November(12,(2016(

!
Ethics(
!
! In!general:!Discipline!of!determining!what!is!good!vs.!bad!or!right!vs.!wrong!!
! We!consider!something!as!RIGHT!or!GOOD!if:!!
o It!conforms!with!what!he/she!ought!to!do!!
! what!you!ought!to!do!presupposes,!a!standard!of!conduct.!!
! Ethics:!conduct!of!behavior!expected!from!a!certain!class!of!individuals!
!
Legal(Ethics(
!
! Science!treating!what!an!attorney!what!to!do!in!relation!to!the:!(4Hfold!duty!of!the!lawyer)!!
!
a) Court;!!
b) Client;!!
c) Colleagues;!and!!
d) The!Public!!
!
Judicial(Ethics(
!
! Branch!of!moral!science!which!treats!of!the!right!and!proper!conduct!to!be!observed!by!Judges!in!administering!
justice.!!
! Legal!and!moral!mechanism!that!keeps!and!maintains!the!trust!and!confidence!of!the!people!in!the!judicial!system!!
! legal!ethics!ensure!that!people!trust!lawyers!while!judicial!ethics!ensure!that!people!will!trust!the!court!
!
Purpose(of(Code(of(Ethics(in(Judicial(Ethics(
!
! to!uphold!and!maintain!public!confidence!in!the!judiciary!!
!
o!In!the!new!code,!appearance!is!just!as!important!as!to!the!actual!attribute!itself.!!
o!Judges!must!not!only!be!impartial!but!must!appear!to!be!impartial.!!
!
Importance(of(Judicial(Ethics(to(Lawyers(
!
Q:!Can!the!courts!function!without!lawyers?!
!
A:!No.!Under!the!present!setH!up!of!the!Rules!of!Court,!who!can!appear!before!the!courts!–!are!lawyers.!
Q:!Why!are!judicial!ethics!important!to!lawyers?!
• Lawyers!should!know!code!of!conduct!of!judicial!ethics!because!the!administration!of!justice!is!a!joint!
responsibility!of!the!judge!and!lawyer.!
• In!the!same!way,!Judges!expect!from!lawyers!the!!most!ethical!discharge!of!duties.!The!lawyer!can!also!demand!
from!judges!the!same!standard!of!conduct.!
• The!judge!expects!the!lawyer!to!properly!perform!his!role!In!the!same!manner!that!the!lawyer!expects!a!judge!to!
do!his!part.!Their!relation!must!be!based!on!mutual!respect!and!on!a!deep!appreciation!by!one!of!the!duties!of!the!
other.!Only!in!this!manner!can!each!of!them!minimize!occasions!for!delinquency!and!help!attain!the!ends!of!
judges.!
• its!is!a!form!of!checks!and!balance.!If!judges!can!check!the!conduct!of!lawyers,!then!lawyers!must!also!not!be!afrain!
in!exposing!the!unethical!!conduct!of!judges.!!
*No!matter!how!hard!you!worked!on!the!case,!all!your!efforts!will!just!be!in!vain!if!the!judge!is!corrupt,!incompetent,!or!not!
updated!with!law!and!jurisprudence.!
!
!
There(are(two(codes:(
1. The!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!
 2. The!New!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!for!the!Philippine!Judiciary!
!
New(Code(of(Judicial(Conduct(for(the(Philippine(Judiciary,(AM(No.(03I05I01,(June(1,(2004(
!
• The!New!Code!did!not!repeal!the!old!code.!There!is!nothing!inconsistent!between!the!two.!While!we!apply!the!
new!code,!the!old!code!has!a!suppletory!effect.!!The!old!and!new!code!have!substantially!the!same!provisions.!
However,!there!are!new!provisions!in!the!New!Code!which!are!not!found!in!the!old!code.!
• The!New!Code!adopts!Universal!Declaration!for!Ethical!Conduct!of!Judges!embodied!in!the!Bangalore!Draft!as!
revised!in!the!Round!Table!Conference!of!Chief!Justices!held!at!The!Hague,!November!25H26,!2002.!
• Philippine!Supreme!Court!was!then!represented!by!former!Chief!Justice!Davide!and!Senior!State!Justice!Puno!who!
also!later!on!became!a!Chief!Justice.!!
• The!Philippines!being!a!signatory!thereto!saw!a!need!to!promulgate!a!New!Code!for!the!Philippine!Judiciary.!The!
Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!is!the!old!code.!!
• Philippines!is!a!signatory!to!the!Bangalore!Draft!which!contains!the!Universal!Declaration!of!Judicial!Ethics!
• Countries!who!are!signatories!must!adhere!to!the!Universal!Declaration!of!Judicial!Ethics!
• To!emphasize!that!we!are!signatories!to!the!Bangalore!Draft,!the!Philippine!SC!promulgated!the!New!Code!of!
Judicial!Conduct!for!the!Philippine!Judiciary!
