43 REYES v CHIONG JR.

Facts:
Atty. Ramon Reyes counsel for Zonggi Xu.
Atty. Victoriano Chiong, Jr for Chia Hsien Pan.
Xu, a Chinese-Taiwanese went into a business venture with Pan. Pan was supposed to set up a Cebu-based fishball,
tempura and seafood products factory. He did not establish it, and so Xu asked that his money be returned.
Xu then filed a case of estafa against Pan. Prosecutor Salanga then issued a subpoena against Pan.
Atty. Chiong then filed a motion to quash, but he also filed a civil complaint for the collection of a sum of money and
damages as well as for the dissolution of a business venture against Xu, Atty Reyes, and Prosecutor Salanga.
He alleged that Salanga was impleaded as an additional defendant because of the irregularities the latter had
committed in conducting the criminal investigation he still filed the complaint against Pan in spite of Pan s motions.
Atty. Reyes was allegedly impleaded because he allegedly connived with Xu in filing the estafa case which was
baseless.
IBP recommended that Chiong be suspended for 2 years.

Issue:
W/N Chiong should be suspended.

Held:
Yes.
Canon 8 of the Code of Professional Responsibility provides that a lawyer shall conduct himself with courtesy,
fairness and candor towards his professional colleagues, and shall avoid harassing tactics against opposing counsel.
If Chiong believed that the two had conspired to act illegally, he could have instituted disbarment proceedings.
As a lawyer, Chiong should have advised his client of the availability of these remedies. Thus the filing of the cases
had no justification.
Lawyers should treat their opposing counsels and other lawyers with courtesy, dignity and civility.
Any undue ill feeling between clients should not influence counsels in their conduct and demeanor toward each
other.