CAYETANO VS.

MONSOD
201 SCRA 210, Sept. 3, 1991
FACTS:
Respondent Christian Monsod was nominated by resident A!"ino to the position o# Chairman
o# the Come$e% in a $etter re%ei&ed by the Se%retariat o# the Commission on Appointment. etitioner
Renato Cayetano opposed the nomination and %ha$$en'ed his s"bse!"ent CA %on(rmation be%a"se
a$$e'ed$y Monsond does not possess the re!"ired !"a$i(%ation o# ha&in' been en'a'ed in the pra%ti%e
o# $aw #or at $east 10 years.
)SS*+:
,hether or not Monsod has been en'a'ed in the pra%ti%e o# $aw #or at $east 10 years.
-+./:
)nterpreted in the $i'ht o# &ario"s de(nitions o# the term 0pra%ti%e o# $aw,1 parti%"$ar$y the
modern %on%ept o# $aw, and ta2in' into %onsideration the $ibera$ %onstr"%tion intended by the #ramers
o# the Constit"tion, Atty. Monsod past wor2 e3perien%e as a $awyer4e%onomists, a $awyer4mana'er, a
$awyer4entreprene"r o# ind"stry, a $awyer4ne'otiator o# %ontra%ts, and a $awyer4$e'is$ator o# both the
ri%h and the poor satis#y the Constit"tiona$ re!"irements that he has been en'a'ed in the pra%ti%e o#
$aw #or at $east 10 years.
MAURICIO C. ULEP vs. THE LEGAL CLINIC
5M 663. 7"ne 18, 1993
FACTS:
*$ep prays to the S"preme Co"rt to order the respondent to %ease and desist #rom iss"in'
ad&ertisements whi%h are meant to ind"%e the per#orman%e o# a%ts %ontrary to $aw, mora$s, p"b$i%
order and p"b$i% po$i%y and to perpet"a$$y prohibit persons or entities #rom ma2in' ad&ertisements
pertainin' to the e3er%ise o# the $aw pro#ession other than those a$$owed by $aw.
.e'a$ C$ini% admits the #a%ts o# p"b$i%ation o# said ad&ertisement that %$aims that it was not
en'a'e in the pra%ti%e o# $aw b"t in the renderin' o# $e'a$ s"pport ser&i%es thro"'h para$e'a$s with the
"se o# modern %omp"ters and e$e%troni% ma%hine.
)SS*+:
,hether or not the ser&i%es o9ered by .e'a$ C$ini% as ad&ertised by it %onstit"te pra%ti%e o#
$aw.
-+./:
The "se o# the name .e'a$ C$ini% 'i&es the impression that the respondent %orporation is bein'
mana'ed by $awyers and that it renders $e'a$ ser&i%es. The ad&ertisement in !"estion is meant to
ind"%e the per#orman%e o# a%ts %ontrary to $aw, mora$s, p"b$i% order and p"b$i% po$i%y. This &io$ates
Canon 1.01 that is %o"nse$$in' i$$e'a$ a%ti&ities.
ra%ti%e o# $aw means any a%ti&ity, in or o"t o# %o"rt whi%h re!"ire the app$i%ation o# $aw, $e'a$
pro%ed"res, 2now$ed'e, trainin' and e3perien%e. App$yin' the %ase o# Cayetano &s. Monsod, the %o"rt
a'reed that the a%ti&ities o# the respondent .e'a$ C$ini% %onstit"te the pra%ti%e o# $aw. S"%h %on%$"sion
wi$$ not be a$tered by the #a%t that respondent did not represent %$ients in %o"rt sin%e $aw pra%ti%e is
not $imited mere$y to %o"rt appearan%es.