• The!Bangalore!Draft!looks!very!much!like!our!New!Code.!
!
T.N:(The!New!code!compared!to!the!old!code!has!around!only!5!new!provisions!and!1!new!canon!(The!Canon!of!Equality).!
!
!
!
CODE(OF(JUDICIAL(CONDUCT((1989)!
PREAMBLE!
!
An( honorable( competent( and( independent( judiciary( exists( to( administer( justice( and( thus( promote( the( unity( of( the(
country,(the(stability(of(government,(and(the(wellIbeing(of(the(people.!
!
!
! All!of!these!attributes!must!be!observed!not!only!by!the!judiciary!as!an!institution!but!also!by!individual!judges!and!
justices.!!
!
NEW(CODE(OF(JUDICIAL(CONDUCT(FOR(THE(PHILIPPINE(JUDICIARY!
PREAMBLE(
(
(
WHEREAS,(the(Bangalore(Draft,(as(amended,(is(intended(to(be(the(Universal(Declaration(of(Judicial(Standards(applicable(
in(all(judiciaries;|!
!
WHEREAS,( the( Bangalore( Draft( is( founded( upon( a( universal( recognition( that( a( competent,( independent( and( impartial(
judiciary(is(essential(if(the(courts(are(to(fulfill(their(role(in(upholding(constitutionalism(and(the(rule(of(law;(that(public((
confidence!in(the(judicial(system((and((in(the(moral(authority(and(integrity(of(the(judiciary(is(of(utmost(importance(in(a(
modem(democratic(society;(and,(that(it(is(essential(that(judges,(individually(and(collectively,(respect(and(honor(judicial(
office((as(a(public(trust(and(strive(to(enhance(and(maintain(confidence(in(the(judicial(system;(WHEREAS,(the(adoption(of(
the( universal( declaration( of( standards( for( ethical( conduct( of( judges( embodied( in( the( Bangalore( Draft( as( revised( at( the(
Round( ( Table( Conference( of( Chief( Justices( at( The( Hague( is( imperative( not( only( to( update( and( correlate( the( code( of(
Judicial(Conduct(and(the(Canons(of(Judicial(Ethics(adopted(for(the(Philippines,(but(also(to(stress(the(Philippines’(solidarity(
with(the(universal(clamor(for(a(universal(code(of(judicial(ethics.!
!
!
! updates!and!correlates!the!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!and!the!Canons!of!Judicial!Ethics!
! Canons!of!Judicial!Ethics:!older!code!before!the!old!code!
! until!now,!the!Canons!of!Judicial!Ethics!are!cited!by!the!SC!in!its!jurisprudence.!It!!has!not!been!abolished,!
repealed,!or!superceded.!
 ! The!creation!of!the!New!Code!is!to!stress!Philippine!solidarity!for!the!universal!clamor!for!a!universal!code!of!
judicial!ethics!
!
!
Seven(Cardinal(Values(in(the(Judiciary((incorporated(in(5(Canons(in(the(New(Code):!
!
1. Independence!!
2. Integrity!!
3. Impartiality!!
4. Propriety!!
5. Equality!!
6. Competence!!
7. Diligence!!
!
! A!code!of!ethics!does!not!necessarily!translate!to!ethical!judges.!!Just!because!there!is!a!code!of!ethics,!it!does!not!
transform!judges!into!saints!and!angels!and!ethical!beings.!
! Justice!Ameurfina!MelencioHHerrera,!a!retired!justice,!referring!to!the!New!Code,!said:!A!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!
no!matter!how!wisely!crafted!does!not!necessary!translate!into!!ethical!conduct!on!the!part!of!the!magistrates!and!
the!officers!of!the!Law.!It!is!however!certain!that!without!a!Code!of!Conduct,!a!judge!will!find!it!difficult!to!navigate!
ethically!through!the!mine!waters!of!professional!conduct!and!even!in!their!everyday!life!as!a!judge.!Prudence!is!
certainly!a!necessary!virtue!but!the!grey!areas!are!many!and!questions!may!raise!difficult.!The!Supreme!Court!has!
done!its!job,!it!has!promulgated!the!New!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!for!the!Philippine!Judiciary.!What!remains!to!be!
done!is!the!important!thing.!To!make!the!Code!a!living!reality!in!the!honorable,!decent,!respectable!and!inspiring!
conduct!of!our!judges,!justices!and!judicial!officials.!No!code!can!ever!achieve!the!disposition!and!the!decision!to!
conduct!oneself!ethically.!But!the!direction!one!must!go,!the!guide!post!when!one!chooses!to!conduct!oneself!with!
honor! and! to! hold! oneself! out! to! the! public! as! the! Republic’s! credible! agent! for! the! administration! of! justice! is!
what!the!code!of!Conduct!fundamentally!is.!
! The!code!will!not!automatically!transform!the!judges!into!ethical!judges!but!it!is!a!guidepost.!
