Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=84209:59746&amp;catid=1594&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:06:05+00:00

Document:
A.C. No. 8330, March 16, 2015 - TERESITA B. ENRIQUEZ, Complainant, v. ATTY. TRINA DE VERA, Respondent.
TERESITA B. ENRIQUEZ, Complainant, v. ATTY. TRINA DE VERA, Respondent.
For resolution is an administrative complaint for disbarment or suspension filed by complainant Teresita B. Enriquez against Atty. Trina De Vera. We resolve whether Atty. Trina De Vera committed serious misconduct and should be held administratively liable for the issuance and dishonor of several post-dated checks.
Atty. De Vera filed her Answer14 dated June 24, 2010. She presented her version of the facts.
The Commission on Bar Discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines scheduled mandatory conferences where the parties defined the issues, stipulated on facts, and marked exhibits.29 Upon the termination of the mandatory conferences, the parties were "directed to submit their respective verified position papers within a period of thirty (30) days from receipt of the Order."30.
Respondent's assertion that the checks she issued to complainant were not security for the loans she obtained but mere guaranty checks and not for deposit deserves no credence; it is contrary to the ordinary experience.
. . . [T]he pieces of evidenc[e] on reco[r]d substantially shows [sic] that indeed respondent incurred monetary obligations from complainant, and she issued postdated checks to 'the latter as security for the payment of the loans.
Assuming . . . that respondent's version of facts were [sic] true, she is still guilty of serious misconduct.
The gravamen of the offense punished by B.P. Blg. 22 is the act of making and issuing . . . worthless check[s]; that is, a check that is dishonored upon its presentation for payment. The law is not intended or designed to coerce a debtor to pay his debt. The thrust of the law is to prohibit, under pain of penal sanctions, the making and circulation of worthless checks. . . . A check issued as an evidence of debt — though not intended to be presented for payment — has the same effect as an ordinary check and would fall within the ambit of B.P. Blg. 22.
As a lawyer, respondent is deemed to know the law, especially B.P. Blg. 22. By issuing checks in violation of the provisions of the law, respondent is guilty of serious misconduct.
Cannon [sic] 1 - A lawyer shall uphold the Constitution, obey the laws of the land and promote respect for the law and legal processes.
Teresita filed the Partial Motion for Reconsideration40 dated September 17, 2013 of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Board of Governors' Resolution. Atty. De Vera filed the Motion for Reconsideration41 dated September 21, 2013.
The main issue is whether Atty. De Vera committed serious misconduct and should be held administratively liable for the issuance and dishonor of worthless checks in violation of the Lawyer's Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility.
After considering the parties' arguments and the records of this case, we resolve to adopt and approve the recommendations of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Board of Governors.
This is not a case of first impression. This court has ruled that the lawyer's act of issuing worthless checks, punishable under Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, constitutes serious misconduct.
Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 has been enacted in order to safeguard the interest of the banking system and the legitimate public checking account users. The gravamen of the offense defined and punished by Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 . . . is the act of making and issuing a worthless check, or any check that is dishonored upon its presentment for payment and putting it in circulation; the law is designed to prohibit and altogether eliminate the deleterious and pernicious practice of issuing checks with insufficient funds, or with no credit, because the practice is deemed a public nuisance, a crime against public order to be abated.
A LAWYER SHALL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, OBEY THE LAWS OF THE LAND AND PROMOTE RESPECT FOR LAW AND LEGAL PROCESSES.
A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct.
A LAWYER SHALL AT ALL TIMES UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY- AND DIGNITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTEGRATED BAR.
A lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, nor shall he, whether in public or private life, behave in a scandalous manner to the discredit of the legal profession.
The Investigating Commissioner found that Atty. De Vera incurred monetary obligations from Teresita. Atty. De Vera admitted issuing the checks to Teresita. She refused to answer for her liabilities by denying the existence of the loan and claiming that the checks were mere "show checks."51 However, she failed to present evidence to prove those allegations.
The Investigating Commissioner correctly pointed out that Atty. De Vera's allegation of "lending" her checks to Teresita is contrary to ordinary human experience. As a lawyer, Atty. De Vera is presumed to know the consequences of her acts. She issued several post-dated checks for value that were dishonored upon presentation for payment.
WHEREFORE, respondent Atty. Trina De Vera is SUSPENDED from the practice of law for one (1) year. Let a copy of this Resolution be entered in Atty. De Vera's personal record with the Office of the Bar Confidant, and a copy be served to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all the courts in the land.
Carpio, (Chairperson), Brion, Del Castillo, and Mendoza, JJ., concur.
6 Id. at 8. The Complaint-Affidavit refers to (he drawee bank as "IBank." Records reveal that the drawee bank is the International Exchange Bank.
8 IBank Check No. 310568 post-dated May 30, 2006 for P20,000.00 as interest for June 2006 and IBank Check No. 310570 post-dated July 15, 2006 for P20,000.00 as interest for July 2006. Annexes to the Complaint show that Atty. De Vera issued three (3) checks at the value of P20,000.00 each for the months of May to July 2006.
15 Id. at 54 and 112.
19 Id. at 55 and 112.
21 Id. at 55 and 113.
45 A.C. No. 3806, December 16, 1992, 216 SCRA 619 [Per Curiam, En Banc].
47Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation v. Atty. Carandang, 516 Phil. 299, 306 (2006) [Per J. Sandoval-Gutierrez, Second Division].
48See Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation v. Atty. Carandang, 516 Phil. 299, 306 (2006) [Per J. Sandoval-Gutierrez, Second Division].
49 Ong v. Delos Santos, A.C. No. 10179, March 4, 2014, 717 SCRA 663, 668-669 [Per J. Bersamin, En Banc]; See Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation v. Atty. Carandang, 516 Phil 299, 305 (2006) [Per J. Sandoval-Gutierrez, Second Division].
of the Philippines; I will support its Constitution and obey the laws as well as the legal orders of the duly constituted authorities therein; I will do no falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in court; I will not wittingly or willingly promote or sue any groundless, false or unlawful suit, or give aid nor consent to the same; I will delay no man for money or malice, and will conduct myself as a lawyer according to the best of my knowledge and discretion with all good fidelity as well to the courts as to my clients; and I impose upon myself this voluntary obligation without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. So help me God."
52Rollo, pp. 144-154. The January 20, 2011 Decision, docketed as Criminal Case No. 144629-31 and entitled People of the Philippines v. Teresita B. Enriquez, was penned by Presiding Judge Alfredo D. Ampuan of Branch 33, Metropolitan Trial Court of Metro Manila, Quezon City. The case pertains to three counts of violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22.
56Ong v. Delos Santos, A.C. No. 10179, March 4, 2014, 717 SCRA 663, 671 [Per J. Bersamin, En Banc].
57Lizaso v. Amante, A.C. No. 2019, June 3, 1991, 198 SCRA 1, 11 [Per Curiam, En Banc]; See Po Cham v. Atty. Pizarro, 504 Phil. 273, 286-287 (2005) [Per J. Carpio Morales, Third Division].

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.