I SSUE
r ul ea n do nl ywh wh e nt h emo ne yc l a i msi n v ol v e da r es u bs t a n t i a l .Wh e nt h e y
WON THEYAREGUI LTYOF OFCa no n8a nd1 1
a r eme me a g e rt heo r d i n a r yr u l e sa p pl y.
FACTS
xxxhow Comm mmi ss i onerDi nopoli sabl et osayt hatt hepaysl i pspr ovedt hat
1)
2)
1 A ve r i fie dc ompl ai nt dat ed Fe br uar y 15 ,2 00 5 wasfil ed by J ohnny Ng
t h es i x t e e n( 1 6 )c l a i ma nt swe r ea l r e a dy pa i dt h e i rs e r v i c ei n c e nt i v el e a v e
( comp mpl ai nant ) agai nst At t y. Benj ami mi n C. Al ar ( r espondent ) bef ore t he
pa y .Thi sfin di n gi sc o p i e dv e r b a t i mf r o mt h ec r o s s e y e dd e c i s i o no fLa b o r
I n t e g r a t e dBa ro ft h ePh i l i ppi n e s( I BP) ,Co mm mmi s s i o no nBa rDi s c i pl i n e( CBD) ,
xxx. Ar bi t e rS a nt o s
f orDi sbar ment . Comp mpl ai nantal l egest hathei soneoft heres pondent si nal aborcas ewi wi t hthe
Theevi denceal r eady on r ecor d provi ng t hat t h ea l l e g e db l o c k i n go ft h e
Nat i onalLaborRel at i onsComm mmi s s i on( NLRC)docket edasNLRC NCR CA
xxx Comm mmi ss i onerDi nopol . Heneedsm mo or eofi t.
i n gr e s sa nd e g r e s si sa my t hs e e m i n v i s i b l et ot h ei mp a i r e ds i g hto f
No .0 4 0 2 7 3 0 4 ,wh i l er e s p o nde n ti st h ec o un s e lf o rc o mp mpl a i n an t s . 3) The LaborAr bi t er( LA) A)di s mi s s ed t he c omp mpl ai nt .On appea l ,t he NLRC
Co mm mmi s s i o ne rDi no po lb yhi sd e c i s i o nu nde rc o n s i d e r a t i o n( a sp o ne nt e[ o f ]
r ender ed aDeci si on2affir ffir mi ng t hedeci s i on oft heLA. A.Respondentfil ed a
t hede c i s i o nt h a th es i g ne da ndc a u s e dhi sc o c o mm mmi s s i o ne r si nt heFi r s t
3 Mot i onf orReconsi derat i onwi t hMot i ont oI nhi bi t( MRMI , ) pe r t i ne ntpo r t i o ns
Di v i s i o nt os i g n)ha ss h owng r e a ta ndi r r e pa r a b l ei mpa r t i a l i t y ,g r a v ea bus e
ofwhi chr ead:
ofdi sc r et i onand i gnoranc eoft hel aw.Hei sas hame met ot heNLRC and s h o ul dn otb ea l l o we dt oh a v ea n y t h i n gt od o wi t ht h ei n s t a n tc a s ea ny
xxxWec a n no th e l ps u s p e c t i ngt h a tt hede c i s i o nun de rc o ns i d e r a t i o nwa s
mo r e .Co mm mmi s s i o ne rGoa ndCh a i r ma nS e ñe r e s ,b yn e g l i g e n c e ,a r ej u s ta s
me r e l yc o pi e df r o mt h ep l e a d i n gso fr e s p o nd e nt s a p pe l l e e swi t hv e r ys l i g ht
b u t ,s i n c et h e NLRC r u l e spr o h i b i tt h ei n hi b i t i o no ft h e g ui l t ya sDi n op ol
annot ac c ept t he s ugges t i on, ma made by s ome me mo di fi c a t i o ns. But we c
ent i r e di vi si on,Chai rman Señeresshoul d re mai ni nt he i nst antcaseand
k no wl wl e dg e a bl ei n di v i dua l s , t ha tt hea c t u a lwr i t e ro ft hes a i dde c i s i o ni sno t
a ppo i n tt wo( 2 )o t h e rc o mm mmi s s i o ne r sf r o ma no t he rd i v i s i o nt os i twi t hhi ma n d
a ta l lc o n ne c t e dwi t ht h eNLRCF i r s t Di v i s i o n.
