Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=84235:59860&amp;catid=1594&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:36:42+00:00

Document:
A.C. No. 10672, March 18, 2015 - EDUARDO A. MAGLENTE, Complainant, v. ATTY. DELFIN R. AGCAOILI, JR., Respondent.
EDUARDO A. MAGLENTE,*Complainant, v. ATTY. DELFIN R. AGCAOILI, JR., Respondent.
Before the Court is an administrative complaint1 dated May 9, 2006 filed by complainant Eduardo A. Maglente (complainant), before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), against respondent Atty. Delfin R. Agcaoili, Jr. (respondent), praying that the latter be directed to return the amount of P48,000.00 that he received from the former.
Complainant, as President of “Samahan ng mga Maralitang Taga Ma. Corazon III, Incorporated” (Samahan), alleged that he engaged the services of respondent for the purpose of filing a case in order to determine the true owner of the land being occupied by the members of Samahan.2 In connection therewith, he gave respondent the aggregate amount of P48,000.00 intended to cover the filing fees for the action to be instituted, as evidenced by a written acknowledgment executed by respondent himself.3 Despite the payment, respondent failed to file an action in court. When confronted, respondent explained that the money given to him was not enough to fully pay for the filing fees in court.4Thus, complainant asked for the return of the money, but respondent claimed to have spent the same and even demanded more money.5 Complainant further alleged that when he persisted in seeking restitution of the aforesaid sum, respondent told him to shut up because it was not his money in the first place.6 Hence, complainant filed this administrative complaint seeking the return of the full amount he had paid to respondent.
In a Resolution13 dated May 11, 2013, the IBP Board of Governors adopted and approved the aforesaid Report and Recommendation, with modification increasing the recommended penalty from Censure to suspension from the practice of law for a period of three (3) months. Aggrieved, respondent moved for reconsideration14 which was, however, denied in a Resolution15 dated May 3, 2014.
After a judicious perusal of the records, the Court concurs with the findings of the IBP, except as tothe penalty to be imposed upon respondent.
Rule 18.03 – A lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to him, and his negligence in connection [therewith] shall render him liable.
In the instant case, it is undisputed that complainant engaged the services of respondent for the purpose of filing a case in court, and in connection therewith, gave the amount of P48,000.00 to answer for the filing fees. Despite the foregoing, respondent failed to comply with his undertaking and offered the flimsy excuse that the money he received from complainant was not enough to fully pay the filing fees.
Rule 16.03 – A lawyer shall deliver the funds and property of his client when due or upon demand. x x x.
Verily, when a lawyer receives money from the client for a particular purpose, the lawyer is bound to render an accounting to the client showing that the money was spent for the intended purpose. Consequently, if the money was not used accordingly, the same must be immediately returned to the client.18 A lawyer’s failure to return the money to his client despite numerous demands is a violation of the trust reposed on him and is indicative of his lack of integrity,19 as in this case.
Clearly, respondent failed to exercise such skill, care, and diligence as men of the legal profession commonly possess and exercise in such matters of professional employment,20 and hence, must be disciplined accordingly.
Having established respondent’s administrative liability, the Court now determines the proper penalty to be imposed.
Jurisprudence provides that in similar cases where lawyers neglected their clients’ affairs and, at the same time, failed to return the latter’s money and/or property despite demand, the Court meted out the penalty of suspension from the practice of law. In Segovia-Ribaya v. Lawsin,21 the Court suspended the lawyer for a period of one (1) year for his failure to perform his undertaking under his retainership agreement with his client and to return the money given to him by the latter.22 Similarly, in Meneses v. Macalino,23 the same penalty was imposed on a lawyer who failed to render any legal service to his client as well as to return the money he received for such purpose.24 In view of the foregoing, the Court finds it appropriate that respondent be meted with the penalty of suspension from the practice of law for a period of one (1) year.
WHEREFORE, respondent Atty. Delfin R. Agcaoili, Jr. (respondent), is found GUILTY of violating Rules 16.01 and 16.03 of Canon 16, and Rule 18.03 of Canon 18of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Accordingly, he is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of one (1) year, effective upon his receipt of this Decision, with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar acts will be dealt with more severely.
Furthermore, respondent is ORDERED to return to complainant Eduardo A. Maglente the amount of P48,000.00 he received from the latter within ninety (90) days from the finality of this Decision. Failure to comply with the foregoing directive will warrant the imposition of a more severe penalty.
Let a copy of this Decision be attached to respondent’s record in this Court as attorney. Further, let copies of this Decision be furnished the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the Court Administrator, which is directed to circulate them to all the courts in the country for their information and guidance.
Leonardo-De Castro, (Acting Chairperson),** Bersamin, Perez, and Jardeleza,*** JJ., concur.
* “Maglinte” in some parts of the record.
2 Id. at 2. See also id. at 41.
6 Id. See also id. at 42.
7 See answer dated June 16, 2006; id. at 6-8.
9 Id. at 41-44. Penned by IBP Commissioner Oliver A. Cachapero.
13 See Notice of Resolution issued by National Secretary Nasser A. Marohomsalic; id. at 40.
14 See Motion for Reconsideration dated September 17, 2013; id. at 45-47.
15 See Notice of Resolution issued by National Secretary Nasser A. Marohomsalic; id. at 56-57.
16 See Agot v. Rivera, A.C. No. 8000, August 5, 2014, citing Lad Vda. de Dominguez v. Agleron, Sr., A.C. No. 5359, March 10, 2014.
17 See id., citing Figueras v. Jimenez, A.C. No. 9116, March 12, 2014 and Nebreja v. Reonal, A.C. No. 9896, March 19, 2014.
18 See Small v. Banares, 545 Phil. 226, 230 (2007), citing Meneses v. Macalino, 518 Phil. 378, 385 (2006).
19 Id. at 386, citing Aldovino v. Pujalte, Jr., 467 Phil. 556, 561 (2004).
20 See Layos v. Villanueva, A.C. No. 8085, December 1, 2014, citing Tan v. Diamante, A.C. No. 7766, August 5, 2014.
21 A.C. No. 7965, November 13, 2013, 709 SCRA 287.
22 See id. at 292-296.
23 518 Phil. 378 (2006).
24 See id. at 385-387.
25 See Agot v. Rivera, supra note 16, citing Pitcher v. Gagate, A.C. No. 9532, October 8, 2013, 707 SCRA 13, 25-26.
26 The Court held that sums intended to answer for filing fees were deemed intimately related to the lawyer-client relationship and thus, a return thereof may be ordered in an administrative-disciplinary proceeding. (See Foster v. Agtang, A.C. No. 10579, December 10, 2014).

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