rudecon vs. camacho

8/10/2019 Rudecon vs. Camacho

1/15

Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT

Manila

THIRD DIVISION

A.C. No. 6501 August 31, 2006

(CBD Case Nos. 03-106, 03-110!, 03-110", 03-1125#

ATT$. %EON %. ASA a&' ATT$. OSE A. O%)*EROS, Complainants,vs.ATT$. PAB%)TO M. CAST)%%O a&' ATT$. +)N+ER ANNE CAST)%%O, Responents.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ATT$. PAB%)TO M. CAST)%%O, Complainant,vs.ATT$. OSE A. O%)*EROS, Responent.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ATT$. PAB%)TO M. CAST)%%O, Complainant,vs.ATT$. %EON %. ASA, Responent.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ATT$. %EON %. ASA, Complainant,vs.ATT$. PAB%)TO M. CAST)%%O, Responent.

D ! C I S I O N

CARP)O MORA%ES,J.:

Sub"ect of the p#esent Decision a#e fou# aminist#ative cases, oc$ete b% the Inteate 'a# of

the Philippines (I'P) as Commission on 'a# Discipline (C'D) Case Nos. *+-*/,*+--*0,*+--*1, an *+--23.

I. C'D Case No. *+-*/

In -11/, 4tt%. Pablito M. Castillo (Castillo), then an associate of the 5au#el 5a6 Offices of6hich 4tto#ne%s 5eon 5. 4sa (4sa) an 7ose 4. Olive#os (Olive#os) a#e pa#tne#s, eno#se to thela6 fi#m a &ua#ianship case, Special P#oceein& No. 3222, 8In re: Guardianship of the Minors


2/15

Honeylyn, Alexandra and Jerill Nonan,8 6hich 6as penin& befo#e the Re&ional T#ial Cou#t(RTC) of 4n&eles Cit%, '#anch 31. Castillo appea#e as counsel of #eco# fo# the the#einpetitione#, D#. Salvao# H. 5au#el, &ua#ian ad litemof the mino#s Nonan 6ho appea# to haveinhe#ite a si9eable amount of :S olla#s.

4 misune#stanin& late# occu##e bet6een 4sa an Castillo as #e&a#s thei# sha#in& in theatto#ne%;s fees in the &ua#ianship case.

On pa&e / of a pleain& entitle 8Repl% to Petitione#


3/15

On the othe# han, #eti#e 7ustice ?elipe Ealalo of the Cou#t of 4ppeals 6ho pe#sonall% $ne6 theplaintiff FCastilloG 6as also p#ofuse in etollin& his acaemic c#eentials an accomplishments asa T#ial la6%e# as follo6s@

@ Do %ou $no6 the claimant 4tt%. P.M. Castillo

4@ Jes si#, because 6e 6e#e both active Senio# T#ial la6%e#s of the 5au#el 5a6 Offices,0(:ne#sco#in& supplie),

he $no6in& that #eti#e 7ustice Ealalo ha neve# been at an% time a la6%e# at the 5au#el 5a6Offices. In suppo#t of this alle&ation, the% appene to the complaint a ce#tifie t#ue cop% of theSe#vice Reco#1of 7ustice Ealalo 6hich oes not sho6 that he 6as eve# connecte 6ith the5au#el 5a6 Office.

In thei# 4ns6e#-*to the complaint, Castillo an


4/15

In his 4ns6e#-Bto the Complaint in C'D Case No. *+--*0, Olive#os, ec#%in& the alle&ationsa&ainst him as patentl% false, baseless an malicious, claime that the complaint 6as Castillo;s6a% of #etaliatin& a&ainst him fo# havin& "oine 4sa in filin& the aminist#ative complainta&ainst him an -/*,3** f#om the &ua#ianship case on 4p#il -0,2***K (B) 4sa #efuse to account fo# an tu#n ove# the amount of >-+*,*** in atto#ne%;s fees6hich belon&e to him (Castillo)K an (3) 4sa emba#$e on a scheme to fo#ce him into #esi&nin&as counsel fo# D#. 5au#el to enable them to ee#cise absolute cont#ol ove# the &ua#ianship casean app#op#iate fo# themselves the atto#ne%;s fees allocate fo# him.