! Ethics!will!help!your!job,!Ethics!will!help!you!keep!your!livelihood.!!
!
(
November(19,(2015(
Canon(1(–(INDEPENDENCE(
Judicial( independence( is( a( preIrequisite( to( the( Rule( of( Law( and( a( fundamental( guarantee( of( a( fair( trial.( A( judge( shall,(
therefore,(uphold(and(exemplify(judicial(independence(in(both(its(individual(and(institutional(aspects.((
!“individual!and!institutional!aspects”!–!independence!in!two!things:!!
• individual!independence6!the!judge!as!a!person!must!be!independent!!
• institutional!independence!–judiciary!as!institution!must!be!independent!from!other!branch!of!
government/connection.!!
!
Individual! judicial! independence! focuses! on! each! particular! judge! and! seeks! to! ensure! his! ability! to! decide! cases! with!
autonomy.! Institutional! judicial! independence! focuses! on! independence! of! judiciary! as! a! branch! of! government! and!
protects!the!judges!as!a!class.!!(SC!decided!case)!
!
(
SECTION(1.(Judges(shall(exercise(the(judicial(function(independently(on(the(basis(of(their(assessment(of(the(facts(and(in(
accordance( with( a( conscientious( understanding( of( the( law,( free( of( any( extraneous( influence,( inducement,( pressure,(
threat(or(interference,(direct(or(indirect,(from(any(quarter(or(for(any(reason.((
(
Possible(sources(of(influence:(
• Internal!–!biases,!prejudice,!preconceived!notions!
Ex:!A!judge!who!has!prejudice!against!muslims,!he!must!not!decide!the!case!on!basis!of!such!but!of!facts!and!law.!
• External!–!political,!social,!familial!
Ex:!Governor,!Mayor!has!been!instrumental!to!the!appointment!of!the!judge!to!the!judiciary,!and!they!go!the!judge,!
‘tabangi!mi!ani.’!
!
Ramirez(vs.(CorpusIMacandog(
A! judge! acted! improperly! when! he! rendered! rulings! based! on! directives! of! a! government! official.! Admitted! such,! but!
contented! on! defense! that! it! was! a! revolutionary! government,! and! so! the! directive! must! be! followed! because! of! the!
peculiar!nature!of!the!government!at!that!time.!The!Supreme!Court!renounced!that!the!judge’s!act!was!a!patent!betrayal!of!
public!trust!and!a!revelation!of!her!weak!moral!character.!!
!
Libaros(vs.(Dabalos(
The! judge! granted! the! motion! for! bail! dispensing! the! requirement! on! hearing.! He! reasoned! that! outside! his! courtroom!
there!was!a!rally!conducted!by!the!supporters.!
A!judge!is!expected!to!diligently!ascertain!the!facts!and!applicable!law,!unswayed!by!partisan!or!personal!interests.!
!
(
SECTION( 2.( In( performing( judicial( duties,( judges( shall( be( independent( from( judicial( colleagues( in( respect( of( decisions(
which(the(judge(is(obliged(to(make(independently.((
!
Regardless! of! good! relations,! camaraderie! and! companerismo! among! judges,! they! shall! not! be! influenced! by! their! fellow!
judges.!
Individual!independence!from!judicial!colleagues!is!a!must,!even!in!collegiate!courts.!
!
(
SECTION( 3.( Judges( shall( refrain( from( influencing( in( any( manner( the( outcome( of( litigation( or( dispute( pending( before(
another(court(or(administrative(agency.((
The! provision! in! Sec.! 2! is! extended! by! the! prohibition! to! wield! influence! upon! other! ! quasiHjudicial! and! administrative!
agencies.!
!
Example!(bar!exam!question):!
The!judge!wrote!to!the!NLRC!Commissioners!to!tell!them!that!his!wife’s!allegations!are!untrue,!his!wife!being!a!party!to!a!
proceeding!before!the!NLRC.!The!judge!defended!himself!by!saying,!“I!just!want!the!truth!to!prevail,!the!letter!was!with!the!
noble!intention!or!ripping!out!the!truth!and!guiding!the!NLRC!in!their!decisionHmaking.!
Suggested!answer:!
Regardless!of!the!noble!intentions!of!the!judge,!the!fact!of!writing!a!letter!to!the!NLRC!is!already!a!form,!of!influencing!a!
quasiHjudicial!tribunal,!a!violation!of!Sec.!3.!
!
OCA(vs.(Judge(Floro(
A!judge!entered!his!appearance!in!a!court!case,!representing!himself.!He!signed!a!pleading!wherein!he!indicated!that!he!is!
the!presiding!judge!of!RTC!Branch!Malabon!City!and!appending!to!the!pleading!a!copy!of!his!oath!with!a!picture!of!his!oathH
taking.!!
SC!said,!it!is!clearly!trying!to!influence!or!put!pressure!on!a!fellow!judge.!!
!
!