4 pa s sfi na lj udg me me n ti nt hei n s t a ntc a s e . ( Emphasi ss uppl i ed)
xxxWhy di dt he NLRC,Fi r stDi vi si on,uphol dt he LaborAr bi t eri n ma i nt a i ni n gt h a tt hes e p a r a t i o npa ys h o ul dbeo nl yo neh a l fmo nt hpe ry e a r
•
o fs e r v i c e ?I sj ur i s p r u de n c eo nt h i sno tc l e a re no ug h,o ri st h e r ea no t h e r
I nhi sAnswerwi t hCounter Comp mpl ai ntdat edApri l6,2005,r espondentAl ar cont ends t hatthe i nst antcomp mpl ai ntonl yi nt ends t o har as s hi m and t o
r e a s o nk no wn wno nl yt ot h e m?
i nfluencet here sul toft hecas esbet weencomp mpl ai nantandt heworker si nt he
xxxI ft hi si sn otg r a v ea bus eo fd i s c r e t i o no nt hepa r to ft heNL NLRC,F i r s t
di ffe r e n to et hey ar e pendi ng;t hatt he Rul esofCourt /Code of f r awher
Di vi si on,i ti si gnomi mi ni ous i gnora nce ofthe l aw on t he par tof t he
Pr o f e s s i o na lRe s p on s i b i l i t ya ppl i e so nl ys u ppl e t o r i l ya tt h eNLRC wh e nt h e
c o mm mmi s s i o ne r sc on c e r n e d.
NLRCRul e so fP r o c e d ur eh a snopr o v i s i o no ndi s c i pl i na r yma ma t t e r sf o rl i t i g a nt s
Th eNL NLRCwa nt sp r o o ff r o mt hec o mp mpl a i n an t st h att h efir ea c t ua l l yr e s u l t e di n
andl awyer sappear i ngbef orei t ;t hatRul eXoft heNLRC Rul esofProcedur e
pr o s p e r i t ya nd n otl o s s e s .x x xRes p on d e nt sf a i l e dt op r o v et h e i rc l a i mo f
pr o v i de sf o ra de q ua t es a nc t i o nsa g ai n s tmi mi s b e h a vi n gl a wy wy e r sa n dl i t i g a nt s
. l o s s e s Andt h e Ho no r a b l eCo mm mmi s s i o ne r so ft h eF i r s tDi v i s i o nl o s tt h e i r
a ppe a r i n gi nc a s e sb e f o r ei t ;t h a tt h e Rul e so fCo ur t /Co deofP r o f e s s i o na l
a bi l i t yt os eet h es egl a r i n gf a c t s.
Re s po ns i b i l i t ydo e sno ta ppl yt ol a wy wy e r sp r a c t i c i nga tt heNL NLRC,t hel a t t e rn o t
xxxH Ho ow muchi st hesepar at i onpayt heyshoul dpay? Onemo mont hperye ar
be i ngac our t ;t ha tLAsa ndNLRC Commi s s i one r sar enotj udgesnorj us t i c e s
o fs e r v i c e–a nda l lo fi tt ot h ea ffe c t e dwo r k e r s–n ott os o me mepe o pl ei nt h e
and t heCodeofJ udi ci alConducts i mi l ar l ydonotappl yt ot hem, m,notbei ng
. NLRCi npar t
partoft he j udi ci ary;and t hatt he l abor l awyer swh who ar e hones t l y and
xxxTh e ys h o ul dh a v et a k e nj udi c i a ln o t i c eoft h i sp r e v a l e n tpr a c t i c e so f
c o ns c i e nt i o us l ypr a c t i c i n gb e f o r et h eNLRCa ndg e tp a i do nac o nt i ng e ntb a s i s
e mp mpl o y e r sx x x . I ft h eHo Ho no r a b l eCo mm mmi s s i o ne r s , o ft h eFi r s tDi v i s i o nd ono t
a r ee n t i t l e dt os o me mel a t i t udeo fr i g ht e o usa n ge rwhe nt h e yg e tc h e a t e di nt he i r
kno wt hi s , t he ya r ei nde e di r r e l e v a ntt or e a ll i f e.
cas esby r easonofcor rupti on and col l usi on by t he cheat sf rom t he ot her
xxxwei n vi t et h eHo no r a b l eCo mm mmi s s i o ne r so ft h eF i r s tDi v i s i o nt os e ef o r
s e c t o r swh whoma ket h e i rl i v e sa ndt h el i v e soft h ei rc o ns t i t ue nt smi mi s e r a bl e ,wi t h
t he ms ms e l v e st hee v i de n c ebe f o r et he ma n dno tme r e l yr e l yo nt he i rr e v i e we r s
i mpuni t y,unl i kel awyer sf ortheem mp pl oyerswho getpai d,wi norl ose,and
a n do nt hewo wo r doft h e i rp on e nt e .I ft he ydot h i sh one s t l yt h e yc a n no th e l p s e e i ngt h et r ut h.Y e s ,h one s t yont h ep ar to ft h eCo mm mmi s s i o ne r sc o n c e r n e d
•
5 t he r e f o r eha v enor e a s o nt of e e la gg r i e v e d . At t a c h e dt ot h eCo un t e r Co mp mp l a i n ti st h ea ffid ffida v i to fu ni o npr e s i de n tMa Ma r i l y n
i swh wha ti sl a c ki ng ,n o tt hee vi de nc e . Unf a i rl a bo rpr a c t i c es t a r e st he mi nt he
Ba t a nwh e r e i ni ti sa l l e g e dt h atAt t y s .P a r a sa n dCr u zv i o l a t e dt h eCo deof
f a c e.
