EN BANC

[A.C. No. 4148. July 30, 1998]

REMEDIOS RAMIREZ TAPUCAR, complainant, vs. ATTY. AURO . TAPUCAR, respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PER CURIAM!
In a letter-complaint dated November 22, 1993, complainant Remedios Ramirez Tapcar so!"t t"e
disbarment o# "er "sband, Att$% &aro &% Tapcar, on t"e !rond o# continin! !rossl$ immoral condct #or
co"abitin! 'it" a certain Elena ()elen* +e,a nder scandalos circmstances%-1.
+rior to t"is complaint, respondent 'as alread$ administrativel$ c"ar!ed #or times #or condct nbecomin!
an o##icer o# t"e cort% in Administrative /atter No% 1012, resolved on April 11, 1932, respondent, at t"at time t"e
4d!e o# Btan Cit$, 'as meted t"e penalt$ o# si5 mont"s sspension 'it"ot pa$,-2. '"ile in Administrative
/atter Nos% 1022, 1911 and 2322-C6I, '"ic" 'ere consolidated,-3. t"is Cort on 4anar$ 31, 1931 ordered t"e
separation #rom service o# respondent%-1.
No' "e #aces disbarment%
T"e records reveal t"e #ollo'in! #acts7
6rom t"e Report and Recommendation o# t"e Commission on Bar 8iscipline, it appears t"at complainant
and respondent 'ere married on 9ctober 29, 19:3 at t"e ;acred )eart Roman Cat"olic C"rc" in <ezon
Cit$% T"e$ establis"ed t"eir residence in Antipolo, Rizal, 'ere ei!"t o# t"eir eleven c"ildren 'ere born% In 19=2
respondent relocated "is #amil$ to 8adian!as, Cotabato (No' >eneral ;antos Cit$*, '"ere "is last t"ree c"ildren
'ere born and '"ere "e practiced "is pro#ession ntil "is appointment as a C6I 4d!e in Btan Cit$ on 4anar$
32, 190=%
In A!st, 190=, s"ortl$ a#ter bein! appointed as C6I 4d!e, respondent be!an co"abitin! 'it" a certain
Elena ()elen* +e,a, in Nasipit, A!san 8el Norte% 9n 8ecember 23, 1900 Elena !ave birt" to t"eir #irst c"ild,
named 9#elia ;embrano +e,a%
In vie' o# t"is co"abitation, a certain Att$% Tran?ilino Calo #iled an administrative complaint a!ainst
respondent #or immoralit$% A#ter investi!ation, t"e penalt$ o# sspension #rom o##ice #or a period o# si5 mont"s
'it"ot pa$ 'as meted b$ t"is Cort pon respondent%-:.
8espite t"is penalt$, respondent still contined to co"abit 'it" Elena, !ivin! rise to anot"er c"ar!e o#
immoralit$ and ot"er administrative cases, sc" as condct nbecomin! an o##icer o# t"e cort, and !rossl$
immoral condct% T"ese cases 'ere consolidated and a#ter investi!ation, t"is Cort ordered "is dismissal and
separation #rom t"e service%-=.