In his 4ns6e# to the Complaint-in C'D Case No. *+--*1, 4sa alle&e as follo6s@ It 6as infact Castillo 6ho #ene&e on thei# ?eb#ua#% -/, 2*** 4eement as the latte# ha ea#lie# bluntl%tol him that he chan&e his min an that he 6oul not &ive him (4sa) an% sha#e in the

atto#ne%;s fees he 6oul #eceive f#om the &ua#ianship case, Castillo #easonin& that he 6as thethe#ein counsel of #eco# an ha eno#se the case to the 5au#el 5a6 Offices. He thus #epo#tethe matte# to D#. 5au#el an info#me him that he 86oul li$e6ise not &ive Castillo;s sha#e in theatto#ne%;s fees he F4saG mi&ht #eceive because FCastilloG has no 6o# of hono#.8-0

4s #e&a#s the >2B,3** that he alle&el% sec#etl% poc$ete, 4sa eplaine that seve#al a%s p#io#to 4p#il -0, 2***, D#. 5au#el an 4tt%. Cassia% fie the atto#ne%;s fees of both Castillo an 4saat >-**,*** each, base on the amount to be pai b% the fou# hei#s o# >23,*** pe# hei#. hen thefi#st hei# Me#ceitas ?eliciano (Me#ceitas) pai >-,-3*,*** on 4p#il -0, 2***, he eposite>2B,3** of this amount in his an his 6ife;s "oint Dolla# 4ccount No. 2B*2123 at thePhilippine National 'an$ (PN'), O#ti&as '#anch as his sha#e in the atto#ne%;s fees, 6hile heopene a ne6 account in the name of D#. 5au#el to 6hich he eposite the amount of >-/*,3**.

4sa 6ent on to ecla#e that Castillo #eceive his o6n >23,*** plus inte#est amountin& to>23,*2+.-+ #ep#esentin& full pa%ment of his atto#ne%;s fees f#om Me#ceitas, as evience b% aReceipt-1ate Ma% 2, 2*** si&ne b% Castillo.

Continuin&, 4sa ecla#e that of the >-/*,3** belon&in& to D#. 5au#el, >-**,*** #ep#esentepa#tial pa%ment fo# his consentin& to be the &ua#ian ad litemof the Nonan hei#s an >/*,***
http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt14http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt15http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt16http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt18http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt19http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt14http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt15http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt16http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt18http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#fnt19


5/15

#ep#esente #eimbu#sement fo# epenses incu##e ove# seve#al %ea#s b% D#. 5au#el, the total of6hich 6as place tempo#a#il% on 4p#il -0, 2*** in his (4sa;s) Dolla# 4ccount No. 023****B+ in RC'C. D#. 5au#el, ho6eve#, 6ith#e6 >-/*,***.** the follo6in& a% f#om RC'C anplace it in his o6n Dolla# Time Deposit 4ccount fo# 6hich >3**.** 6as spent fo# the pu#pose.4 Ce#tification2*to this effect, issue b% RC'C O#ti&as 'usiness Cente# Mana&e# Dolo#es 5. Del

Valle, 6as appene to 4sa;s 4ns6e#.

?inall%, 4sa ecla#e that Castillo;s claim fo# >-+*,*** in atto#ne%;s fees is baseless anunconscionable, an that Castillo file the complaint me#el% to ha#ass him in #etaliation fo# thecomplaint he an Olive#os p#io#l% file a&ainst him an


6/15

Castillo li$e6ise file 6ith this Cou#t a Consoliate Omnibus Motion fo# Pa#tialReconsie#ation2ate 4u&ust 1, 2**B in C'D Case No. *+--*0 an C'D Case No. *+--*1.

On 7anua#% -2, 2**3, 4sa file his Comment20on Castillo;s Consoliate Omnibus Motion fo#Pa#tial Reconsie#ation in C'D Case No. *+--*1 6hile also Olive#os file his Comment on the

same motion on ?eb#ua#% 20, 2**3.

On Ma#ch -/, 2**3, Castillo file his Consoliate Repl% to the Comments of 4sa an Olive#os,6ith Omnibus Motion to 4ppoint a Commissione#.21