,s u c ht ha twhi l e Pr o f e s s i o na lRe s p ons i bi l i t yo fl a wy e r si ns e v e r a li ns t a nc es
I fl a bo ra r b i t e rS a nt o swa wa sc r o s s e y e di nhi sfi ndi ng soff a c t ,t heHo Ho no r a bl e
t hel aborcas ei spendi ngbef oret heNL NLRC,r espondent sPara sandCruzfil eda
Comm mmi ss i oner soft he Fi r stDi vi si on ar edoubl ys o –and wi t h mal i ce
new cas eagai nstt hel aborer si nt heOffi Officeoft heCi Ci t yEngi neerofQuezonCi t y
ft h ewo r k e r si n de e dc o mm mmi t t e da ni l l e g a ls t r i k e ,ho wc o me met h e i r t h r o wni n.I
( QC)t o de mo mo l i s ht h et e n toft h e wo r k e r s ,t huss p l i t t i n gt h ej ur i s d i c t i o n
o nl y" p e na l t y "i sr e mo mo vi ngt he i rt e nt ? I ti so bv i o ust ha tt heLa bo rAr b i t e ra n d
be t we e nt heNLRCandt heCi t yEngi ne e r ' sOffic e( CEO)ofQCwhi c hvi ol a t e s
t h eHo no r a b l eCo mm mmi s s i o ne r sk no wd e e pi nt h e i rs ma l lh e a r t st h a tt h e r e
thatal t hough Ngsi gned t hedi sbar ment Ca n o n1 2 ,Ru l e s1 2 . 0 2a nd1 3 . 0 3 ;
si st heonl yr e as o nf o rt h efindi ngof" i l l e ga ls t r i k e" . Wi t ho ut wa sn os t r i k e.Thi
c o mp mpl a i n ta g ai n s tAl a r ,r e s po nde n t sP a r a s ’ sa nd Cr u z ’ so ffic ffic ei ns t i g a t e dt h e
t hi sfin di n g,t h e yh a v en ob a s i st or e mo v et h et e n t ; t h e yh a vet oi n ve n tt h a t
sai dcomp mpl ai ntwhi chvi ol at esCanon8;t hatNg' sc omp mpanydi dnotpayi ncome me
. b a s i s
t a xf o rt h ey e a r2 0 0 0al l e g e dl yf o rn o no pe r a t i o nduet ofir ea n dr e s po nde n t s
xxxTheuni oni ni t s" Uni onRepl yToThePosi t i onPaperOfManageme ment "
c o ns e n t e dt ot h i sa c to ft h ee mp mpl o y e rwh wh i c hv i o l a t e sCa no n1 9 ,Rul e1 9 . 0 2 ;a nd
a ndi t sAn ne x e sh a ss ho wn wnv e r yc l e a r l yt h att h es oc a l l e ds t r i k ei samy my t h . But
t ha twh e nt h ec a s es t a r t e d,t h e r ewe we r emo mo r eo rl e s s1 0 0c o m mp pl a i n an t s ,b utdu e
Co mm mmi s s i o ne rDi n op olo p t e dt ob e l i e v et h emy t hi n s t e a do ft h ef a c t s .He
t ot heact soft heemp mpl oyerandt her es pondent s,t henumberofc omp mpl ai nant s
fi x e dh i ss i g ht so nt het e nti nf r o nto ft h ewa l la n dc l o s e dh i se y e st ot h e
we r er e duc e dt oa l mo s th al fwh i c hvi o l a t e sCa n on1 9 ,Rul e1 9 0 1 ,1 9 0 2a nd1 9 -
o pe nwi d ep a s s a g ewa wa ya ndg a t ebe s i d ei t .Hi se y e s ,n ott h ei n gr e s sa n d e g r e s so ft h epr e mi mi s e s ,a r ebl o c k e db ys o me me t h i n gs ot h i c kh ec a n n o ts e e
•
6 0 3 . 7 I nAnswert otheCount er Comp mpl ai ntdat edApri l14,2005 , r e s po nde n t sP a r a s
t hr o u ghi t . Hi si mpa i r e dv i s i o nc a n no tbet r u s t e d, n odo ubta bo uti t.