Bt "is dismissal as a @d!e did not impel respondent to mend "is 'a$s% )e contined livin! 'it" Elena,
'"ic" reslted in t"e birt" on ;eptember 22, 1939, o# t"eir second c"ild named &aella +e,a Tapcar% /oreover,
"e completel$ abandoned complainant and "is c"ildren b$ "er%
Respondent later moved #rom Nasipit, A!san del Norte bacA to Antipolo, Rizal, brin!in! alon! Elena and
t"eir t'o c"ildren% And on /arc" :, 1992, respondent contracted marria!e 'it" Elena in a ceremon$
solemnized b$ /etropolitan Trial Cort 4d!e Isa!ani A% >eronimo o# Antipolo, Rizal% T"is 'as done '"ile t"e
respondentBs marria!e to complainant sbsists, as not"in! on record s"o's t"e dissoltion t"ereo#%
Complainant, in t"e mean'"ile, "ad mi!rated to Cnited ;tates o# America pon "er retirement #rom t"e
!overnment service in 1992% )o'ever, "er c"ildren, '"o remained in Antipolo, Aept "er posted o# t"e miser$
t"e$ alle!edl$ s##ered becase o# t"eir #at"erBs acts, incldin! deception and intri!es a!ainst t"em% T"s,
despite "avin! previosl$ 'it"dra'n a similar case '"ic" s"e #iled in 190=, complainant 'as #orced to #ile t"e
present petition #or disbarment nder t"e complsion o# t"e material implse to s"ield and protect "er c"ildren
#rom t"e despotic and crel acts o# t"eir o'n #at"er% Complainant secred t"e assistance o# "er eldest da!"ter,
Att$% /a% ;sana Tapcar-Baa, to represent "er in t"is case%
Consistent 'it" ;ection 22, Rle 139-B o# t"e Rles o# Cort, t"e matter 'as re#erred to t"e Commission on
Bar 8iscipline o# t"e Inte!rated Bar o# t"e +"ilippines #or investi!ation, report and recommendation% A#ter
condctin! a t"oro!" investi!ation, t"e Commission t"ro!" Commissioner Dictor C% 6ernandez recommended
t"at respondent be disbarred, and "is name be stricAen o## t"e roll o# attorne$s% /ainl$, t"is 'as premised on
t"e !rond t"at, not'it"standin! sanctions previosl$ imposed pon "im b$ t"e )onorable ;preme Cort,
respondent contined t"e illicit liaison 'it" Elena%-0.
In "is report Commissioner 6ernandez noted t"at, instead o# contradictin! t"e c"ar!es a!ainst "im,
respondent displa$ed arro!ance, and even made a mocAer$ o# t"e la' and t"e Cort, as '"en "e said7
EI "ave been ordered sspended b$ ;preme Cort #or t'o mont"s 'it"ot pa$ in 1932 #or "avin! a mistress,
t"e same !irl /s% Elena ()elen* +e,a, no' m$ 'i#e% Bein! ordered separated in later administrative case
constitte doble @eopard$% If now disbarred for marrying Ms. Elena Pea will constitute triple jeopardy. If thats
the law so be it%F-3.
Based on said report, t"e Board o# >overnors o# t"e Inte!rated Bar o# t"e +"ilippines, passed on /a$ 10,
1990, a Resoltion adoptin! t"e CommissionerBs recommendation, as #ollo's7
ERE;9&CTI9N N9% GII-90-90
Adm% Case No% 1113
Remedios Ramirez Tapcar vs% Att$% &aro &% Tapcar
RE;9&DE8 to A89+T and A++R9DE, as it is "ereb$ A89+TE8 and A++R9DE8, t"e Report and
Recommendation o# t"e Investi!atin! Commissioner in t"e above-titled case, "erein made part o# t"e
ResoltionH8ecision as Anne5 EAFI and, #indin! t"e recommendation t"erein to be #ll$ spported b$ t"e evidence
on record and t"e applicable la's and rles, Respondent Att$% &aro &% Tapcar is "ereb$ 8I;BARRE8 and t"at
"is name be stricAen o## t"e roll o# attorne$s%F
Je #ind t"e Report and Recommendation o# Commissioner 6ernandez, as approved and adopted b$ t"e
Board o# >overnors o# IB+, more t"an s##icient to @sti#$ and spport t"e #ore!oin! Resoltion, "erein
considered as t"e recommendation to t"is Cort b$ said Board prsant to Rle 139-B, ;ec% 12(b*, o# t"e Rles