THIS CO:RT;S R:5IN-/*,3**, the unate

ce#tification issue b% RC'C '#anch Ope#ation Hea Dolo#es el Valle #eain&@

This is to ce#tif% that on 4p#il -0, 2***, M#. 5eon 5. 4sa opene a Dolla# Savin&s 4ccount at ou#'usiness Cente#. 4 c#eit 6as mae to his assi&ne Dolla# Savin&s 4ccount Numbe# 023****B+ in the amount of :S Dolla#s@ One Hun#e Sit% Thousan ?ive Hun#e (:SD@-/*,3**.**) as initial t#ansaction. e fu#the# ce#tif% that on 4p#il -1, 2***, the#e 6as a ebitmae fo# sai account in the amount of :S Dolla#s@ One Hun#e Sit% Thousan (:SD@-/*,***.**) an that same amount 6as place in the Dolla# Time Deposit 4ccount of Salvao#H. 5au#el. M#. 5eon 4sa left the amount of :SD@ ?ive Hun#e in his account to se#ve as themaintainin& balance #eAui#ement. Sub"ect Dolla# Savin&s 4ccount ha close al#ea%,B

an D#. 5au#el Pa#tial Invento#%, 4ccount an Repo#t of


10/15

valiate 4sa;s eplanation that the amount of >-/*,3** belon&e to D#. 5au#el but 6as me#el%tempo#a#il% place in his (4sa;s) account.

The Pa#tial Invento#%, 4ccount an Repo#t of -2,3** 6as #eceive b% 4saas atto#ne%;s fees fo# assistin& D#. 5au#el an Castillo f#om -11/ to 2***.3*Confi#min& such

isbu#sement is a Receipt3-

ate 4p#il -0, 2*** si&ne b% 4sa. The #emainin& >-2,3** of the>23,*** atto#ne%;s fees of 4sa pe# hei# (as p#io#l% aee upon b% D#. 5au#el an Cassia%) 6e#e#emitte b% 4sa to the 5au#el 5a6 Offices as Official Receipt No. -//32issue b% thet#easu#e#=cashie# of the 5au#el 5a6 Offices ate 4p#il -1, 2*** sho6s@

R!C!IV!D f#om 4tt%. 5eon 5. 4sa the sum of T6elve thousan five hun#e :S Dolla#s:S>-2,3**.** as fift% pe#cent (3*L) sha#e of 55O F5au#el 5a6 OfficesG in atto#ne%;s fees of:S>23,*** of 4tt%. 4sa in SP P#oc. 3222 of RTC 4n&eles Cit%, '#. 31.

Cash.:S>-2,3**

'%@ S&.

T#easu#e#=Cashie#

On 4sa;s alle&e un"ust #efusal to tu#n ove# Castillo;s atto#ne%;s fees@ It appea#s that 4sa anCastillo each #eceive >23,*** as atto#ne%;s fees but pu#suant to thei# ?eb#ua#% 2*** 4eement,the a&e&ate amount of >3*,*** 6oul be ivie bet6een them, an Castillo 6oul #eceive3L the#eof o# >+,3**, 6hile 4sa 6oul #eceive 23L o# >-2,3**. The #eco#s sho6 that 4sa$ept onl% >-2,3** fo# himself, he havin& #emitte, as #eflecte above, the #emainin& >-2,3** tothe 5au#el 5a6 Offices.

D#. 5au#el eventuall% &ave Castillo >-*,*** out of the >-2,3** 6hich 4sa #emitte to the 5au#el5a6 Offices, as #eflecte in the Pa#tial Invento#%, 4ccount an Repo#t of


11/15

4 final 6o#. The spectacle of membe#s of the ba# bein& en&a&e in bic$e#in& an #ec#iminationis fa# f#om eif%in&. Mutual bic$e#in&s an un"ustifie #ec#iminations bet6een b#othe# atto#ne%set#act f#om the i&nit% of the le&al p#ofession an 6ill not #eceive an% s%mpath% f#om thisCou#t.3/Pe#sonal colloAuies bet6een counsels 6hich p#omote unseeml% 6#an&lin& shoul thusbe ca#efull% avoie.3

It appea#s that Castillo ha p#eviousl% been suspene fo# Si (/) Months b% this Cou#t in C'DCase No. -/,"on(alonta v. Castillo,30fo# committin& falsehoo in violation of his la6%e#;soath an of the Coe of P#ofessional Responsibilit%. He 6as then 6a#ne that commission of thesame o# simila# offense in the futu#e 6oul call fo# the imposition of a mo#e seve#e penalt%. ThisCou#t thus imposes upon him a penalt% of suspension f#om the p#actice of la6 fo# a pe#io ofOne (-) %ea#.

ERE/ORE, the aminist#ative cases file a&ainst 4tt%. 5eon 5. 4sa an 4tt%. 7ose 4.Olive#os a#e D)SM)SSED.

4tt%.