a ndCr u za l l e g e d:Atn ot i medi dt h e yfil emu mul t i pl ea c t i o nsa r i s i ngf r o mt h e
Comm mmi s si onerDi nopolhasenshr i ned a novelr ul eon money c l ai ms .
s a me mec a us eo fa c t i o no rb r o oki n t e r f e r e n c ei nt heno r ma ma lc o ur s eofj udi c i a l
Whereas ,bef ore,t he es t abl i shed r ul e was,i n cas esofm mo oney cl ai msthe
pr o c e e d i n gs ; t h er e l i e f ss o u gh tb e f o r et h eCEO h asn ot hi ngt odowi wi t ht h ec a s e
emp mpl oyerhadt heburdenofproofofpayme ment .Now i ti st heot herwayaround.
pendi ng bef or et he NLRC;t he demo mol i t i on oft he nui sa nce and i l l egal
xxxForl a c kofabe t t e rn a me mewe wes h ou l dc al lt h i sn e wr u l et h e" S pe c i a l
s t r u c t u r e si sac a us eo fa c t i o nc o mp mpl e t e l yi r r e l e v a nta n dunr e l a t e dt ot hel a bo r
Di n op olRu l e " . Bu to n l yr e t i r a b l ec o mm mmi s s i o ne r s a r ea u t h or i z e dt oappl yt h i s
Ng v Alar
c a s e so fc o mpl a i n an t ;t h eCEO wa sr e q ue s t e dt oi n v e s t i g a t ec e r t a i nn ui s a n c e and j uri sprudence.Thoughal awyer ' sl anguagemaybef orc ef ulandemphat i c,i ts houl d s t r u c t u r e sl o c a t e do ut s i det h ee mpl o y er ' spr o pe r t y ,whi c hc o ns i s to fs h a nt i e s ,a l wa y sbedi g ni fie da ndr e s p e c t f ul ,b efit t i ngt h edi g ni t yoft h el e g alpr o f e s s i o n.Theus eo f t ent s,bannersand ot herpar apher nal i awhi chhamperedt hef re ei ngr esst o unneces sar yl anguagei spros cr i bedi fwearet opromot ehi ghes t eem i nt hecourt sand and egre ssoutoft he empl oyer ' spr oper t y and pres entcl earand pres ent t r us ti nj udi c i a la dmi ni s t r a t i on. ” hazards;t he Officeoft he Ci t y Engi neerf ound t he st r uct uresvi ol at i veof
•
9 I nUyv , t h eCo ur th e l dt ha tal a wy e rs h a l la b s t a i nf r o ms c a nda l o us , .De p a s u c a t
•
offensi veormenaci ngl anguageorbehavi orbef oret heCour t s. I tmustbe r emember ed t hatt he l anguagevehi cl e doesnotr un shor tof
per t i nentDPWH andMMDA or di nance s ;t hependencyofal aborc as ewi t h t h eNLRC i sc o mpl e t e l yi r r e l e v a nts i n c et h eh ol di n go fas t r i k e ,l e g a lo rno t , di dno tv al i da t eo rj us t i f yt hec ons t r uc t i o no fi l l e ga ln ui s a nc es t r uc t ur e s ;t he
e x pr e s s i o nswh i c ha r ee mph at i cb utr e s p e c t f ul ,c o n vi n c i n gb utn o td e r o g at o r y ,
CEO proceeded t oabat ethenui sancest ruct urespur suantt oi t spowert o
1 0 i l l umi n at i n gb utn o to ffe ns i v e . Al awyer ' sl anguageshoul d bef orc ef ulbut
pr o t e c tl i f e ,p r o pe r t ya nd l e g a lor de r ;i twa s no tt h e i ri de at o fil et h e
di g ni fie d,e mph at i cb utr e s pe c t f ula sb e fit t i n ga na dv oc a t ea ndi nk e e pi n gwi t h
di s b a r me n tc o mpl a i n ta g ai n s tr e s p o nde n tAl a r ;t h e y me r e l yi n s t r u c t e dt h e i r
1 1 t hedi gni t yo ft hel e ga lp r o f e s s i o n . S ub mi t t i ngpl e a di n gsc o nt a i n i n gc o un t l e s s
c l i e n to nh ow t ogoa bo utfil i n gt h ec a s e , a f t e rh a v i n gb e e ns e r v e dac o pyoft h e
i nsul t sand di at r i besagai nstt he NLRC and at t acki ng bothi t smoraland
derogat oryMRMI ;Canon8shoul dnotbeper ce i vedasanexcusef orl awyer s