SECTION( 4.( Judges( shall( not( allow( family,( social( or( other( relationships( to( influence( judicial( conduct( or( judgment.( The(
prestige(of(judicial(office(shall(not(be(used(or(lent(to(advance(the(private(interests(of(others,(nor(convey(or(permit(others(
to(convey(the(impression(that(they(are(in(a(special(position(to(influence(the(judge.((
Example!(just!a!vague!example,!this!may!had!happened,!maybe!not!!):!
In!Court!of!Appeals,!(this!happened!a!long!time!ago)!they!have!a!ponente!and!two!other!judges!who!will!sign!the!decision.!
After!the!decision!has!already!been!signed,!there!could!be!other!people!who!have!seen!the!decision.!These!people!called!the!
lawyer! of! the! ‘winning! party’,! saying! that! ‘si! Judge! kailangan! money,! gamay! na! lng! para! madaog! ka’.! Sadly,! the! judge!
doesn’t!know!nga!gibaligya!na!siya.!Who!are!these!people?!Those!that!are!close!to!the!judge.!
!
Definition(of(Family(under(the(New(Code((
th
Hthose!related!by!blood!or!marriage!within!the!6 !civil!degree,!as!well!as!persons!who!are!companions!or!employees!of!the!
judge!who!lived!in!the!judge’s!household.!
nd
Yaya!of!the!judge?!Family!!!!under!the!2 !part!of!the!definition!
Stay6in!driver!of!the!judge?!Family!!!! Live6in!partner!of!the!judge?!Family!!!
This!section!is!to!discourage!and!avoid!influence!peddling!by!members!of!the!judge’s!inner!circle.!
In!some!U.S.!states,!e.g.!Denver!and!Florida,!judges!were!advised!to!drop!lawyers!from!their!friends!on!social!networking!
sites.!!
Judges! should! brace! themselves! knowing! that! by! their! assumption! to! judicial! office,! people! close! to! them! might! in! the!
future!seek!favors!or!intend!to!influence!them.!Judges!should!be!prepared!to!handle!these!situations!and!must!already!be!
ready!to!maintain!their!independence!in!the!midst!of!all!these!external!influences.!
!
(
SECTION( 5.( Judges( shall( not( only( be( free( from( inappropriate( connections( with,( and( influence( by,( the( executive( and(
legislative(branches(of(government,(but(must(also(appear(to(be(free(therefrom(to(a(reasonable(observer.((
!“must!also!appear!to!be!free!therefrom!to!!reasonable!observer”!–appearance!is!just!as!important.!Judges!must!not!only!be!
independent,!but!must!also!appear!to!be!independent.!Appearance!of!lack!of!independence,!is!already!actionable.!
!
Considering! that! the! appointments,! promotion! and! movements! of! judges! are! subject! to! executive! approval! and! that! the!
organization,!budget!and!resources!of!the!judiciary!are!matters!that!requires!legislative!phase.!Judges!should!uphold!their!
duty!to!render!justice!freely!without!any!obligation!to!reciprocate!whatever!beneficence!that!might!have!been!bestowed!on!
them!by!2!other!branches.!
Allowance!from!LGUs?!Yes,!judges!receive!allowances!from!LGUs.!Rationale:!Job!of!the!judges!are!not!easy.!If!we!just!rely!on!
SC’s!allowance,!it!is!not!enough!to!commensurate!them!for!what!they!do.!
!
Wrong!practices:!
Case:!Judge!who!makes!it!a!point!to!invite!sanggunian!members!to!his!chambers!for!a!quick!chat.!!
Case:!Judge!referred!the!matter!of!transfer!of!court!employees!to!vice!mayor.!!
!
(
SECTION(6.(Judges(shall(be(independent(in(relation(to(society(in(general(and(in(relation(to(the(particular(((to(a(dispute(
which(he(or(she(has(to(adjudicate.((
(
SECTION( 7.( Judges( shall( encourage( and( uphold( safeguards( for( the( discharge( of( judicial( duties( in( order( to( maintain( and(
enhance(the(institutional(and(operational(independence(of(the(Judiciary.((
(
(
SECTION(8.(Judges(shall(exhibit(and(promote(high(standards(of(judicial(conduct(in(order(to(reinforce(public(confidence(in(
the(Judiciary,(which(is(fundamental(to(the(maintenance(of(judicial(independence.((
Conduct!of!judge!in!or!out!of!court!should!be!beyond!reproach!as!they!are!the!visible!representation!of!the!law!and!of!the!
judiciary.!
!
(
CANON(2(–(INTEGRITY(
Integrity(is(essential(not(only(to(the(proper(discharge(of(the(judicial(office,(but(also(to(the(personal(demeanor(of(judges.((
Are!judges!obliged!to!disclose!to!JBC!(an!appointing!authority)!disciplinary,!criminal,!civil!cases!against!them?!–!YES.!