ATTY. VICENTE RAUL ALMACEN vs. VIRGINIA Y. YAPTINCHAY
:.R. ;o. .428<6=. Febr"ary 1>, 1980
FACTS:
Atty.?i%ente Ra"$ Ama%en ($ed by etition to S"rrender .awyer@s Certi(%ate o# Tit$e in protest
a'ainst what he therein assets as a 'reat inA"sti%e %ommitted a'ainst his %$ient by the S"preme Co"rt.
The p$eadin' he ($ed %ontains %riti%ism, inso$ent, %ontempt"o"s, 'ross$y disrespe%t#"$ and
dere'oratory remar2s a'ainst the %o"rt as we$$ as its indi&id"a$ members.
)SS*+:
,hether or not Atty. A$ma%en wi$$ be s"bAe%ted to dis%ip$inary a%tion o# the %o"rt.
-+./:
,e$$4re%o'niBed is the ri'ht o# a $awyer, both as ab oC%er o# the %o"rt and as %itiBen, to
%riti%iBe in proper$y respe%t#"$ terms and thro"'h $e'itimate %hanne$s the a%ts o# %o"rts and A"d'es. )ts
a %itiBen and an oC%er o# the %o"rt, a $awyer is e3pe%ted not on$y to e3er%ise the ri'ht, b"t a$so to
%onsider it as his d"ty to a&ai$ s"%h ri'ht. -is demonstrated persisten%e in his mis%ond"%t by neither
mani#estin' repentan%e nor o9erin' apo$o'y, the %o"rt r"$ed that Atty. Ama%er be s"spended #rom the
pra%ti%e o# $aw "nti$ #"rther orders.
IN RE: CUNANAN
9= hi$ 63= D196=E
FACTS:
This %ase is abo"t the 05ar F"n2ers A%t o# 19631 or RA 982 whi%h pro&ides that these who
obtained a 'enera$ a&era'e o# $ess than 86F o# a$$ s"bAe%t with $ess than 60F in any s"bAe%t wi$$ be
permitted to ta2e and s"bs%ribe the %orrespondin' oath o# oC%e as member o# the 5ar
notwithstandin' that the r"$es re!"ire a minim"m 'enera$ a&era'e o# 86F with no 'rade be$ow 60F in
any s"bAe%ts whi%h has been #o$$owed sin%e 1960.
)SS*+:
,hether or not RA 982 is &a$id.
-+./:
)n de%reein' that bar %andidates who obtained in the bar e3aminations, a 'enera$ a&era'e o#
80F witho"t #ai$in' be$ow 60F in any s"bAe%t be s"bmitted in mass to the pra%ti%e o# $aw, is not a $aw
or $e'is$ation.
Con'ress may repea$, a$ter and s"pp$ement the r"$es prom"$'ated by this %o"rt, b"t the
a"thority and responsibi$ity o&er the admission, s"spension, disbarment and reinstatement o#
attorneys4at4$aw and their s"per&ision remain &ested in the S"preme Co"rt.
Conse!"ent$y, a$$ those %andidates who #ai$ed in the e3aminations o# 19=< to 1962 in%$"si&e
are denied an a$$ %andidates who obtained a 'enera$ a&era'e o# 81.6F or more witho"t ha&in' a #ai$in'
'rade be$ow 60F in any s"bAe%t are %onsidered pass whether they ha&e ($ed the petitions #or
admission or not.
BAR MATTER NO. 702
Detition to A"thoriBed Sharia@h /istri%t Co"rt 7"d'es to Appoint Shari@a .awyers as ;otaries "b$i%,
Atty. Royo M. :ampon'E
FACTS:
etitioner Royo M :ampon', a 5a%he$or o# .aws D..5E 'rad"ate who was admitted to the
hi$ippine Sharia 5ar in G%tober 8, 1991, ($ed a petition that the %o"rt a#ter d"e noti%e and hearin'.