i nt e l l e c t ua li nt e gr i t y ,h ar d l yme a s ur e st ot h es ob r i e t yofs p e ec hde ma nde do fa
t ot urn t hei rbackson mal i ci ousact sdoneby t hei rbrot herl awyer s;t he •
c o mpl a i n tf a i l e dt ome n t i o nt h a tt h eon l yr e a s o nt h enumb e ro fc o mpl a i n an t s wer ereducedi sbecauseoft heami cabl ese t t l ementt heywer eabl et or each
no tb e i ngj udg e sorj us t i c e sa ndt he r e f o r eno tp ar to ft h ej udi c i a r y ;a ndt ha t
wi t hmo s to ft h e m;t h e i re n ga g e me ntf o rl e g a ls e r v i c e si so nl yf o rl a b ora n d
conse quent l y,t he Code ofJ udi ci alConductdoesnotappl yt ot hem,i s 1 2 una v a i l i ng .I nL , t he Courthel dt hatr es pondentbecame ub i a n ov .Go r d o l l a
l i t i g a t i o nc a s e s ;a tnot i mewe r et he yc ons u l t e dr e g a r di ngt h et a xc o nc e r n so f
•
t he i rc l i e nta n dt he r e f o r ewe r ene v e rpr i v yt ot hefina nc i a lr e c o r dso ft h el a t t e r ;
un mi n df ulo ft h ef a c tt h ati na ddr e s s i n gt h eNLRC,h eno ne t h e l e s sr e ma i ne da
atno t i me di dt hey gi ve advi ce re gar di ng t hei r cl i ent ' st ax concer ns;
me mb e ro ft h eBa r ,a noa t h b o un ds e r v a nto ft h el a w,wh os efi r s tdut yi sn o tt o
r e s po nde n tAl a r ' sa t t e mp ta tadi s b a r me n tc a s ea g a i ns tt h e mi su nwa r r a nt e d,
h i sc l i e n tb utt ot h ea dmi ni s t r a t i o no fj us t i c ea ndwh os ec o ndu c to ug htt ob e
unj us t i fie da ndo bv i o us l yame r er e t a l i a t o r ya c t i o no nhi sp ar t . Thecas e,docket ed asCBD Cas eNo.051434,wasas si gned byt heI BP t o
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r i g ht e o usa ng e ri suna v a i l i ng .I td o esno td e t e rt heCo ur tf r o me x e r c i s i ngi t s
I n hi sReportand Rec ommendat i on,t heI nves t i gat i ng Commi ss i onerf ound
s u pe r v i s o r ya ut h or i t yo v e rl a wy e r swh o mi s b e h a veorf a i lt ol i v eupt ot h a t
t ha tr e s po nde n tb es u s p e nde df o rap e r i o do fn o tl e s st h ant h r e emo nt h swi t h ast er n warni ng t hatmorese ver epenal t y wi l lbei mposedi n cas esi mi l ar
•
1 3 andmustbescr upul ousl yobser vantofl aw andet hi cs . Re s po nde nt ’ sa r g ume ntt ha tl a bo rpr a c t i t i o ne r sa r ee nt i t l e dt os omel a t i t udeo f
Co mmi s s i o ne rP a t r i c kM.Ve l e zf o ri n v e s t i g a t i o n,r e p o r ta ndr e c o mme n da t i o n. r espondentgui l t yofusi ngi mproperandabusi vel anguageandrecommended
•
l a wy e r . Re s p on de n t ' sa s s e r t i o nt h att h eNLRC n otb e i n g ac o ur t ,i t sc o mmi s s i o ne r s ,
•
1 4 s t andar dexpect edoft hem asmembersoft heBar . 1 5 TheCour thel di nRh , t h us : e e mo ft h ePh i l i p pi ne sv . F e r r e r
“Whatwehavebef or eusi snotwi t houtpr ec edent .Ti meand agai n,t hi sCourthas
admoni shed and puni shed,i n var yi ng degre es ,member soft he Barf orst at ement s , mi sc onducti sagai ncommi t t ed. s r e s p ec t f ulo ri r r e v e r e nt ,a c r i mo ni o uso rde f a ma t o r y ,o ft hi sCo ur to rt h el o we rc o ur t s . Ont h eo t h e rh a nd,t h eI n v e s t i g a t i n gCo mmi s s i o ne rdi dno tfin da n yac t i o na b l e di R e s o r t b y a n a t t o r n e y – i n a mo t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n – t o w o r d s wh i c h ma y d r a g t h i s mi sc onductagai nstAt t ys.Par