o# Cort%K Je are in a!reement t"at respondentBs actations merit t"e penalt$ o# disbarment%
Jell settled is t"e rle t"at !ood moral c"aracter is not onl$ a condition precedent #or admission to t"e le!al
pro#ession, bt it mst also remain intact in order to maintain oneBs !ood standin! in t"at e5clsive and "onored
#raternit$%-9. T"ere is per"aps no pro#ession a#ter t"at o# t"e sacred ministr$ in '"ic" a "i!"-toned moralit$ is
more imperative t"an t"at o# la'%-12. T"e Code o# +ro#essional Responsibilit$ mandates t"at7
Rule 1%1% A la'$er s"all not en!a!e in nla'#l, dis"onest, immoral or deceit#l condct%
Rule !%" A la'$er s"all not en!a!e in condct t"at adversel$ re#lects on "is #itness to practice la', nor should
he, whether in public or pri#ate life, beha#e in a scandalous manner to the discredit of the legal profession%K
As t"is Cort o#ten reminds members o# t"e Bar, t"e$ mst live p to t"e standards and norms e5pected o#
t"e le!al pro#ession, b$ p"oldin! t"e ideals and tenets embodied in t"e Code o# +ro#essional Responsibilit$
al'a$s% &a'$ers mst maintain a "i!" standards o# le!al pro#icienc$, as 'ell as moralit$ incldin! "onest$,
inte!rit$ and #air dealin!% 6or t"e$ are at all times sb@ect to t"e scrtinizin! e$e o# pblic opinion and commnit$
approbation% Needless to state, t"ose '"ose condct L bot" pblic and private L #ails t"is scrtin$ 'old "ave to
be disciplined and, a#ter appropriate proceedin!s, penalized accordin!l$%
/oreover, it s"old be recalled t"at respondent "ere 'as once a member o# t"e @diciar$, a #act t"at
a!!ravates t"is pro#essional in#ractions% 6or "avin! occpied t"at place o# "onor in t"e Benc", "e Ane' a
@d!eBs actations o!"t to be #ree #rom an$ appearance o# impropriet$%-11. 6or a @d!e is t"e visible
representation o# t"e la', more importantl$, o# @stice% 9rdinar$ citizens consider "im as a sorce o# stren!t"
t"at #orti#ies t"eir 'ill to obe$ t"e la'%-12. Indeed, a @d!e s"old avoid t"e sli!"test in#raction o# t"e la' in all o#
"is actations, lest it be a demoralizin! e5ample to ot"ers%-13. ;rel$, respondent cold not "ave #or!otten t"e
Code o# 4dicial Condct entirel$ as to lose its moral imperatives%-11.
&iAe a @d!e '"o is "eld to a "i!" standard o# inte!rit$ and et"ical condct,-1:. an attorne$-at-la' is also
invested 'it" pblic trst% 4d!es and la'$ers serve in t"e administration o# @stice% Admittedl$, as o##icers o#
t"e cort, la'$ers mst ensre t"e #ait" and con#idence o# t"e pblic t"at @stice is administered 'it" di!nit$ and
civilit$% A "i!" de!ree or moral inte!rit$ is e5pected o# a la'$er in t"e commnit$ '"ere "e resides% )e mst
maintain de re!ard #or pblic decenc$ in an orderl$ societ$%
A la'$er is e5pected at all times to p"old t"e inte!rit$ and di!nit$ o# t"e le!al pro#ession b$ #ait"#ll$
per#ormin! "is dties to societ$, to t"e bar, to t"e corts and to "is clients%-1=.E5acted #rom "im, as a member o#
t"e pro#ession c"ar!ed 'it" t"e responsibilit$ to stand as a s"ield in t"e de#ense o# '"at is ri!"t, are sc"
positive ?alities o# decenc$, trt"#lness and responsibilit$ t"at "ave been compendiosl$ described as Emoral
c"aracter%F To ac"ieve sc" end, ever$ la'$er needs to strive at all times to "onor and maintain t"e di!nit$ o# "is
pro#ession, and t"s improve not onl$ t"e pblic re!ard #or t"e Bar bt also t"e administration o# @stice%
9n t"ese considerations, t"e Cort ma$ disbar or sspend a la'$er #or miscondct, '"et"er in "is
pro#essional or private capacit$, '"ic" s"o's "im to be 'antin! in moral c"aracter, in "onest$, probit$, and !ood
demeanor, t"s provin! n'ort"$ to contine as an o##icer o# t"e cort%-10.