So!if!you!apply!for!judgeship,!in!your!application.!Judges!are!mandated!to!disclose!all!cases!pending!before!the!judge.!Or!if!
the!case!is!already!terminated,!to!disclose!the!result!of!the!case.!
!
(
SECTION(1.(Judges(shall(ensure(that(not(only(is(their(conduct(above(reproach,(but(that(it(is(perceived(to(be(so(in(the(view(
of(a(reasonable(observer.((
Judges!have!been!disciplined!for!lack!of!good!moral!character,!both!in!their!public!and!private!capacities.!
Example:! accepting! bribes;! going! to! cockpits,! casinos,! race! tracks! to! bet! on! horses;! patronizing! the! litigants! and! their!
lawyers;!delay!in!rendering!decisions;!and!ignorance!of!the!law.!
These!examples!could!relate!to!the!judge!in!his!professional!or!personal!capacity,!but!at!any!rate!the!judge!is!held!liable.!
!
Ignorance(of(the(law(
His!a!mark!of!incompetence,!and!where!the!law!is!involved!is!elementary,!ignorance!thereof!is!considered!and!indicium!of!
lack!of!integrity!
Hthe! judge! is! either! too! incompetent! and! undeserving! of! the! title! he! holds;! or! he! is! too! viscous! that! the! oversight! was!
deliberately!done!resulting!to!a!travesty!of!justice.!!
!
(
SECTION(2.(The(behavior(and(conduct(of(judges(must(reaffirm(the(people's(faith(in(the(integrity(of(the(Judiciary.(Justice(
must(not(merely(be(done,(but(must(also(be(seen(to(be(done.((
!
Judges!must!not!only!render!just,!correct!decisions!but!must!do!so!free!of!any!manner!as!to!their!fairness,!impartiality!and!
integrity.!
Justice!must!not!only!be!done,!but!must!also!be!seen!to!be!done.!!
For!instance,!the!judge!render!a!fair!decision.!To!the!best!of!the!judge’s!knowledge!and!expertise,!he!rendered!the!decision!
based!on!fact!and!in!law.!But!before!he!penned!the!decision!and!during!the!court!proceedings!of!the!case,!for!one!reason!or!
another!sapoton!siya!sa!nawng!sa!lawyer!sa!defendant!but!with!all!smiles!to!the!lawyer!sa!petitioner,!or!behavior!like!that.!
But,!the!decision!is!fair.!Still,!just!is!not!seen!to!be!done.!The!entire!proceedings!must!also!appear!to!be!fair.!
The!judge!must!not!only!be!a!good!judge!but!must!also!appear!to!be!a!good!person.!
!
Upon!his!assumption!to!office,!a!judge!ceases!to!be!an!ordinary!mortal.!He!becomes!the!visible!representation!of!the!law!
and!justice.!He!must!be!the!embodiment!of!competence,!integrity!and!independence.!(OCA!vs.!Gines)!
A!magistrate!of!the!law!must!comport!himself!at!all!times,!in!such!manner!that!his!conduct,!official!or!otherwise,!can!bear!
the!most!searching!scrutiny!of!the!public!that!looks!up!to!him!as!the!epitome!of!integrity!and!justice.!!(Lachica!vs.!Flordeliza)!
!
Cases:!
• Judge!forcibly!kissed!court!employees.!
• Habitually!gambling!and!frequent!in!casinos!and!cockpits.!!
• Punching!a!fellow!judge!in!the!face!after!a!disagreement!over!the!use!of!office!table.!
• Having!sexual!intercourse!with!a!15Hyear!old.!
!
(
SECTION( 3.( Judges( should( take( or( initiate( appropriate( disciplinary( measures( against( lawyers( or( court( personnel( for(
unprofessional(conduct(of(which(the(judge(may(have(become(aware.((
Judges! are! administrators! and! protectors! of! the! administration! of! justice.! They! must! not! be! afraid! to! expose! unethical!
conduct!by!court!personnel,!lawyers.!They!must!initiate!proper!proceedings,!if!necessary.!
!
(
CANON(3(–(IMPARTIALITY(
Impartiality(is(essential(to(the(proper(discharge(of(the(judicial(office.(It(applies(not(only(to(the(decision(itself(but(also(to(
the(process(by(which(the(decision(is(made.(
A!judge!should!not!only!render!a!just,!correct!and!impartial!decision!but!should!do!so!in!such!a!manner!as!to!be!free!from!
any!suspicion!to!his!fairness,!impartiality!and!as!to!his!integrity!
Extrajudicial!Source!Rule!
Hto!sustain!a!claim!of!bias!or!prejudice,!it!must!be!proved!that!the!resulting!opinion!of!the!court!is!based!on!extrajudicial!
source,!that!is!some!influences!other!than!the!facts!and!law!presented!in!the!court.!
!