asand Cr uzand t her ef or er ec ommended t hat Co ur tdo wni n t odi s r e put e ,i sf r o wn e dupo na s" n e i t h e rj us t i fie dn ori nt h el e a s tn e c e s s a r y , t h eCo un t e r Co mpl a i n ta g a i n s tt h e mb edi s mi s s e df o rl a c ko fme r i t be c aus ei nor de rt oc al lt heat t e nt i onoft hec our ti nas pe c i alwa yt ot hee s s e nt i a lpoi nt s Act i ng on t he Reporta nd Recommendat i on,t he I BP Boar d ofGove r nors e l i e dupo ni nh i sa r g u me n ta n dt oe mph as i z et h ef o r c et h e r e o f , t h ema n yr e a s o nss t a t e d i s s u e dt h eRe s o l ut i o nh e r e i n be f o r eq uo t e d.Wh i l et h eCo ur ta g r e e swi t ht h e r nt h emo t i o n"a r e" s uffic i e nt , "a n ds u c hwo r d s" s u pe r fl uo us . "I ti si nt h i sc o nt e x tt h atwe findi ngsoftheI BP,i tdoesnotagr eethatr espondentAl ardese rve sonl ya i mu s t s a y t h a t j u s t b e c a u s e A t t y . A r m o n i o " t h o u g h t b e s t t o f o c u s t h e a t t e n t i o n " o ft h i s r epri mand. Co ur t" t ot h ei s s u ei nt h ec a s e "do e sno tg i v ehi m un br i dl e dl i c e n s ei nl a ng ua g e .T obe
DECI SI ON
sure ,l awyer smaycomeupwi t hvar i ousmet hods, perhapsmuchmoreeffect i ve,i ncal l i ng
YES
t h eCo ur t ’ sa t t e n t i o nt ot h ei s s ue si n v ol v e d.Th el a ng ua g ev e hi c l edo e sno tr uns h o r to f •
Th eCo deo fP r o f e s s i o na lRe s p on s i b i l i t yma n da t e s :
e x pr e s s i o ns ,e mpha t i cb utr e s p e c t f ul ,c o nv i n c i ngbutno tde r o g at o r y ,i l l umi na t i ngbutno t
CANON 8–Al awyershal lconducthi mse l fwi t hcourt esy ,f ai rnes sandcandor o ffe ns i v e . ” t o wa r dhi spr o f e s s i o na lc o l l e a gue s ,a nds h al la v o i dha r a s s i ngt a c t i c sa ga i ns t
•
Tobeprosc r i bedt heni st heuseofunneces sar yl anguagewhi chj eopar di zes
opposi ngcounsel .
hi g he s t e e mi nc o ur t s ,c r e a t e sorpr o mo t e sd i s t r u s ti nj udi c i a la d mi ni s t r a t i o n,
Rul e8 . 0 1— A l a wy e rs h a l ln ot ,i nh i sp r o f e s s i o na lde a l i n gs ,us el a ng ua g e
orwhi ch coul d havet he effectof" harbor i ng and encour agi ng di sc ont ent
whi c hi sa b us i v e ,o ffe n s i v eo ro t h e r wi s ei mpr o p e r .
whi ch,i n many ca se s,i st he sour ceofdi sor der ,t hus undermi ni ng t he
CANON 11–A l awyers hal lobs er veand mai nt ai nt her es pectduet ot he
f o un da t i o nup onwh i c hr e s t st h a tb ul wa r kc a l l e dj udi c i a lpo we rt owh i c ht h os e
c o ur t sa ndt oj udi c i a lo ffic e r sa nds h o ul di n s i s t o ns i mi l a rc o n duc tb yo t h e r s .
who a r ea g gr i e v e dt ur nf o r pr o t e c t i o na n d r e l i e f . "St a b i l i t yo fj udi c i a l
Rul e11. 03–A l awyers hal labst ai nf r om sc andal ous,offensi veormenaci ng l a ng ua g eorb e h a vi o rb e f o r et h eCo ur t s .
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i ns t i t ut i o nss u gg e s t st ha tt heBa rs t a ndfir mo nt hi sp r e c e pt . The l anguage her ei n ques t i on,res pondentsaver ," was t he r es ul tof
Rul e1 1 . 0 4–A l a wy e rs h a l ln ota t t r i b ut et oaJ udg emo t i v e sn ots u ppo r t e db y
o v e r e n t h us i a s m. "I ti sb utt or e p e a ta nol di de awh e nwes a yt h ate n t h us i a s m,
t her e c o r dorh a v enoma t e r i a l i t yt ot h ec a s e .
