12-belleza vs macasa

8/10/2019 12-Belleza vs Macasa

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DOLORES C. BELLEZA, A.C. No. 7815

Complainant,

- v e r s u s

ATTY. ALAN S. MACASA,

Responent. Promulgated

July 23, 2009

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R E S O L ! T " O N

Per Curiam:

Th! treat! o" the #om$la%t "or d!&arme%t "led &y #om$la%a%t 'olore! C. (elle)a

aga%!t re!$o%de%t Atty. Ala% *. +a#a!a "or u%$ro"e!!o%al a%d u%eth#al #o%du#t % #o%%e#to%

th the ha%dl%g o" a #rm%al #a!e %ol%g #om$la%a%t! !o%.

/% Noem&er 10, 200, #om$la%a%t e%t to !ee re!$o%de%t o% re"erral o" ther mutual

"re%d, Joe Chua. Com$la%a%t a%ted to aal o" re!$o%de%t! legal !er#e! % #o%%e#to% ththe #a!e o" her !o%, ra%#! Joh% (elle)a, ho a! arre!ted &y $ol#eme% o" (a#olod Cty

earler that day "or alleged olato% o" e$u&l# A#t A4 915. 61e!$o%de%t agreed to ha%dle

the #a!e "orP30,000.

The "ollo%g day, #om$la%a%t made a $artal $ayme%t o" P15,000 to re!$o%de%t thru

ther mutual "re%d Chua. /% Noem&er 17, 200, !he gae hm a% addto%al P10,000. *he $ad

the P5,000 &ala%#e o% Noem&er 18, 200. (oth $ayme%t! ere al!o made thru Chua. /% all

three o##a!o%!, re!$o%de%t dd %ot !!ue a%y re#e$t.

/% Noem&er 21, 200, re!$o%de%t re#eed P18,000 "rom #om$la%a%t "or the $ur$o!eo" $o!t%g a &o%d to !e#ure the $ro!o%al l&erty o" her #om$la%a%t!4 !o%. Aga%, re!$o%de%t

dd %ot !!ue a%y re#e$t. he% #om$la%a%t e%t to the #ourt the %ext day, !he "ou%d out that

re!$o%de%t dd %ot remt the amou%t to the #ourt.

Com$la%a%t dema%ded the retur% o" the P18,000 "rom re!$o%de%t o% !eeral o##a!o%!

&ut re!$o%de%t g%ored her. +oreoer, re!$o%de%t "aled to a#t o% the #a!e o" #om$la%a%t! !o%

a%d #om$la%a%t a! "or#ed to aal o" the !er#e! o" the Pu&l# Attor%ey! /""#e "or her !o%!

de"e%!e.

Therea"ter, #om$la%a%t "led a er"ed #om$la%t "or d!&arme%t aga%!t re!$o%de%t %the Negro! /##de%tal #ha$ter o" the %tegrated (ar o" the Phl$$%e! (P4. Atta#hed to the

er"ed #om$la%t a! the a""dat o" Chua h#h read:

, J/; C *amll, (rgy. (ata, (a#olod

Cty, a"ter ha%g &ee% !or% to % a##orda%#e th la, here&y de$o!e a%d !tate:

1. That am the o%e ho %trodu#e6d +r!. 'olore! C. (elle)a 6to Atty. Ala%

+a#a!a he% !he loo>ed "or a layer to hel$ her !o% % the #a!e that the latter ! "a#%g

!ometme 6% 6the "r!t ee> o" Noem&er 200?
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn2http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn2


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2. That &y rea!o% o" my mutual #lo!e%e!! to &oth o" them, am the o%e ho"a#ltated the $ayme%t o" +r!. '/@/;* C. (;@@;A to Atty. Ala% +a#a!a?

3. That a! "ar a! >%o, re#eed the "ollo%g amou%t "rom +r!. 'olore!(elle)a a! $ayme%t "or Atty. Ala% +a#a!a:

'ate Amou%t

Noem&er 11, 200 P15,000.00

A ee> a"ter 10,000.00

Noem&er 18, 200 5,000.00

. That the a&oe-me%to%ed amou%t! h#h !u$$o!ed a! Attor%ey! ee! ere

mmedately "orarded &y me to Atty. 6+a#a!a?

