PATRICK A. CARONAN v. RICHARD A. CARONAN a.k.a. “ATTY.

PATRICK A. CARONAN”

A.C. No. 11316, 12 July 2016, EN BANC (Sereno, CJ)

FACTS:

On 2013, a complaint was filed by the real Patrick A. Caronan against his
brother Richard A. Caronan a.k.a. “Atty. Patrick A. Caronan” before the Integrated
Bar of the Philippines. In his complaint, he stated that he and his older brother
both completed secondary education at the Makati High School and that he
finished his college education at the University of Makati. Thereafter, he applied
and got a job at a 7-11 convenience store in Muntinlupa City, working his way up
until he was promoted as its store manager. On the other hand, his brother enrolled
at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and later managed to enter the
Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City but was discharged in 1993. The
respondent Richard then moved to Nueva Vizcaya with his wife and three
children.

Patrick said he learned from Richard that he had enrolled at St. Mary’s
University’s College of Law in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya using Patrick’s name
and college records from the UM and that he passed the Bar exams in 2004.

But in 2009, he said he was ordered to report to the head office of

Philippine Seven Corporation, operator of 7-11, which informed him that the
National Bureau of Investigation had requested his appearance in relation to its
investigation of a certain “Atty. Patrick A. Caronan” for qualified theft and estafa.
Aside from using his name, Patrick said he also learned that his brother was also
facing charges for gun-running and violation of Batas Pambansa 22 (Bouncing
Checks Law).

The respondent Richard denied the allegations but the SC said that the
identity of the real “Patrick A. Caronan” had been established based on the probe
conducted by the IBP.

ISSUE:
Whether or not the IBP erred in 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.

HELD:

No. The Court finds no cogent reason to disturb the findings and
recommendations of the IBP. Since complainant - the real "Patrick A. Caronan" -
never took the Bar Examinations, the IBP correctly recommended that the name
"Patrick A. Caronan" be stricken off the Roll of Attorneys.

The IBP was also correct in ordering that respondent, whose real name is
"Richard A. Caronan," be barred from admission to the Bar. Under Section 6, Rule
138 of the Rules of Court, no applicant for admission to the Bar Examination shall
be admitted unless he had pursued and satisfactorily completed a pre-law course.
Clearly, respondent has not completed the requisite pre-law degree.

The respondent’s false assumption of his brother's name, identity, and

educational records renders him unfit for admission to the Bar. The practice of
law, after all, is not a natural, absolute or constitutional right to be granted to
everyone who demands it. Rather, it is a privilege limited to citizens of good moral
character. Respondent made a mockery of the legal profession by pretending to
have the necessary qualifications to be a lawyer.

WHEREFORE, 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 to obtain a law degree
and take the Bar Examinations. Accordingly, without prejudice to the filing of
appropriate civil and/or criminal cases, 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.