FRANCISCO PAGDANGANAN v. ATTY. ROMEO C. PLATA A.C. No.

12701, February 26,

2020,

Facts:
Atty. Jose F. Eustaquio, the rightful owner of a plot of land in Taytay, Rizal, is represented by Romeo
Plata. The Samahang Maralita ng Sitio Bato-Bato Neighborhood Association, Inc. (SAMANAI) is a group
that Francisco Pagdanganan belongs to.

Pagdanganan thus brought this complaint against Atty. In conjunction with the Commission on

IBP's Bar Discipline (CBD). Pagdanganan said that because he did not sign the Sinumpaang Salaysay, it
was "not honest nor fair" to name him as a defendant in the perjury case and that the enormous sum of
damages sought made "a mockery of the legal system."

Eduardo Robles, an investigating commissioner for the CBD, suggested that Atty. Plata be barred from
the legal profession for a two-year period. The Investigating Commissioner of the CBD's findings of fact
and recommendations were adopted by the Board of Governors of the IBP in a Resolution.

ISSUE

Whether or not Atty. Plata is guilty of misconduct meriting his suspension from the practice
of law for two years.

Held:

The Court has repeatedly stated that "membership in the bar is a privilege burdened with conditions. It
is bestowed upon individuals who are not only learned in law, but also known to possess good moral
character, honesty, and integrity, in order to promote the public's faith in the legal profession."

The Attorney's Oath is clear that Atty. The Court observes that Plata in this case "not wittingly or
willingly promote or sue any groundless, false or unlawful suit, nor give aid or consent to the same."
Plata did not contest the fact that he had brought a number of legal actions—civil, criminal, and
administrative—against the opposing parties and their attorneys. Attorney provided a response to the
administrative complaint. As evidence of the accuracy and validity of the accusations made against
Pagdanganan and his co-respondents, Plata justifies the several ongoing lawsuits that he and his client,
Eustaquio, have launched.