Problem Areas in Legal Ethics

The course will clarify the rules that govern lawyers’ conduct . It will focus on rules embodied in
the Code of Professional Responsibility, New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine
Judiciary, Notarial Law, and the pertinent provisions of the Revised Rules of Court.

References:
Agpalo, Legal and Judicial Ethics
Funa, Legal Ethics
Pineda, Legal Ethics

Rules. The Code of Professional Responsibility

Rule 138, Attorneys and Admission to the Bar, Rule 138-A, Law Student Practice, Rules of
Court.
Rule 139-A, The Integrated Bar of the Phils. Rule 139-B, Suspension, Disbarment & Discipline
of Attorneys
The New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary, A.M. No. 03-05-01-SC

I. INTRODUCTION
a. Requirement of Good Moral Character
1. Ventura vs. Atty. Samson, A.C. No. 9608, Nov. 27, 2012
2. Father Ranhilio C. Aquino, et al. vs. Atty. Edwin Pascua, A.C. No. 5095, November 28, 2007
3. Ong vs. Atty. Delos Santos, A.C. No. 10179, March 04, 2014
4. Mercullo vs. Atty. Ramon, AC No. 11078, July 19, 2016
5. Suarez vs. Atty. Maravilla-Ona, AC No. 11064, Sept. 27, 2016

b. Rehabilitation from criminal conduct and good moral character

6. In re: Petition to disqualify Atty. Leonardo De Vera, AC No. 6052, December 11, 2003
7. Roberto Soriano vs. Atty. Manuel Dizon, AC 6792, January 25, 2006

c. Passing the bar

8. In Re: Petition to Sign in the Roll of Attorneys of Michael A. Medado, BM No. 2540, Sept.
24, 2013

d. What is practice of law?

9. Brunet vs. Atty. Guaren, AC No. 10164, March 10, 2014
10. Cayetano vs. Monsod, GR No. 100113, September 3, 1991
11. Narag vs. Atty. Narag, AC No. 3405, March 18, 2014

e. Law student and practice of law* Revised Rules of Court, Rule 138-A, Section 34
12. Cruz vs. Mina, GR No. 154207, April 27, 2007

f. Admission to the IBP and Disbarment

13. Atty. Palad vs. Solis, GR NO. 206691, Oct. 3, 2016
14. De Leon vs. Atty. Pedreña, AC No. 9401, Oct. 22, 2013
15. In re: Atty. Marcial Edillion, AM 1928, August 3, 1978
16. In Re: Petition to Re-Acquire the Privilege to Practice Law in the Philippines, B.M. No.
2112, July 24, 2012
1987 Philippine Constitution, Art. 12, par 14
17. Caronan vs. Caronan, AC No. 11316, July 12, 2016

g. Exemption from payment of IBP dues

18. Letter of Atty. Cecilio Y. Arevalo Jr., B.M. No. 1370, May 9, 2005
19. Santos, Jr. vs. Llamas, AC 4749, January 20, 2001

h. Lawyer’s Oath
i. Why is a lawyer “an Officer of the Court?” pages 1-30, Legal Ethics by Pineda, 2009 edition
Rules of Court, Rule 138
20. Atty. Vaflor-Fabroa vs. Atty. Paguinto, AC No. 6273, Mar. 15, 2010

II. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

a. Canon 1
21. Brennisen vs. Atty. Contawi, AC No. 7481, April 24, 2012
22. Bunagan-Bansig vs. Atty. Celera, AC No. 5581, January 14, 2014
23. Stemmerik vs. Atty. Mas, AC No. 8010, June 16, 2009
24. Manzano vs. Atty. Soriano, AC No. 8051, April 07, 2009

b. Canon 2
25. Santiago vs. Atty. Rafanan, AC No. 6252, October 5, 2004

c. Canon 3
26. Atty. Khan Jr. vs. Atty. Simbillo, AC No. 5299, August 19, 2003

d. Canon 4

e. Canon 5
27. Hernandez vs. Atty. Padilla, AC No. 9387, June 20, 2012

f. Canon 6
28. Olazo vs. Justice Tinga, AM No. 10-5-7-SC, December 07, 2010
29. Monares vs. Atty. Muñoz, A.C. No. 5582, Jan. 24, 2017
30. People vs. Hon. Castaneda, Jr., GR No. 208290, Dec. 11, 2013
31. Re: Resolution of the Court dated 1 June 2004 in GR No. 72954 against Atty. Avecilla, AC
No. 6683, June 21, 2011
32. Lingan vs. Atty. Calabaquib, AC No. 5377, June 30, 2014

g. Canon 7
33. Mendoza vs. Atty. Deciembre, AC No. 5338, Feb. 23, 2009

h. Canon 8
34. Que vs. Atty. Revilla Jr., AC No. 7054, December 4, 2009

i. Canon 9
35. Tapay, et al. vs. Atty. Bancolo, et al., AC No. 9604, March 20, 2013
36. Conjugal Partnership of Sps. Cadavedo vs. Lacaya, GR No. 173188, Jan. 15, 2014
37. Engr. Tumbokon vs. Atty. Pefianco, AC No. 6622, July 10, 2012

j. Canon 10
38. Molina vs. Atty. Magat, AC No. 1900, June 13, 2012
39. Samonte vs. Atty. Abellana, AC No. 3452, June 18, 2014
40. Sonic Steel Industries, Inc. vs. Atty. Chua, AC No. 6942, July 17, 2013

k. Canon 11
41. In the matter of proceedings for disciplinary action against Atty. Almacen, GR No. 27654,
February 18, 1970
42. Atty. Barandon, Jr. vs. Atty. Ferrer, Sr., AC No. 5768, March 26, 2010
43. Asean Pacific Planners, et al. vs. City of Urdaneta, et al, GR No.162525, September 23, 2008
44. Judge Rodriguez-Manahan vs. Atty. Flores, AC No. 89545, Nov. 13, 2013