o re ve ne x c e s so fi t ,i sno tr e a l l yb ad.I nf a c t ,t heoneort heot he ri snol e s sa v i r t ue ,i fc ha nn el e di nt her i g htdi r e c t i o n.Ho we v e r ,i tmus tb ec i r c u ms c r i b e d
•
Th eMRMIc o nt a i n si n s ul t sa n ddi a t r i b e sa g a i n s tt h eNLRC,a t t a c k i n gb ot hi t s
wi t hi nt heboundsofpropri et yand wi t hdueregar df ort heproperpl aceof
mo r a la ndi nt e l l e c t u ali nt e gr i t y ,r e pl e t ewi t hi mpl i e da c c us a t i o nsofp a r t i a l i t y ,
1 6 court si noursys t em ofgovernment . Respondenthascl ear l yvi ol at edCanons8and11oft heCodeofProf ess i onal
i mpropr i et yand l ackofdi l i gence.Res pondentusedi mproperand offensi ve •
•
Responsi bi l i t y.Hi s act i ons er ode t he publ i c’ s perc ept i on of t he l egal
l a ng ua gei nhi sp l e a di ng st ha tdo e sno ta dmi ta n yj us t i fic a t i o n. 8 c u r o mv .J a c o b a I nLa , t h eCo ur tr a t i o c i na t e dasf o l l o ws : •
pr o f e s s i o n. However ,t hepenal t yofr epri mand wi t hs t er nwar ni ng i mposedbyt heI BP
“ We l l r e c o g ni z e di st her i g hto fal a wy e r , b ot ha sa no ffic e ro ft h ec o ur ta nda sac i t i z e n,t o
Boar d ofGovernorsi snotproport i onat et or espondent ’ svi ol at i on ofthe
c r i t i c i z ei npr o pe r l yr e s p e c t f ult e r msa ndt hr o ug hl e g i t i ma t ec ha nne l st heac t so fc o ur t s
Ca no nso ft h eCo deofP r o f e s s i o na lR e s po ns i b i l i t y .Thus ,h ede s e r v e sas t i ffe r
and j udges.However ,eventhemosthardenedj udgewoul dbescar r edbyt hesc urr i l ous at t ackmadebyt he30Jul y2001mot i ononJ udgeLacurom' sResol uti on.Oni t sf ace,t he
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Re s o l ut i o npr e s e n t e dt hef a c t sc o r r e c t l yandde c i de dt hec a s ea c c o r d i n gt os uppo r t i ngl a w
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pe n al t yoffin ei nt h ea mo un to fP5 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 . Anentt heCount er Compl ai ntfil edagai nstAt t ys.ParasandCr uz,t heCourt findsnoreas ont odi st urbthef ol l owi ngfindi ngsandr ecommendat i onoft he
I nvest i gat i ng Commi ss i oner ,asapprovedbyt heI BPBoar dofGovernors ,t o
c a r eo ft h ei rc l i e nt ’ st a xpr o b l e ms , t h ent he yc a nno tb ehe l da c c o unt a bl ef o rt h e
wi t :
sa me.I fanywr ongdoi nghasbeencommi t t edbycompl ai nantNg,heshoul d
The Count er compl ai nant Bat an f ai l ed t o submi tany posi t i on papert o
a ns we rf o rt h ata ndt h os el a wy e r swh owe r er e s p on s i b l ef o rs u c hac t sb eh e l d
s u bs t a nt i a t ei t sc l a i msd e s pi t es u ffic i e nto ppo r t uni t yt odos o . 1 â wp h i 1
l i abl ej oi ntl y.Ther ei sno showi ng [ t hat]at t orneysParasand Cr uz wer e
Ata n yr a t e ,i tmus tb eno t e dt h att h ea l l e g e dc a s ewi t ht h eOffic eo ft h eCi t y Eng i n e e rr e a l l yp ar t a k e sofadi ffe r e n tc a us eo fa c t i o n,wh i c hh a sn ot h i n gt odo •
•
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wi t htheNLRCca se .
