Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83067:57048&catid=1584&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 10:28:48+00:00

Document:
A.C. No. 10378, June 09, 2014 - JOSE FRANCISCO T. BAENS, Complainant, v. ATTY. JONATHAN T. SEMPIO, Respondent.
JOSE FRANCISCO T. BAENS, Complainant, v. ATTY. JONATHAN T. SEMPIO, Respondent.
Before this Court is an administrative case, seeking the disbarment of Atty. Jonathan T. Sempio (respondent), for violation of Canons 15,1 17,2 183 and Rule 18.034 of the Code of Professional Responsibility (Code), commenced thru a complaint-affidavit5 filed before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Commission on Bar Discipline (IBP-CBD) by Jose Francisco T. Baens (complainant).
This legal battle stemmed when the complainant engaged the services of the respondent to represent him and file a case for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage against his wife, Lourdes V. Mendiola-Baens. In his complaint-affidavit dated March 15, 2010, the complainant alleged, among others, that the respondent: (1) despite receiving the sum of P250,000.00 to cover for the expenses in the said case,6 failed to file the corresponding petition, and it was the complainant’s wife who successfully instituted Civil Case No. 2463-08,7 for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage on December 8, 2008; (2) even with the complainant furnishing him a copy of the Summons dated December 15, 2008,8 belatedly filed an Answer9 and was able to file it only on March 13, 2009 which was after the 15-day period stated in the Summons; (3) failed to make an objection on the petition on the ground of improper venue as neither the complainant nor his wife were and are residents of Dasmariñas, Cavite; (4) never bothered to check the status of the case and thus failed to discover and attend all the hearings set for the case; and (5) as a result, Civil Case No. 2463-08 was decided10 on October 27, 2009 without the complainant being able to present his evidence.
In his Answer,11 the respondent denied the allegations in the complaint, and explained that: (1) after a meeting with the complainant, he drafted the Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage and asked the complainant to go over said draft after which he proceeded to file the same with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Malabon City; (2) the complainant was aware that said petition will be filed in Malabon City as the latter had signed the verification and certification of the petition; (3) the case became pending and was later on withdrawn because of the complainant’s refusal to testify; (4) what contributed to the delay in filing the Answer was the fact that he still had to let the complainant go over the same and sign the verification thereof; (5) he was not able to attend the hearings for the case because he did not receive any notice from the trial court; and (6) it was only on December 2, 2009 when he found out that the trial court has already rendered its decision and that the complainant had changed counsels.
The Investigating Commissioner submitted his Report and Recommendation13 dated October 22, 2011, finding the respondent guilty of violation of the Code and recommended that the respondent be suspended for six (6) months from the practice of law. Specifically, the Investigating Commissioner found that the respondent failed to diligently attend to the case and was grossly negligent in discharging his responsibilities considering the fact that he has already been fully compensated. The Investigating Commissioner said that the respondent should have manifested or made known to the trial court that he was not receiving any notice at all since it behoves upon him to make a follow-up on the developments of the cases he is handling.
As to the respondent’s argument that he indeed filed a Petition for the Declaration of Nullity of Marriage for the complainant, the Investigating Commissioner held that it cannot be taken at face value absent the presentation of the pleading itself which by a perusal of the records of the case was not submitted to the IBP-CBD. Moreso, the veracity of the Certification attached to the respondent’s answer was highly questionable because it failed to state when the said petition was filed. Lastly, the Investigating Commissioner faulted the respondent for not sufficiently explaining to the complainant the consequences of the petition being filed in the RTC of Malabon City since it was the respondent’s duty and responsibility to explain the complexities of the same to his client for he is the one tasked with the technical know-how in the field of law.
The Court finds it fitting to sustain the IBP’s findings and the recommended sanction of suspension from the practice of law since the attendant facts of the case show substantial evidence to support the respondent’s delinquency.
It is beyond dispute that the complainant engaged the services of the respondent to handle his case. The records, however, definitively bear out that the respondent was completely remiss and negligent in handling the complainant’s case, notwithstanding his receipt of the sum of P250,000.00 for the total expenses to be incurred in the said case.
The excuse proffered by the respondent that he did not receive any orders or notices from the trial court is highly intolerable. In the first place, securing a copy of such notices, orders and case records was within the respondent’s control and is a task that a lawyer undertakes. Moreso, the preparation and the filing of the answer is a matter of procedure that fully fell within the exclusive control and responsibility of the respondent. It was incumbent upon him to execute all acts and procedures necessary and incidental to the advancement of his client’s cause of action.
Thus, for the respondent’s negligence and inadequacies in handling his client’s case, the recommendation of the IBP to suspend the respondent from the practice of law is well-taken. While the IBP Board of Governors increased the period of suspension to one year, the Court finds the period of six months as recommended by the Investigating Commissioner commensurate to the facts of the case.
ACCORDINGLY, the Court AFFIRMS with MODIFICATION the Resolution dated June 22, 2013 of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Board of Governors in CBD Case No. 10-2673. The Court hereby SUSPENDS Atty. Jonathan T. Sempio from the practice of law for SIX (6) MONTHS effective immediately upon receipt of this Decision.
Let a copy of this Decision be entered in the personal records of Atty. Jonathan T. Sempio as a member of the Bar, and copies furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts in the country.
1 CANON 15 – A lawyer shall observe candor, fairness and loyalty in all his dealings and transactions with his clients.
2 CANON 17 – A lawyer owes fidelity to the cause of his client and he shall be mindful of the trust and confidence reposed in him.
3 CANON 18 – A lawyer shall serve his client with competence and diligence.
4 Rule 18.03 – A lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to him, and his negligence in connection therewith shall render him liable.
16 Maria Cristina Zabaljauregui Pitcher v. Atty. Rustico B. Gagate, A.C. No. 9532, October 8, 2013.
17Francisco v. Atty. Portugal, 519 Phil. 547, 558 (2006), citing Burbe v. Atty. Magulta, 432 Phil. 840, 843 (2002).
18Aurora H. Cabauatan v. Atty. Freddie A. Venida, A.C. No. 10043, November 20, 2013.
19Mary Ann T. Mattus v. Atty. Albert T. Villaseca, A.C. No. 7922, October 1, 2013.

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