(
SECTION(1.(Judges(shall(perform(their(judicial(duties(without(favor,(bias(or(prejudice.((
What!is!required!of!judges!is!OBJECTIVITY.!An!independent!judiciary!does!not!mean!that!judges!can!resolve!specific!disputes!
entirely! as! they! please.! There! are! limits! to! judges’! adjudication.! They! cannot! innovate! at! pleasure.! A! judge! is! not! a! mic!
errant!roaming!at!pursuit!of!his!beauty!or!goodness.!He!is!not!to!yield!to!spasmodic!sentiments,!to!vague!and!unregulated!
benevolence.!And!although,!a!speedy!determination!of!an!action!implies!a!speedy!trial,!speed!is!not!the!chief!objective!of!
the!trial.!(State!Prosecutors!vs.!Moro)!
!
(
SECTION(2.(Judges(shall(ensure(that(his(or(her(conduct,(both(in(and(out(of(court,(maintains(and(enhances(the(confidence(
of(the(public,(the(legal(profession(and(litigants(in(the(impartiality(of(the(judge(and(of(the(Judiciary.((
Examples:!!
• having!lunch!with!a!litigant!
• standing!as!sponsor!to!a!litigant!son’s!wedding!
 • using!the!car!of!a!litigant!as!a!service!vehicle!
• accepting!gifts!from!litigants!
• Undue!interference!in!the!direct!and!crossHexamination!of!witnesses!
Can!judges!question!witnesses?6!YES.!As!long!as!it!is!clarificatory!in!nature.!Judges!cannot!go!further!than!that.!
!
Demeanor(in(social(functions(
HA! judges! inebriated! demeanor! and! in! coherent! behavior! during! festivities! is! reprehensible.! A! judge! who! yields! to! the!
strength! of! the! spirits! and! acts! like! an! unhibited! drunkard! in! a! public! place! demeans! his! public! office,! strips! himself! of!
dignities!as!a!man!and!disrobes!the!court!of!the!respect!it!deserves.!
(
(
SECTION(3.(Judges(shall,(so(far(as(is(reasonable,(so(conduct(themselves(as(to(minimize(the(occasions(on(which(it(will(be(
necessary(for(them(to(be(disqualified(from(hearing(or(deciding(cases.((
Judges!should!regulate!their!business,!social!and!extrajudicial!activities!to!avoid!possible!disqualification!from!hearing!cases.!
Ex:!An!MCTC!judge,!who!is!also!a!real6estate!broker,!sold!real!properties!within!his!jurisdiction.!Consequently,!there!could!be!
actions!arising!from!contract!of!sale!in!which!he!has!intervened!as!real6estate!broker,!afterwards,!those!cases!goes!to!him!as!
judge.! Under! the! rules,! that! is! a! ground! for! mandatory! disqualification.! He! must! disqualify! himself! from! hearing! the! case!
because!of!his!personal!knowledge!of!the!transaction.!But!since!he!is!the!sole!judge!in!the!place,!how!can!he!be!disqualified?!
The!judge’s!defense!is!that!his!real6estate!business!is!a!material!source!of!his!family’s!income.!But!SC!reminded…!
!
Judges!shall,!so!far!as!reasonable,!conduct!themselves!on!occasions!on!which!are!necessary!for!them!to!be!disqualified!from!
them!on!hearing!cases.!!
!
A!judge!should!abstain!from!making!personal!investments!in!enterprises!which!are!aptly!involve!in!litigations!in!his!court.!
After! accession! to! the! bench,! he! should! not! retain! such! investments! previously! made,! longer! than! a! period! sufficient! to!
enable!him!to!dispose!of!them!without!serious!loss.!(Dionisio!vs.!Escano)!
!
(
Sec.(9,(R.A.(6713(–(if(there(is(conflict(of(interest:(
(R.A.!6713!is!applicable!to!all!public!officials,!including!judges)!
• Resign!from!position!in!any!private!enterprise!within!30!days!from!assumption!of!office.!
• Divest!from!shareholdings!within!60!days!from!assumption!to!office.!
A.M.!No.!MTJH02H1452.!April!6,!2005.!
“By!allowing!himself!to!act!as!agent!in!the!sale!of!the!subject!property,!respondent!judge!has!increased!the!possibility!of!his!
disqualification!to!acts!as!an!impartial!judge,!in!the!event!that!the!dispute!involving!that!said!contract!of!sale!arises.!Also!the!
possibility!that!the!parties!to!the!sale!might!plead!before!his!court!is!not!remote.!His!business!dealings!with!them!might!not!
only!create!suspicion!as!to!his!fairness!but!also!to!his!ability!to!render!it!in!a!manner!that!is!free!from!any!suspicion!as!to!its!
fairness!and!impartiality!and!also!as!to!the!judge’s!integrity.”!
!
The!judge!lends!money!at!an!unconscionable!interests!and!files!suits!for!collection!at!the!place!where!he!is!the!judge!to!
enable!him!to!take!advantage!of!his!position.!–!Reprimanded.!(Juvier!vs.!Deguzman)!
