RE: ELMO S. ABAD, 1978 Successful Bar Examinee. ATTY. PROCOPIO S. BELTRAN, JR.

,
President of the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association, Inc., complainant,
vs.
ELMO S. ABAD, respondent

A. M. No. 139 March 28, 1983

FACTS:
Elmo S. Abad, respondent is charged by Atty. Procopio S. Beltran, Jr of practicing law without
having been previously admitted to the Philippine Bar. The respondent, to answer the complaint,
claims that prior to his Oath taking as member of the bar, respondent has paid his Bar Admission
fee, Certification Fee and Membership dues for the year to the IBP and Professional Tax Receipt
which are all supported with Official Receipts. Likewise, he has signed his Lawyer’s Oath but has
not taken his Oath and received an invite to the Annual General Assembly of the IBP and has a
Certificate of Membership in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines as well as a Certificate of
Membership in Good Standing with the Quezon City Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

ISSUE:
Whether respondent has been admitted to the Philippine Bar and has the right to practice law.

HELD:
No. The circumstances he narrated do not constitute admission to the bar. He should know that two
essential requisites for becoming a lawyer still had to be performed, namely: his lawyer's oath to
be administered by this Court and his signature in the Roll of Attorneys.