T"e po'er to disbar, "o'ever, is one to be e5ercised 'it" !reat cation, and onl$ in a clear case o#
miscondct '"ic" seriosl$ a##ects t"e standin! and c"aracter o# t"e la'$er as an o##icer o# t"e Cort o# and
member o# t"e bar%-13. 6or disbarment proceedin!s are intended to a##ord t"e parties t"ereto #ll opportnit$ to
vindicate t"eir case be#ore disciplinar$ action is taAen, to assre t"e !eneral pblic t"at t"ose '"o are tasAed
'it" t"e dt$ o# administerin! @stice are competent, "onorable, trst'ort"$ men and 'omen in '"om t"e Corts
and t"e clients ma$ repose #ll con#idence%
In t"e case o# 9bsan vs% 9bsan, 4r%,-19. a complaint #or disbarment 'as #iled a!ainst a member o# t"e
bar b$ "is 'i#e% ;"e 'as able to prove t"at "e "ad abandoned "is 'i#e and t"eir sonI and t"at "e "ad adlteros
relations 'it" a married bt separated 'oman% Respondent 'as not able to overcome t"e evidence presented
b$ "is 'i#e t"at "e 'as !ilt$ o# !rossl$ immoral condct% In anot"er case,-22. a la'$er 'as disbarred '"en "e
abandoned "is la'#l 'i#e and co"abited 'it" anot"er 'oman '"o "ad borne "im a c"ild% T"e Cort "eld t"at
respondent #ailed to maintain t"e "i!"est de!ree o# moralit$ e5pected and re?ired o# a member o# a bar%
In t"e present case, t"e record s"o's t"at despite previos sanctions imposed pon b$ t"is Cort,
respondent contined "is illicit liaison 'it" a 'oman ot"er t"an la'#ll$-'edded 'i#e% T"e report o# t"e
Commissioner assi!ned to investi!ate t"oro!"l$ t"e complaint #ond respondent #ar #rom contriteI on t"e
contrar$, "e e5"ibited a cavalier attitde, even arro!anceI in t"e #ace o# c"ar!es a!ainst "im% T"e IB+ Board o#
>overnors, tasAed to determine '"et"er "e still merited t"e privile!es e5tended to a member o# t"e le!al
pro#ession, resolved t"e matter a!ainst "im% 6or indeed, evidence o# !rossl$ immoral condct abonds a!ainst
"im and cold not be e5plained a'a$% Meepin! a mistress, enterin! into anot"er marria!e '"ile a prior one still
sbsists, as 'ell as abandonin! andHor mistreatin! complainant and t"eir c"ildren, s"o' "is disre!ard o# #amil$
obli!ations, moralit$ and decenc$, t"e la' and t"e la'$erBs oat"% ;c" !ross misbe"avior over a lon! period o#
time clearl$ s"o's a serios #la' in respondentBs c"aracter, "is moral indi##erence to scandal in t"e commnit$,
and "is otri!"t de#iance o# establis"ed norms% All t"ese cold not bt pt t"e le!al pro#ession in disrepte and
place t"e inte!rit$ o# t"e administration o# @stice in peril, "ence t"e need #or strict bt appropriate disciplinar$
action%
IN "IE# T$EREO%, respondent Att$% &aro &% Tapcar is "ereb$ DIS&ARRED% T"e ClerA o# Cort is
directed to striAe ot "is name #rom t"e Roll o# Attorne$s%
SO ORDERED.