!
!
SECTION(4.(Judges(shall(not(knowingly,(while(a(proceeding(is(before(or(could(come(before(them,(make(any(comment(that(
might(reasonably(be(expected(to(affect(the(outcome(of(such(proceeding(or(impair(the(manifest(fairness(of(the(process.(
Nor(shall(judges(make(any(comment(in(public(or(otherwise(that(might(affect(the(fair(trial(of(any(person(or(issue.((

BAR!question:!
A!judge!would!advise!the!accused!to!enter!into!plea!bargaining!agreements!or!a!party!in!a!civil!case!to!settle.!In!giving!the!
advice,!the!judge!will!do!it!by!saying!that!the!case!is!not!in!the!accused!or!defendant’s!favor.!6Because!of!the!comments,!it!
becomes!unethical.!The!judge’s!comment!makes!it!appear!that!he!has!a!prejudgment;!giving!opinion!prior!to!trial.!
!
In!every!litigation!the!manner!an!attitude!of!a!judge!are!crucial!to!everyone!concerned.!He!should!in!the!performance!of!his!
functions! avoid! sideHremarks,! hasty! conclusions,! loose! statements,! or! gratuitous! utterances! that! could! form! the! basis! for!
erroneous!impressions!in!the!mind!of!those!who!hear!them!and!who!may!conclude!that!he!is!prejudging!the!case!or!the!
issues!that!come!before!him.!(Castillo!vs.!Juan)!
(
(
November(26,(2015(
SECTION((5.((Judges(shall(disqualify(themselves(from(participating(in(any((proceedings((in(which(they(are(unable(to(decide(
the(matter(impartially((or(in(which(it((may(appear(to((a(reasonable(observer((that(they((are(unable(to(decide((the(matter(
impartially.(Such(proceedings(include,(but(are(not(limited(to(instances(where:((!
(a)(The(judge(has(actual(bias(or(prejudice(concerning(a(party(or(personal(knowledge(of(disputed(evidentiary(facts(
concerning(the(proceedings;((!
(b)(The(judge(previously(served(as(a(lawyer((or((was(a(material(witness(in(the(matter(in(controversy;(!
(c)( ( ( The( judge( or( ( a( member( ( of( his( or( her( family,( has( an( economic( interest( in( the( outcome( of( the( matter( in(
controversy;((!
(d)( The( judge( served( ( as( executor,( ( administrator,( ( guardian,( trustee( ( or( ( lawyer( ( in( the( case( or( matter( in(
controversy,(or(a(former((associate(of(the(judge(served(as(counsel(during(their(association,(or(the((judge(or(lawyer(
was(a((material(witness(therein;(!
(e)(The(judge's(ruling(in(a(lower(court(is(the(subject(of(review;((!
(f)(The(judge(is((related(by((consanguinity(or(affinity((to((a(party((litigant(within(the(sixth(civil(degree(or(to(counsel(
within(the(fourth(civil(degree;(or(!
(g)((The(judge(knows(that(his(or(her(spouse((or(child(has((a(financial(interest,(as(heir,((legatee,(creditor,(fiduciary,((
or((otherwise,(in(the(subject((matter((in(controversy(or((in((a(party(to(the(proceeding,((or(any(other((interest(that(
could(be((substantially((affected(by(the(outcome((of(the(proceedings.!!!
!
Just!to!simplify,!this!section!talks!about!Mandatory!Disqualification.!If!the!instances!cited!in!this!section!exist!then!the!judge!
must!disqualify!himself!because!it!is!mandatory!disqualification,!it!says!"shall!disqualify!themselves."!So!there!is!no!room!for!
discretion.!
!
(a)( The( judge( has( actual( ( bias( or( prejudice( concerning( a( party( or( ( personal( knowledge( of( disputed( evidentiary( facts(
concerning(the(proceedings;((!
! the!judge!has!personal!knowledge,!let's!say!the!judge!is!a!very,!very!close!personal!friend!of!the!spouses!and!in!the!case!
of! the! declaration! of! nullity! of! the! spouses! was! raffled! to! the! judge,! and! the! judge! has! personal! knowledge! of! what!
transpired!between!the!two.!In!fact,!in!many!cases!the!judge!has!been!the!shoulder!to!cry!on!by!the!parties,!he!has!
advised!the!parties!as!a!friend!so!the!judge!must!disqualify.!This!is!because!it!will!cloud!the!fairness!of!the!judge,!and!
judges!must!decide!based!on!facts!and!law.!Facts!are!based!on!the!evidence!presented!by!the!parties.!It!might!create!
partiality!from!the!judge!as!for!example!a!spouse!was!found!to!be!a!psychopath!and!the!medical!record!was!presented!
in! court,! the! judge! may! have! difficulty! in! deciding! the! case! because! now! he! would! have! to! decide! the! disputed!
evidentiary!facts!and!will!have!to!relate!it!with!what!he!knows.!To!relieve!the!judge!from!all!those!difficulties!then!it!is!
made!a!ground!for!mandatory!disqualification.!