5. That am exe#ut%g th! a""dat % order to atte!t to the truth o" all the "orego%g

!tateme%t!.

x x x x x x x x x6

% a letter dated +ay 23, 2005,65 the (P Negro! /##de%tal #ha$ter tra%!mtted the

#om$la%t to the (P! Comm!!o% o% (ar '!#$l%e C('4.6

% a% order dated July 13, 2005, 67the C(' reBured re!$o%de%t to !u&mt h! a%!er

th% 15 day! "rom re#e$t thereo". e!$o%de%t, % a% urge%t moto% "or exte%!o% o" tme to

"le a% a%!er dated Augu!t 10, 2005,68!m$ly &ru!hed a!de the #om$la%t "or &e%g &a!ele!!

grou%dle!! a%d mal#ou!D thout, hoeer, o""er%g a%y ex$la%ato%.


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t al!o "ou%d hm gulty o" olato% o" ule! 1.01 a%d 1.02 o" the Code o" Pro"e!!o%al

e!$o%!&lty:

ule 1.01 E A layer !hall a##ou%t "or all mo%ey or $ro$erty #olle#ted or re#eed "or or"rom the #le%t.

ule 1.02 E A layer !hall >ee$ the "u%d! o" ea#h #le%t !e$arate a%d a$art "rom h! o%

a%d tho!e other! >e$t &y hm.

The C(' ruled that re!$o%de%t la#>ed good moral #hara#ter a%d that he a! u%"t a%d

u%orthy o" the $rlege! #o%"erred &y la o% hm a! a mem&er o" the &ar. The C('

re#omme%ded a !u!$e%!o% o" !x mo%th! th a !ter% ar%%g that re$etto% o" !mlar a#t!

ould mert a more !eere !a%#to%. t al!o re#omme%ded that re!$o%de%t &e ordered to retur%

to #om$la%a%t the P18,000 %te%ded "or the $ro!o%al l&erty o" the #om$la%a%t! !o% a%d

the P30,000 attor%ey! "ee!.

The (oard o" Foer%or! o" the (P ado$ted a%d a$$roed the re$ort a%d re#omme%dato%

o" the C(' th the mod"#ato% that re!$o%de%t &e ordered to retur% to #om$la%a%t o%ly the

amou%t o" P30,000 h#h he re#eed a! attor%ey! "ee!.612

e a""rm the C('! "%d%g o" gult a! a""rmed &y the (P (oard o" Foer%or! &ut e

mod"y the (P! re#omme%dato% a! to the la&lty o" re!$o%de%t.

RES#ONDENT D"SRES#ECTED

LE$AL #ROCESSES

e!$o%de%t a! ge% more tha% e%ough o$$ortu%ty to a%!er the #harge! aga%!t hm.

Get, he !hoed %d""ere%#e to the order! o" the C(' "or hm to a%!er a%d re"ute the

a##u!ato%! o" $ro"e!!o%al m!#o%du#t aga%!t hm. % do%g !o, he "aled to o&!ere ule

12.03 o" the Code o" Pro"e!!o%al e!$o%!&lty:

ule 12.03 E A layer !hall %ot, a"ter o&ta%%g exte%!o%! o" tme to "le $lead%g!, memora%daor &re"!, let the $erod la$!e thout !u&mtt%g the !ame or o""er%g a% ex$la%ato% "or h!

"alure to do !o.

e!$o%de%t al!o g%ored the C('! dre#te "or hm to "le h! $o!to% $a$er.


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e!$o%de%t! u%Hu!t"ed d!regard o" the la"ul order! o" the C(' a! %ot o%ly

rre!$o%!&le &ut al!o #o%!ttuted utter d!re!$e#t "or the Hud#ary a%d h! "ello layer!. 613ll! a%d e""ort4 to !u#h #au!e. ll a%d % the a$$l#ato% o" h! >%oledge to h! #le%t! #au!e? a%d that he

ll ta>e all !te$! %e#e!!ary to adeBuately !a"eguard h! #le%t! %tere!t.618
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn14http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn15http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn16http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn17http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn18http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn19http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn14http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn15http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn16http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn17http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn18http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn19


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A layer! %eglge%#e % the d!#harge o" h! o&lgato%! ar!%g "rom the relato%!h$ o"