l. Canon 12
45. Enriquez vs. Atty. Lavadia, Jr., AC No. 5686, June 16, 2015
m. Canon 13
46. Baltazar vs. Atty. Bañez, AC No. 9091, Dec. 11, 2013
47. Fajardo vs. Atty. Alvarez, AC No. 9018, April 20, 2016

n. Canon 14
48. Perez vs. Atty. Dela Torre, AC 6160, March 30, 2006
49. Francisco vs. Atty. Portugal, AC No. 6155, March 14, 2006

o. Canon 15
50. Reddi vs. Atty. Sebrio Jr. AC No. 7027, January 30, 2009
51. Ma. Luisa Hadjula vs. Atty. Roceles F. Madianda, AC No. 6711, July 03, 2007
52. Atty. Jalandoni vs. Atty. Villarosa, AC No. 5303, June 15, 2006
53. Vasco-Tamaray vs. Atty. Daquis, AC No. 10868, Jan. 26, 2016
54. Rural Bank of Calape, Inc. vs. Atty. Florido, AC No. 5736, June18, 2010
55. Buehs vs. Atty. Bacatan, AC No. 6674, June 30, 2009

p. Canon 16
56. Del Mundo vs. Atty. Capistrano, AC No. 6903, April 16, 2012
57. Atty. Salomon Jr. vs. Atty. Frial, AC No. 7820, September 12, 2008
58. Segovia-Ribaya vs. Atty. Lawsin, AC No. 7965, Nov. 13, 2013
59. Chua vs. Atty. Jimenez, AC No. 9880, Nov. 28, 2016

q. Canon 17
60. San Juan vs. Atty. Venida, AC No. 11317, Aug. 23, 2016

r. Canon 18
61. Figueras vs. Atty. Jimenez, AC No. 9116, March 12, 2014
62. Cabauatan vs. Atty. Venida, AC No. 10043, Nov. 20, 2013
63. Baens vs. Atty. Sempio, AC No. 10378, June 09, 2014
64. Ruiz vs. Santos, GR No. 166386, January 27, 2009
65. Atty. Solidon vs. Atty. Macalalad, AC No. 8158, Feb. 24, 2010

s. Canon 19
66. Atty. Solidon vs. Atty. Macalalad, AC No. 8158, February 24, 2010
67. Plus Builders, Inc. vs. Atty. Revilla, Jr., AC No. 7056, Feb. 11, 2009
68. Henares vs. Atty. Guevarra, AC No. 11394, Dec. 1, 2016

t. Canon 20
69. Voluntad-Ramirez vs. Atty. Bautista, AC No. 6733, Oct. 10, 2012
70. Rosario, Jr. vs. De Guzman, GR No. 191247, July 10, 2013
71. Baltazar vs. Atty. Bañez, AC No. 9091, Dec. 11, 2013

u. Canon 21
72. Orola vs. Atty. Ador, AC No. 9860, September 11, 2013

v. Canon 22
73. Fil-Garcia, Inc. vs. Atty. Hernandez, AC No. 7129, July 16, 2008
74. Sps. Warriner vs. Atty. Dublin, AC No. 5239, Nov. 18, 2013

III. Notarial Rules

75. De Guzman Ferguzon v. Atty. Ramos, AC No. 9209, April 18, 2017

IV. Judicial Ethics – New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary

Canon 1 – Independence
76. People vs. Hon. Dela Torre-Yadao, GR Nos. 162144-54, Nov. 13, 2012 (Inhibition)
77. Bangayan vs. RCBC, G.R. No. 149193, April 4, 2011
Canon 2 – Integrity
78. Gacad vs. Judge Clapis, Jr., A.M. No. RTJ-10-2257, July 2012 (Gross misconduct)
79. OCA vs. Judge Aguilar, A.M. No. RTJ-07-2087, June 7, 2011

Canon 3 – Impartiality
80. Atty. Medina vs. Judge Canoy, AM No. RTJ-11-2298, Feb. 22, 2012
81. 3-D Industries, Inc. vs. Justice Roxas, AM No. CA-10-50-J, Oct. 5, 2010

Canon 4 – Propriety
82. Attys. Santos and Andres vs. Judge Bernardo, AM No. MTJ-07-1670, July 23, 2008
(Impropriety)
83. Office of the Court Administrator vs. Judge Yu, AM No. MTJ-12-1813, Nov. 22, 2016
(Conduct unbecoming of a judge, gross insubordination)
84. Magtibay vs. Judge Indar, AM No. RTJ-11-2271, Sept. 24, 2012 (Conduct unbecoming of a
judge)
85. Benancillo vs. Judge Amila, A.M. No. RTJ-08-2149, March 9, 2011

Canon 5 – Equality
86. Ambassador Angping vs. Judge Ros, AM No. 12-8-160-RTC, Dec. 10, 2012

Canon 6 – Competence and Diligence

87. Atty. Ceniza-Layese vs. Judge Asis, A.M. No. RTJ-07-2034, Oct. 15, 2008 (Errors of
judgment)
88. Re: Anonymous Letter dated Aug. 12, 2010 Complaining against Judge Ofelia T. Pinto, A.M.
No. RTJ-11-2289, Oct. 02, 2012 (Gross ignorance of the law)
89. State Prosecutor II Josef Albert T. Comilang vs. Judge Belen, AM No. RTJ-10-2216
[Formerly AM OCA IPI No. 08-2788-RTJ], June 26, 2012
90. Bancil vs. Hon. Reyes, AM No. MTJ-16-1869, July 27, 2016 (Undue delay in disposition of
cases)