MEMORANDUM

FOR : ATTY. ENRIQUE T. SUMOGBA, JR.

OIC-CHIEF
BALA-ARBLAD

FROM : ULYSSES J. LAPLANA

SARPO
BALA-ARBLAD

DATE : JULY 6, 2017

SUBJECT : EVALUATION/RECOMMENDATION ON THE

LETTER DATED JULY 03,2017 OF MR. MARIANO BERNARDINO
WHO IS SEEKING FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON HIS CASE.

Sir:

This refers to the letter of Mr. Mariano Bernardino of Brgy. Look I

Malolos, Bulacan who is asking for a legal counsel in our office to represent
him in his case before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court and for
the undersigned per your directive, to evaluate the same.

Pursuant to the 2009 DAR Manual For Legal Assistance (DAR

Memorandum Circular No.12-09), it states that:

“Section 9. Party(s) Represented by Private Counsel- When a

party is already represented by a private counsel, the Office is not
bound to provide legal assistance to avoid conflict of representation.
The requesting party may avail of the services of the office only upon
withdrawal of appearance in writing of his private counsel.”

The one (1) page letter of Mr. Bernardino has no attachments as basis
for evaluation. However, on the basis of a copy of a Court of Appeals
Resolution dated June 21, 2017 which Mr. Bernardino personally hand-
carried on July 04,2017, particularly in CA.GR SP. No. 130599 and C.A. G.R.
SP No. 130792 which they expected us to handle, he is already represented
by private counsels through Atty. Aida S. Bernardino and Atty. Raymond
C. Reyes, a copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “A”. The Manual is
categorical in stating that we are prohibited to handle cases where a person
is already represented by private counsel.

RECOMMENDATION:

In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that, with all due respect,

we have no other option but to decline said request.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.
 ULYSSES J. LAPLANA

Copy furnished:

Mr. Mariano Bernardino

0789 Look I, Malolos, Bulacan

Atty. Ma. Celestina Manlangit-Tam

Director-BALA