#ou%!el a%d #le%t may #au!e delay % the adm%!trato% o" Hu!t#e a%d $reHud#e the rght! o" a

ltga%t, $art#ularly h! #le%t. Thu!, "rom the $er!$e#te o" the eth#! o" the legal $ro"e!!o%, a

layer! lethargy % #arry%g out h! dute! to h! #le%t ! &oth u%$ro"e!!o%al a%d u%eth#al.619

" h! #le%t! #a!e ! already $e%d%g % #ourt, a layer mu!t a#tely re$re!e%t h! #le%t

&y $rom$tly "l%g the %e#e!!ary $lead%g or moto% a%d a!!duou!ly atte%d%g the !#heduled

hear%g!. Th! ! !$e#ally !g%"#a%t "or a layer ho re$re!e%t! a% a##u!ed % a #rm%al #a!e.

The a##u!ed ! guara%teed the rght to #ou%!el u%der the Co%!ttuto%. 620%o%g the"u%dame%tal $ro#edure!, e!!e%tal la! a%d ex!t%g Hur!$rude%#e.621

K L K M K L K

6The rght o" a% a##u!ed to #ou%!el ! &eyo%d Bue!to% a "u%dame%tal rght. thout #ou%!el,

the rght to a "ar tral t!el" ould &e o" lttle #o%!eBue%#e, "or t ! through #ou%!el that thea##u!ed !e#ure! h! other rght!. % other ord!, the rght to #ou%!el ! the rght to e""e#te

a!!!ta%#e o" #ou%!el.622

The rght o" a% a##u!ed to #ou%!el "%d! !u&!ta%#e % the $er"orma%#e &y the layer o"

h! !or% duty o" "delty to h! #le%t.623Ter!ely $ut, t mea%! a% e""e#te, e""#e%t a%d truly

de#!e legal a!!!ta%#e, %ot a !m$ly $er"u%#tory re$re!e%tato%.62

% th! #a!e, a"ter a##e$t%g the #rm%al #a!e aga%!t #om$la%a%t! !o% a%d re#e%g h!

attor%ey! "ee!, re!$o%de%t dd %oth%g that #ould &e #o%!dered a! e""e#te a%d e""#e%t legal

a!!!ta%#e. or all %te%t! a%d $ur$o!e!, re!$o%de%t a&a%do%ed the #au!e o" h! #le%t. %deed,o% a##ou%t o" re!$o%de%t! #o%t%ued %a#to%, #om$la%a%t a! #om$elled to !ee> the !er#e!

o" the Pu&l# Attor%ey! /""#e. e!$o%de%t! la#>ada!#al atttude toard! the #a!e o"

#om$la%a%t! !o% a! re$rehe%!&le. Not o%ly dd t $reHud#e #om$la%a%t! !o%, t al!o

de$red hm o" h! #o%!ttuto%al rght to #ou%!el. urthermore, % "al%g to u!e the amou%t

e%tru!ted to hm "or $o!t%g a &o%d to !e#ure the $ro!o%al l&erty o" h! #le%t, re!$o%de%t

u%duly m$eded the latter! #o%!ttuto%al rght to &al.
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn23http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn23http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn24http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn25http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn23http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn24http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/7815.htm#_ftn25


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RES#ONDENT &A"LED TO RET!RN

%"S CL"ENT'SMONEY

The "du#ary %ature o" the relato%!h$ &etee% #ou%!el a%d #le%t m$o!e! o% a layer

the duty to a##ou%t "or the mo%ey or $ro$erty #olle#ted or re#eed "or or "rom the #le%t.625

he% a layer #olle#t! or re#ee! mo%ey "rom h! #le%t "or a $art#ular $ur$o!e !u#h

a! "or "l%g "ee!, reg!trato% "ee!, tra%!$ortato% a%d o""#e ex$e%!e!4, he !hould $rom$tlya##ou%t to the #le%t ho the mo%ey a! !$e%t. " he doe! %ot u!e the mo%ey "or t! %te%ded

$ur$o!e, he mu!t mmedately retur% t to the #le%t.62


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CAN/N 7. A LA(YER S%ALL AT ALL T"MES !#%OLD T%E "NTE$R"TY AND T%E

D"$N"TY O& T%E LE$AL #RO&ESS"ONAN' *=PP/T T

12-belleza vs macasa

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