)ss"e on other a"thority a$$ Shari@a /istri%t Co"rt 7"d'es to appoint Shari@a .awyers who passes the
!"a$i(%ations and non o# the dis!"a$i(%ations as notaries p"b$i% within their respe%ti&e A"risdi%tions.
etitioner %$aims that by ana$o'y, Shari@a /istri%t Co"rt 7"d'es maybe a"thoriBed to appoint
the members o# the hi$ippine Shari@a 5ar, sin%e the Shari@ /istri%t Co"rt are %o4e!"a$ with the re'"$ar
Re'iona$ Tria$ Co"rts in the hierar%hy o# the hi$ippine 7"di%ia$ System.
)SS*+H
,hether or not Shariah /istri%t Co"rt 7"d'es may appoint Shari@a .awyers ;otaries "b$i%.
-+./:
Shari@a /istri%t Co"rts do not #orm part o# the inte'rated A"di%ia$ system o# the hi$ippines. The
Shari@a Co"rts are mentioned in Se%tion =6 o# . ;. ;o. 10>3 DCode o# M"s$im ersona$ .aws o# the
hi$ippinesE on$y #or the p"rpose o# in%$"din' them in the #"ndin' appropriations. Shari@a %o"rts are not
o# e!"a$ #ootin' or are identi%a$ with re'"$ar %o"rt. The !"a$i(%ation #or appointment as a A"d'e o# a
Shari@a /istri%t Co"rt are di9erent #rom those re%o'niBe o# a A"d'e o# RTC "nder Se%tion 16 o# 5 129.
)t m"st be made %$ear in this re'ard that sin%e a person who has passed the Shari@a 5ar
+3amination does not a"tomati%a$$y be%ome a re'"$ar member o# the hi$ippine 5ar. Gn$y a person
d"$y admitted as member o# the hi$ippine 5ar in a%%ordan%e with the R"$es o# Co"rt Se%tion 1, R"$e
13> are entit$ed to pra%ti%e $aw be#ore the re'"$ar %o"rts.
A person who passed the Shari@a 5ar +3amination is on$y a spe%ia$ member o# the hi$ippine
5ar and not a #"$$4p$ed'ed member thereo# e&en i# he ho$ds a 5a%he$or o# .aws /e'ree, he is not
!"a$i(ed to pra%ti%e $aw be#ore #"$$ Re'"$ar Co"rts. As a 'enera$ r"$e, a Shari@a .awyer is not possessed
o# the basi% re!"isite o# 0pra%ti%e o# $aw1 in order to be appointed as a notary p"b$i% "nder Se%tion 233
o# the ;ationa$ .aw in re$ation to Se%tion 1, R"$e 13> o# the Re&ised R"$es o# Co"rt.
,here#ore, the petition t a"thorities Shari@a /istri%t Co"rt 7"d'es to appoint Shari@a .awyers as
notaries p"b$i% in their respe%ti&e A"risdi%tion is /+;)+/.
ASHARI ALAWI VS. SDHIA ALAUYA
A.M. S/C 98424 Febr"ary 28, 1998
FACTS:
etitioner A$awi ($ed a %omp$iant a'ainst A$a"ya a$$e'in%y that Respondent A$a"ya %ommitted
ma$i%io"s and $ibe$o"s %har'es and "s"rped the tit$e o# Attorney.
A$a"ya was 'ranted a ho"sin' $oan and a "nit thro"'h A$awi@s a'en%y. S"bse!"ent$y, A$a"ya
wrote a $etter to the resident o# ?i$$arosa ad&isin' termination o# his %ontra%t on the 'ro"nds that his
%onsent was &itiated by 'ross misrepresentation, de%eit, #ra"d, dishonesty and ab"se o# %on(den%e by
A$awi.
A$ways bein' an in%"mbent e3e%"ti&e %$er2 o# %o"rt o# =
th
7"di%ia$ Shari@a /istri%t in A$awi, "se
the tit$e Attorney, whi%h he A"sti(ed it by assertion that it is synonymo"s with %o"nse$$ors4at4$aw. -e
pre#erred to "se Attorney be%a"se %o"nse$or is o#ten mista2en #or %o"n%i$or.
