Case digest of Caronan vs Caronan

A.C. 11316

July 12, 2016

Complainant: Patrick A. Caronan vs

Respondent: Richard A. Caronan a.k.a. “Atty. Patrick A. Caronan”

Facts:

Complainant and respondent are full siblings and both completed their secondary
education at Makati High School where they graduated in 1993 and in 1991,
respectively. Complainant graduated at the University of Makati in 1997 with a degree
in Business Administration. He married Myrna G. Tapis in 2001 with whom he has
two daughters. Concurrently, respondent enrolled at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Maynila (PLM) for one year and then transferred to Philippine Military Academy in
1992 where he was discharged after a year. Respondent was not able to obtain any
college degree since then. In 1999, respondent enrolled in St Mary’s Law School in
Nueva Vizcaya and passed the Bar examinations in 2004. Complainant had
knowledge of such events but did not mind as he did not anticipate any adverse
consequences to him. In 2009, complainant realized that respondent had been using
his name to perpetrate crimes. Complainant filed the present Complaint-Affidavit to
stop respondent's alleged use of the former's name and identity, and illegal practice
of law. Respondent denied all the allegations against him and invoked res judicata as
a defense. He maintained that his identity can no longer be raised as an issue as it had
already been resolved in CBD Case No. 09-2362 where the IBP Board of Governors
dismissed the administrative case filed against him, and which case had already been
declared closed and terminated by the Supreme Court in A.C. No. 10074.32
Moreover, according to him, complainant is being used by Reyes and her spouse,
Brigadier General Joselito M. Reyes, to humiliate, disgrace, malign, discredit, and
harass him because he filed several administrative and criminal complaints against
them before the Ombudsman. On June 15, 2015, IBP Investigating Commissioner
Jose Villanueva Cabrera issued his Report and Recommendation, finding respondent
GUILTY of illegally and falsely assuming complainant's name, identity, and academic
records. Since respondent falsely assumed the name, identity, and academic records
of complainant and the real "Patrick A. Caronan" neither obtained the bachelor of
laws degree nor took the Bar Exams, the Investigating Commissioner recommended
that the name "Patrick A. Caronan" with Roll of Attorneys No. 49069 be dropped and
stricken off the Roll of Attorneys. He also recommended that respondent and the
name "Richard A. Caronan" be barred from being admitted as a member of the Bar;
and finally, for making a mockery of the judicial institution, the IBP was directed to
institute appropriate actions against respondent.

Issue: Whether or not the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) erred in their
ordering that (a) the name “Patrick A. Caronan” be stricken off the Roll of Attorneys;
and (b) the name “Richard A. Caronan” be barred from being admitted to the Bar.

Ruling:

No. Respondent Richard A. Caronan a.k.a. "Atty. Patrick A. Caronan" (respondent)

is found GUILTY of falsely assuming the name, identity, and academic records of
complainant Patrick A. Caronan (complainant) to obtain a law degree and take the
Bar Examinations. The Court hereby resolves that: (1) the name "Patrick A. Caronan"
with Roll of Attorneys No. 49069 is ordered DROPPED and STRICKEN OFF the
Roll of Attorneys; (2) respondent is PROHIBITED from engaging in the practice of
law or making any representations as a lawyer; (3) respondent is BARRED from being
admitted as a member of the Philippine Bar in the future; ( 4) the Identification Cards
issued by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to respondent under the name "Atty.
Patrick A. Caronan" and the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Certificates
issued in such name are CANCELLED and/or REVOKED; and (5) the Office of the
Court Administrator is ordered to CIRCULATE notices and POST in the bulletin
boards of all courts of the country a photograph of respondent with his real name, "
Richard A. Caronan," with a warning that he is not a member of the Philippine Bar
and a statement of his false assumption of the name and identity of "Patrick A.
Caronan."