula and not Kiyoshi, since it was Manuel who sought his services and was the one who actively and personally pursued the said case, is untenable. It is but a futile attempt on the part of the respondent to extricate himself from his predicament. Manuel was merely the agent of Kiyoshi and Estrelieta in the case against Amasula. That Manuel was the one who actively prosecuted the said case is of no consequence; the real parties in interest in the case against Amasula were the principals of Manuel, i.e., Kiyoshi and Estrelieta.
In the case under consideration, both the Investigating Commissioner and the IBP Board of Governors recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for six (6) months. Considering that this is the respondent’s first offense, the Court adopts the recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner and the IBP Board of Governors and hereby suspends the respondent from the practice of law for a period of six (6) months effective upon receipt of this Resolution.
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Court finds Atty. Eduardo Sedillo GUILTY of misconduct for representing conflicting interests in violation of Rule 15.03, Canon 15 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and is SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of six (6) months, effective upon receipt of this Resolution, with a STERN WARNING that a commission of the same or similar offense in the future will result in the imposition of a more severe penalty.
Let a copy of this Resolution be entered into the records of Atty. Eduardo Sedillo and furnished to the Office of the Clerk of Court, the Oftice of the Bar Confidant, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and all courts in the Philippines, for their information and guidance.
Atty. Eduardo Sedillo is DIRECTED to inform the Court of the date of his receipt of this Resolution so that the Court can determine the reckoning point when his suspension shall take eftect.
Sereno C.J., (Chairperson), Leonardo-De Castro, Bersamin, and Villarama, Jr., concur.
18Sps. Donato v. Atty. Asuncion, Sr., 468 Phil. 329, 335 (2004).
19Office of the Court Administrator v. Liangco, A.C. No. 5355, December 13, 2011, 662 SCRA 103, 114, citing Sps. Donato v. Atty. Asuncion, Sr., id.
20Heirs of Lydio Falame v. Atty. Baguio, 571 Phil. 428, 440 (2008), citing Frias v. Atty. Lozada, 513 Phil. 512, 520 (2005).
21Lim, Jr. v. Atty. Villarosa, 524 Phil. 37, 55 (2006).
22Gonzales v. Cabucana, Jr., 515 Phil. 296, 304 (2006).
23 505 Phil. 126 (2005).
25 See Pacana, Jr. v. Pascual-Lopez, A.C. No. 8243, July 24, 2009, 594 SCRA 1, 14.
26 See Gonzales v. Cabucana, Jr., supra note 22, at 305.
27 A.C. No. 5098, April 11, 2012, 669 SCRA 76.
29See Mercado v. Vitriolo, 498 Phil. 49, 57 (2005).
30See Rangwani v. Atty. Diño, 486 Phil. 8 (2004).
31See Buehs v. Bacatan, A.C No. 6674, June 30, 2009, 591 SCRA 217, 227, citing Paz v. Atty. Sanchez, 533 Phil. 503, 512-513 (2006).

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