A.C. No. 4355 Atty Aguire v. Atty. Reyes PDF

ATTY. PEDRO B. AGUIRRE vs. ATTY. CRISPIN T.
REYES
A.C. No. 4355, January 8, 2020
LAZARO-JAVIER, J.:
Duty/ies Duty of a lawyer to the Society, to the Client, and to the Court.
involved/
Topic/s Penalty for violating Canon 8.01
discussed
Canon 3.01 - A Lawyer shall not use or permit the use of any false,
Relevant fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, undignified, self-laudatory or unfair
canon/s and statement or claim regarding his qualifications or legal services.
rule/s
Canon 8.01 - A Lawyer shall not, in his professional dealings, use
language which is abusive, offensive or otherwise improper;
in relation to Canon 19.01 - A Lawyer shall employ only fair and
honest means to attain the lawful objectives of his client and shall not
present, participate in presenting or threaten to present unfounded
criminal charges to obtain an improper advantage in any case or
proceeding.
Canon 10.03 - A Lawyer shall observe the rules of procedure and shall
not misuse them to defeat the ends of justice;
in relation to Rule 12.02 - A lawyer shall not file multiple actions
arising from the same cause.
Doctrine/s A disbarment case is sui generis for it is neither purely civil or purely
criminal, but is rather an investigation by the Court into the conduct of
its officers. Hence, an administrative proceeding for disbarment
continues despite the desistance of a complainant, or failure of the
complainant to prosecute the same.
The unilateral decision of a complainant to withdraw from an

administrative complaint, or even his death, does not prevent the Court
from imposing sanctions upon the parties subject to its administrative
supervision.
FACTS:
On December 1, 1994, complainant, Atty. Aguirre alleged that respondent, Atty. Reyes violated
Rule 3.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility by making false claims in his memo addressed to the
Board of Directors of Banco Filipino such as: “Undersigned counsel was instrumental in winning the
Supreme Court case,” ; and that he made “special arrangements” to win the case. The complainant said
that these amounted to false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, undignified, self-laudatory or unfair
statements or claims regarding his qualifications or legal services.
The complainant also said that the respondent also violated Rule 8.01 in relation to Rule 19.01
when he drafted a confidential/restricted memo dated March 28, 1994 addressed to all Banco Filipino
directors and executive officers, as well as an Amended Complaint in Rodriguez et al v. Tala Realty
Services Corp. et al, which he wrote on behalf of the minority stockholders of Banco Filipino and
addressed it to all concerned individuals at Tala Realty Corporation where he stated:
“Truly, we have here the biggest bank fraud involving over 1 Billion of Banco Filipino properties sold by
simulation contracts to Tala, controlled by parties who were then BF Directors and now want the
properties for themselves. Once litigated, the bank will be affected and damaged, while the good name,
reputation, honesty and integrity of the 3 principal parties behind this sophisticated “plunder” will be
destroyed. Hence, the litigation should be avoided. This delicate case has to be resolved now
confidentially and amicably to avoid disastrous scandal for all parties concerned.
The 3 principals behind/controlling Tala Realty should now be guided by their conscience. They are
already very very rich. Their immense fortune can neither be taken beyond the grave while their
children’s children will still continue to live in abundance and luxury for all time.” These statements
were, also alleged by the complainant, abusive, offensive, or otherwise improper. It transcended the
permissible bounds of legitimate criticism.
In respondent’s defense, the language he used in his memo and amended complaint was not
abusive or offensive. The words were apt, vivid, picturesque, proper, and elegant. After due proceedings,
the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Commission on Bar Discipline under Order dated February 2, 2006
directed the parties to manifest if they were still interested in pursuing the cases to which they both
expressed interest to continue. Another round of proceedings were held after which the parties submitted
their respective memoranda, dated July and August 2006. Since then nothing has come out of the case, no
proceedings of any kind were held and the parties alternated having this case moved from one setting to
another.
The IBP-CBD recommended the dismissal of the complaint because the complainant died on
September 6, 2013 and that the respondent is now a centenarian and long retired from the practice of law.
ISSUE:
Should the complaint for disbarment against Atty. Reyes still proceed despite the death of Atty.
Aguirre.
Was Atty. Reyes liable for violation of Rule 8.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
RULING:
Yes. A disbarment case is sui generis for it is neither purely civil or purely criminal, but is rather
an investigation by the Court into the conduct of its officers. Hence, an administrative proceeding for
disbarment continues despite the desistance of a complainant, or failure of the complainant to prosecute
the same. The unilateral decision of a complainant to withdraw from an administrative complaint, or even
his death, does not prevent the Court from imposing sanctions upon the parties subject to its
administrative supervision. Thus, the Court ruled for the administrative case to continue.
Yes. Although a lawyer’s language may be forceful and emphatic, it should always be dignified
and respectful, befitting the dignity of the legal profession. The use of intemperate language and unkind
ascriptions has no place in the dignity of the judicial forum. The Court found the statements uncalled for
and malicious, if not, defamatory. They constitute a personal attack against the persons being referred to
as much as they were no longer relevant to the cases involving Banco Filipino and Tala Realty
Corporation at that time.
As for his penalty (violation of Rule 8.01) , it was ordained in Saberon: that upon the
complainant's plea that respondent be disbarred, this Court has consistently considered disbarment and
suspension of an attorney as the most severe forms of disciplinary action, which should be imposed with
great caution. They should be meted out only for duly proven serious administrative charges.Thus, while
respondent is guilty of using infelicitous language, such transgression is not of a grievous character as to
merit the respondent’s disbarment. In light of the respondent’s apologies, the Court finds it best to temper
the penalty for his infraction, which, under the circumstances, is considered simple, rather than grave,
misconduct. Thus, applying Saberon, Atty. Reyes is guilty of simple misconduct for which he was fined
Php 2, 000.00.

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ATTY. PEDRO B. AGUIRRE vs. ATTY. CRISPIN T.

A.C. No. 4355, January 8, 2020

The unilateral decision of a complainant to withdraw from an

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