)SS*+:
,hether or not A$a"ya is entit$ed to "se the appe$$ation Attorney.
-+./:
A$a"ya@s "s"rpation o# the tit$e 0Attorney,1 the %o"rt has de%$ared that persons who passed the
Shari@a 5ar are not #"$$4Ied'ed members o# the hi$ippine 5ar. -is disin%$ination to "se the tit$e
0Co"nse$$or1 does not warrant his "se o# the tit$e 0Attorney.1
JESUS CUI VS. ANTONIO CUI
FACTS:
This %ase is abo"t the respe%ti&e !"a$i(%ations o# 7es"s C"i and Antonio C"i to the position o#
administrati&e o# -ospi%io de San 7ose de 5arii, a %haritab$e instit"tion estab$ished by /on edro C"i
and /ona 5eni'na C"i. 7es"s and Antonio instit"tion. Antonio@s %$aim to the position is based on a 0
Con&enio1 where the administrator Teodoro resi'ned in #a&or o# him, 7es"s howe&er, had pre#erred
p"rs"ant to the deed o# donation as he is o$der.
The deed, howe&er, 'i&es pre#eren%e to a des%endent who has 0tit"$o de ab"'do1 or a do%tor,
or a %i&i$ en'ineer, or pharma%istH or to the one who pays the hi'hest ta3es. 7es"s ho$d the de'ree o#
5a%he$or o# .aws b"t is not a member o# the 5ar, whi$e Antonio is a member o# the 5ar, tho"'h he was
#ormer$y disbarred by the SC, b"t was A"st reinstated wee2s be#ore ass"min' the position.
)SS*+:
,ho has a better ri'ht to the position o#administator between 7ose and AnotonioJ
-+./:
A;TG;)G. The term 0tit"$o de abo'ado1 is not A"st mere possession o# the a%ademi% de'ree o#
5a%he$or o# $aws b"t membership on the bar a#ter d"e admission thereto, !"a$i#yin' one to the pra%ti%e
o# $aw. ossession to the de'ree is not dispensab$e to !"a$i#y das $awyers sin%e %omp$etion o# the
pres%ribed %o"rses maybe shown in some other way.
There#ore, Antonio has the better ri'ht to her position o# administrator %onsiderin' that he is a
member o# the bar, tho"'h he was A"st reinstated. This reinstated is a re%o'nition o# his mora$
rehabi$itation.

); R+: ART-*R CAST)..G R+K+S D1993E
FACTS:
etitioner 'rad"ated #rom * Co$$e'e o# .aw in 1993H passed the 5ar in 1939H ind"%ted to and
ser&ed in the *S Armed For%es in the Far +ast d"rin' ,,)) and th"s be%ame e$i'ib$e #or %itiBenship
"nder the 1990 *S )mmi'ration A%tH be%ame a nat"ra$iBed %itiBen o# the *S in 1993. -is name was
stro2e #rom the Ro$$ o# Attorneys on the 'ro"nds that on$y Fi$ipino CitiBens may pra%ti%e $aw in the
hi$ippines as pres%ribed by the Constit"tion and the R"$es o# Co"rt, 2 R"$e 13>.
)SS*+:
,hether or not the etitioner@s name ne remo&ed #rom the ro$$.
-+./:
K+S, be%a"se a Fi$ipino %itiBen admitted to the hi$ippine 5ar m"st maintain s"%h %itiBenship to
remain !"a$i(ed #or the pra%ti%e o# $aw in this %o"ntry.
JULIETA NARAG vs. ATTY DOMINADOR NARAG
291 SCRA =61. 7"ne 29, 199>
FACTS:
Mrs. ;ara' ($ed an administrati&e %omp$aint o# disbarment a'ainst her h"sband Atty.