12/15

PRESB)TERO . *E%ASCO, R.

4ssociate 7ustice

/oot&otes

-Rollo, pp. -/20.

2I.at 2-.

+I. at --3.

BI. at 0.

3I.at -22-2+.

/I. at +3+0.

I.at -2/-+3.

0I.at -20.

1I. at -+/.

-*I.at -+2*3.

--

I. at -0B.

-2I. at -00.

-+I.at -*-*00.

-BI.at -*1B---B.

-3I.at B3/B/1.

-/I. at B2.

-I.at B03-+.

-0I. at B00.

-1I.at 3B-.

2*I. at 32.
http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt1http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt2http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt3http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt4http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt5http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt6http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt7http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt8http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt9http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt10http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt11http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt12http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt13http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt14http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt15http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt16http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt18http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt19http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt20http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt1http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt2http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt3http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt4http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt5http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt6http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt7http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt8http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt9http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt10http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt11http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt12http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt13http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt14http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt15http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt16http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt17http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt18http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt19http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt20


13/15

2-I.at --+-22B.

22I.at /0/10.

2+I. at /1/10.

2BI. at /03/0/.

23I.at +13+.

2/I.at -1+.

2I.at **-2.

20I.at 0*00.

21

I.at -*23-*B.

+*I. at 2-.

+-*i!afort v. "ansil, 4.C. No. /210, Ma% 2, 2**B, B21 SCR4 -1B, 2*- (2**B) (citationomitte).

+2"uenaseda v. +lavier,


14/15

B+"autista v. Gon%ales, 4.M. No. -/23, ?eb#ua#% -2, -11*, -02 SCR4 -3-, -/+.

BB)ilva &da. de +a-ardo v. "u(arin(, 4.C. No. 3--+, Octobe# , 2**B, BB* SCR4 -/*,---2.

B3

'olentino v. Jud(e Caral, +03 Phil. /+-, /32 (2***).

B/Muo% v. People, -32 Phil. 3*, 333/ (-1+).

B*ollo, p. 32.

B0I. at 3203+/.

B1I. at 3213+-.

3*I. at 3+*.

3-Pasi& Cit%, Met#o Manila

-0 4p#il 2***

R ! C ! I P T

:S>-2,3**.**

Receive f#om D#. Salvao# H. 5au#el,


15/15

3BI. at -+-0.

33(-) to investi&ate an ete#mine the liabilit% of 4n&eles Cit% RTC "u&es, p#osecuto#san la6%e#s 6ho facilitate the escape of 'en"amin Cassia% III f#om the Philippines,espite the eistence of a hol epa#tu#e o#e# an the penenc% of the embe99lement

case a&ainst him involvin& the estate funs of >13*,***K (2) to #ein an $eep in to6 theiffe#ent RTC "u&es of 4n&eles Cit% to obse#ve st#ict fielit% to thei# oath an to atten6ith ispatch the 6elfa#e an 6ell bein& of the Nonan chil#en b% appointin& a#espectable an c#eible &ua#ian an in isposin& the va#ious lon& penin& incients ofthe &ua#ianship caseK (+) to #escue the Nonan chil#en 6ho have no house an lot ofthei# o6n espite thei# eno#mous 6ealth an 6hose health an 6elfa#e a#e also bein&ne&lecte an ta$en fo# ante b% the ne6l% appointe &ua#ian an the &ua#ianshipcou#t, (B) to compel the substitution of the hei#s of the late &ua#ian to &ua#antee the#estitution of the missin& estate funs an (3) to compel the ne6 &ua#ian to post a bonan #epat#iate epeitiousl% the #emainin& estate funs of >-,3B-,-22.3 to thePhilippines to enable the &ua#ianship cou#t to cont#ol an ee#cise "u#isiction ove# the

same.3/Atty. *eyes v. Atty. Chion(, Jr.,B3+ Phil. -**, -*/ (2**+) (citations omitte),People v.Atty. )esreno, 2-3 Phil. B--, B-0 (-10B) (citation omitte),Narido v. Atty. $insan(an,-3 Phil. 0, 1- (-1B).

3Canon -, Canons of P#ofessional !thics.

30+-* Phil. +2* (-113).

The 5a6phil P#o"ect 4#ellano 5a6 ?ounation
http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt54http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt55http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt56http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt57http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt58http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt54http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt55http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt56http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt57http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/aug2006/ac_6501_2006.html#rnt58

rudecon vs. camacho

Documents