G.R. No.

194578 / February 13, 2013

Philip Sigfrid A. Fortun v. Prima Jesusa B. Quinsayas, et.al

Facts:
Atty. Fortun was counsel for Datu Andal Ampatuan who was the principal accused in the Maguindanao
Massacre which involved the killing of fifty people, out of which 37 were journalists. Atty. Quinsayas
with some others filed a disbarment complaint against Atty. Fortun for allegedly delaying the
proceedings by using and abusing legal remedies available. The death of the journalists was being
commemorated at this time of the pendency of the disbarment proceedings when the complaint for
disbarment was made subject of news articles of respondent media organizations and of a broadcast
television interview with Atty. Quinsayas commenting on the matter. Atty. Fortun now files a petition for
contempt against Atty. Quinsayas and these media organizations.

Issue:
Whether or not respondents were liable for contempt.

Held:
No, respondents were not liable for contempt for failure to prove their acts constitutive thereof except
for Atty. Quinsayas. She was found to have distributed the copies of the disbarment complaint to
members of the media which violates the rule on confidentiality of proceedings against attorneys under
Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court. Thereby, she was held liable for contempt of court and for a fine of
P20,000.