G.R. No.

114732 August 1, 2000

Ung
Facts: Petitioner filed an amended complaint before the RTC against private
respondents, the action was one for “annulment of affidavit of adjudication, sales,
transfer certificates of title, reconveyance and damages.”
In pleadings and motions filed before the courts by respondent Jose B. Tiongco,
who also acts as a counsel for the private respondents, allegedly used improper and
unethical language. It is his belief that counsel for petitioner, Atty. Marciana Deguma, “a
rambunctious wrestler-type female of 52 who does not wear a dress which is not red,
and who stampedes into the courtroom like a mad fury and who speaks slang English to
conceal her faulty grammar”. At one point, he even called Atty. Deguma “a love-crazed
female Apache who is now ready to skin defendant alive for not being a bastard”, and “a
horned spinster and manhungry virago and female bull of an Amazon who would stop at
nothing to molest, harass, and injure the defendant.”

Issue: Whether or not respondent Jose B. Tiongco violated Code of Professional

Responsibility.

Ruling: Yes. Rule 8.01 provides that a lawyer shall not, in his professional dealings, use
language which is abusive, offensive or otherwise improper. Although lawyers are
allowed some latitude of remarks or comment in the furtherance of the cause he
upholds, his arguments, both written or oral, should be gracious both to the court and
opposing counsel and be of such words as may be properly addressed by one gentleman
to another. Otherwise, his use of intemperate language invites the disciplinary authority
of the court.