Legal Profession

A.Y. 2020-2021, S2
Case Title IN THE MATTER OF THE DISQUALIFICATION OF BAR EXAMINEE HARON S. MELING
IN THE 2002 BAR EXAMINATIONS
Citation/Date B.M. No. 1154 [June 8, 2004]
Relevant Topic Requirements for Admission to the Practice of Law; Good Moral Character
Facts
1. On May 21, 2001, Haron S. Meling (“Mr. Meling”) allegedly uttered defamatory words against
petitioner Atty. Froilan R. Melendrez and his wife, and also purportedly attacked and hit the face of
Atty. Melendrez’s wife causing injuries. In addition, Mr. Meling also reportedly uses the title
“Attorney” despite the fact that he is not a member of the Bar.

2. On October 14, 2002, Atty. Melendrez filed with the Office of the Bar Confidant a petition to
disqualify Meling from taking the2002 Bar Examinations and to impose appropriate disciplinary
penalty as a member of the Philippine Shari’a Bar. He alleged that Meling failed to disclose in his
petition take the Bar that he has three (3) pending criminal cases before the MTCC and his usage of the
title “Attoney”.

3. Mr. Meling explains that he did not disclose the criminal cases filed against him because retired
Judge Corocoy Moson, their former professor, advised him to settle his misunderstanding and believed
in good faith that the case had been closed and terminated. He admits that some of his communications
contained the word “Attorney”, but that they were typed by the office clerk

Issue/s and Ruling/s

WON Meling’s failure to disclose pending cases against Yes.
him makes him answerable under the Code of
Professional Responsibility
The OBC held that the non-disclosure of Meling of the
cases filed against him makes him answerable under Rule
7.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility which
states that “a lawyer shall be answerable for knowingly
making a false statement or suppressing a material fact in
connection with his application for admission to the
bar.”It was further recommended that he not be allowed
to take the Lawyer’s Oath and sign the Roll of Attorneys
in the event that he passes the Bar Examinations.
However, he did not pass the 2003 Bar Exams, rendering
this petition moot and academic

PREMISES CONSIDERED, petitioner Al Caparros Argosino is hereby ALLOWED to take the lawyer's oath on a date to
be set by the Court, to sign the Roll of Attorneys and, thereafter, to practice the legal profession.

SO ORDERED.