f r om about100cl ai mant st ol esst han hal ft he numberi snotbyi t sel fan
Thedeci si onwasmadebytheci t yengi neer .Respondent ’ sr emedyshoul dbe
a c t i o na b l emi s c o n du c t . La wy e r sa r ed ut ybo un dt of o s t e ra mi c a b l es e t t l e me n t
t o ques t i on t hatdeci si on,notbri ng i tt ot hi sCommi ss i on whi ch has no
o fc a s e s ;l i t i g a t i o na nda dv e r s a r i a lp r o c e e di ng swhi l eane c e s s a r ypa r to ft he
j ur i s di c t i onove ri t .Wec annots ubs t i t ut eourj udgme ntf ort hepr ope rc our t s
pr a c t i c ei sno te n c o ur a g e d ,b e c a u s ei twi l ls a v ee x pe n s e sa ndh e l pun c l o gg e d
whos ho ul dde t e r mi net hepr o pr i e t yors a g a c i t yoft hec i t ye ng i n e e r ’ sa c t i o n. F ur t h e r mo r e ,pa r t i e sa r eno tp r o hi b i t e df r o ma v a i l i n gt h e ms e l v e sofr e me di e s
[ s i c ]t hedo c ke t s .I ft hec o mpr o mi s ei sf a i rt he nt he r ei sn or e a s o nt opr e v e nt
a v a i l a b l ei nl a w pr o v i de d;t h e s ea c t sdon ote x c e e dt h eb oun dso fd e c e nc y .I n
compromi seagr eementandwai ver sexec ut edappeart obeunf ai r ,henceno
suppor t i ng t heact i on agai nstr espondent ’ sconduct ,no suchabusemaybe
r e a s o nt oh ol dl a wy e r sl i a b l ef o rt h es a me .Be s i de s ,a" c o mpr o mi s ei sa sof t e n
t hesame.Ther ei snot hi ng i nt hecount er compl ai ntwhi chshowst hatt he
g l e a n e d.I nde e d ,i ti st h ea t t o r n e y’ sdut ya sa no ffic e ro ft h ec o ur tt ode f e n da
t he bet t erpartofj ust i ceaspr udencethepartofval orand al awyerwho
j udgef r om unf ounde dc r i t i c i s m orgr oundl e s spe r s onalat t ac k.Thi sr e qui r e s
e n c our a g e sc o mpr o mi s ei sn ol e s st h ec l i e n t ’ sc h a mpi o ni ns e t t l e me n to uto f
ofhi m notonl yt or ef r ai nf rom subj ect i ngt hej udget owi l dand groundl ess
c o ur tt h an h ei st h ec l i e n t ’ sc ha mpi o ni nt h eb a t t l ei nc o ur t . "( Cur t i s ,Th e
acc usat i onbutal sot odi sc our ageot herpeopl efr om sodoi ngandt ocomet o
Adv oc a t e :Vo i c e si nCo ur t ,5( 1 9 5 8 ) ;c i t e di nAg pa l o ’ sLe g alEt hi c s ,p.8 6 ,1 9 8 0
h i sde f e n s ewhe nh ei ss os u bj e c t e d.Byt h ev e r yna t ur eo fh i spo s i t i o naj udg e
e d. )Wh a ti st h e r e f o r er e s p on de n tAl a r [ ‘ ] sbe e fwi t ht h ee x e c u t i o no ft h e s e
l a c k st h epo we r ,o ut s i deofh i sc o ur t ,t ode f e n dh i ms e l fa g a i n s tu nf o un de d c r i t i c i s ma n dc l a mo ra ndi ti st h ea t t o r n e y ,a n d noo t h e r ,wh oc a nb e t t e ro r
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wa i v e r si ft h e s ewe r ee x e c ut e df r e e l ybyhi sc l i e nt s ? Al lt ol d,wedonotfind anythi ng act i onabl emi sc onductagai nstAt t orneys
mo r ea ppr o p r i a t e l ys u ppo r tt h ej udi c i a r ya ndt h ei n c umb e nt so ft h ej udi c i a l
P a r a sa n d Cr u z ;h e nc et h edi s mi s s a lo ft h ec o un t e r c o mpl a i nta g a i ns tt h e mi s
po s i t i o ns .( Agpa l o ,p.1 4 3c i t i ngPe 7 7Phi l .5 7 2( 1 9 46 ) ; o pl ev.Ca r i l l o , S u r i g a o
1 7 pr o pe rf o ra b s ol ut el a c kofme r i t .
, 197 0) ;s eeCaba Mi ne r a lRe s e r v a t i o n Bo a r dv .Cl o r i b e l31SCRA 1 ( nsa g v. F e r n a n d e z ,1 0 2Phi l .1 5 2( 1 9 5 7 )Wh e t h e rt h edi s b a r me n tc o mpl a i n twa sfi l e dby Ngorbyhi sl awyer si st heref orenotofgreati mport ,whati smoreapropos NOTES woul dbethecont ent soft hecompl ai ntandwhet hert hesamei ss uffici entt o •
r e s p ons i b l ef o rt h a tt a xfia s c o . 1 â wp h i 1 F i na l l y ,wh i l ei tma yb et r u et h a tBa t a n ’ sg r o uph asb e e ng r e a t l ydi mi n i s h e d
c o ns i de rdi s c i pl i na r ys a nc t i o ns . Li k e wi s e ,t h et a xc a s ei sadi ffe r e n tma t t e ra l t o ge t h e r .S i n c et h er e s po nde n t l awyershaveal re ady st at edt hatt heywer enotengagedascounsel st ot ake
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