/ominador ;ara' #or a$$e'ed$y abandonin' his #ami$y and ha&in' a paramo"r who was on%e his
st"dent. A#ter se&era$ hearin's, the #a%ts be%ame %$ear, that the respondent indeed abandoned his
#ami$y based on testimonia$ e&iden%es. )n addition, the assai$ed re$ationship bore two %hi$dren.
)SS*+:
,hether or not respondent is '"i$ty o# 'ross immora$ity and #or ha&in' &io$ated the Code o#
+thi%s #or .awyers.
FACTS:
K+S, be%a"se the %omp$ainant was ab$e to estab$ish by %$ear and %on&in%in' e&iden%e that the
respondent brea%hed the hi'h and e3a%tin' mora$ standards set #or the members o# the $aw
pro#ession. :ood mora$ %hara%ter is not on$y a %ondition pre%edent to the pra%ti%e o# $aw, b"t a
%ontin"in' !"a$i(%ation #or a$$ members o# the 5ar. -en%e, Atty. /ominador ;ara' is '"i$ty o# 'ross
immora$ity and be disbarred.
SPOUSES OLBES vs. ATTY. VICTOR DECIEMBRE
=68 SCRA 3=1
FACTS:
Atty. ?i%tor /e%iembre was s"spended #rom the pra%ti%e o# $aw #or two years d"e to ($$in' "p o#
the #o"r b$an2 %he%2s o&er the spe%i(ed amo"nt whi%h was dishonored by the ban2 #or ins"C%ien%y o#
#"nds.
)SS*+:
,hether or not the s"spension o# Atty. /e%iembre was in a%%ord with his #a"$t.
-+./:
A $awyer is an oath4bo"nd ser&ant o# so%iety. /e%eption and other #ra"d"$ent a%ts are not
mere$y "na%%eptab$e pra%ti%es that are dis'ra%e#"$ and dishonorab$eH they re&ea$ the basi% mora$ Iaw.
Considerin' the depra&ity o# the o9ense %ommitted by respondent, the %o"rt #o"nd the pena$ty
re%ommended by )5 to be mi$d. -is mis"se o# the ($$ed4"p %he%2s that $ed to detention o# one
petitioner is $oathsome. Th"s, he is senten%ed s"spended inde(nite$y #rom the pra%ti%e o# $aw.
IN RE: ARGOSINO. A.M. No. 712
7"$y 13, 1996
FACTS:
Ar'osino was pre&io"s$y in&o$&ed with haBin' that %a"sed the death o# Ra"$ Cama$i'an b"t was
senten%ed with homi%ide thro"'h re%2$ess impr"den%e a#ter he p$eaded '"i$ty. -e was senten%ed with
2 years imprisonment where he app$ied #or a probation therea#ter whi%h was 'ranted by the %o"rt with
2 years@ probation. -e ($ed a petition to a$$ow him to ta2e the attorney@s oath o# oC%e a&errin' that
his probation was a$ready terminated. The %o"rt noted that he spent on$y 10 months o# the probation
period be#ore it was terminated.
)SS*+:
,hether or not Ar'osino may ta2e oath o# oC%e.
FACTS:
The %o"rt "phe$d the pri%ipp$es o# maintainin' the 'ood mora$s o# a$$ 5ar Members, 2eepin' in
mind that s"%h is o# 'reater importan%e so #ar as the 'enera$ p"b$i% and the proper administration o#
A"sti%e are %on%erned, than the possession o# $e'a$ $earnin'. -en%e, Ar'osino was as2ed by the %o"rt
to prod"%e e&iden%e that wo"$d %erti#y that he has re#ormed and be%ame a responsib$e member o# the
%omm"nity thro"'h sworn statements o# indi&id"a$s who ha&e 'ood rep"tation #or tr"th and who ha&e
a%t"a$$y 2nown Mr. Ar'osino #or a si'ni(%ant period o# time to %erti#y that he is mora$$y (t to the
admission o# the $aw pro#ession.