!
(b)(The(judge(previously(served(as(a(lawyer((or((was(a(material(witness(in(the(matter(in(controversy;((!
! this!is!because!he!used!to!be!involved!in!the!case!and!so!it!is!not!expected!of!him!to!be!impartial.!
!
(c)(((The(judge(or(a(member(of(his(or(her(family,(has(an(economic(interest(in(the(outcome(of(the(matter(in(controversy;((!
! self!–!explanatory!
!
(d)(The(judge(served((as(executor,((administrator,((guardian,(trustee((or((lawyer((in(the(case(or(matter(in(controversy,(or(a(
former((associate(of(the(judge(served(as(counsel(during(their(association,(or(the((judge(or(lawyer(was(a((material(witness(
therein;(!
! for!instance,!we!have!a!lawyer!who!is!a!senior!partner!in!a!law!firm!and!he,!just!recently,!was!appointed!as!RTC!judge,!
can!he!still!practice!law?!Not!anymore!because!he!is!already!an!RTC!judge,!so!he!left!the!law!firm!and!his!name!was!
stricken! from! the! law! firm! name.! In! case! where! his! exHpartner! or! former! associate! appears! before! him! in! court! as! a!
counsel,!he!must!disqualify!himself!if!the!exHpartner!or!former!associate!was!already!the!lawyer!to!the!case!filed!in!his!
court!during!their!association!in!the!law!firm!but!if!the!exHpartner!or!former!associate!was!not!yet!the!lawyer!in!that!
case!during!their!association!then!no!need!to!disqualify.!
!
(e)(The(judge's(ruling(in(a(lower(court(is(the(subject(of(review;((!
! for!instance,!an!RTC!judge!was!promoted!as!a!CA!judge!and!raffled!to!him!for!review!was!an!appealed!case!of!his!own!
decision!when!he!was!still!an!RTC!judge,!then!he!must!disqualify!himself.!
(
(f)(The(judge(is((related(by((consanguinity(or(affinity((to((a(party((litigant(within(the(sixth(civil(degree(or(to(counsel(within(
the(fourth(civil(degree;(or(!
! to!party!or!litigant!H!within!sixth!civil!degree;!counsel!H!within!the!fourth!civil!degree!
(
(g)( ( The( judge( knows( that( his( or( her( spouse( ( or( child( has( ( a( financial( interest,( as( heir,( ( legatee,( creditor,( fiduciary,( ( or((
otherwise,(in(the(subject((matter((in(controversy(or((in((a(party(to(the(proceeding,((or(any(other((interest(that(could(be((
substantially((affected(by(the(outcome((of(the(proceedings.((!
(
RULE(137(Q(RULES(OF(COURT!
DISQUALIFICATION(OF(JUDICIAL(OFFICERS!
!
Section(1.( Disqualification(of(judges.(—(No(judge(or(judicial(officer(shall(sit(in(any(case(in(which(he,(or(his(wife(or(
child,(is(pecuniarily(interested(as(heir,(legatee,(creditor(or(otherwise,(or(in(which(he(is(related(to(either(party(within(the(
sixth(degree(of(consanguinity(or(affinity,(or(to(counsel(within(the(fourth(degree,(computed(according(to(the(rules(of(the(
civil(law,(or(in(which(he(has(been(executor,(administrator,(guardian,(trustee(or(counsel,(or(in(which(he(has(been(presided(
in( any( inferior( court( when( his( ruling( or( decision( is( the( subject( of( review,( without( the( written( consent( of( all( parties( in(
interest,(signed(by(them(and(entered(upon(the(record.(
((
A( judge( may,( in( the( exercise( of( his( sound( discretion,( disqualify( himself( from( sitting( in( a( case,( for( just( or( valid( reasons(
other(than(those(mentioned(above.!
(
! Par.!1!is!similar!with!Section!5!but!Par.!2!says!"may",!thus!this!talks!about!voluntary!inhibition.!Grounds!are:!!for(just(or(
valid(reasons(as(provide(by(the(ROC.(Voluntary!inhibition!is!strictly!a!matter!of!conscience.!The!judge!must!ask!himself!
whether!he!can!really!decide!the!case!freely!and!impartially.!
! The!standard!to!be!followed!by!the!judge!is!whether!a!losing!party!could!entertain!a!reasonable!belief!that!a!judge!is!
partial!to!the!prevailing!parties,!it!is!not!whether!the!judge!is!actually!partial!or!not!but!take!note!that!the!judge!must!
consider!if!he!will!appear!to!unfair.!The!judges!need!not!actually!be!unfair!but!if!there!is!an!appearance!that!he!is!unfair!
then! it! is! a! cause! for! voluntary! inhibition.! Ex.! 1.)! Utang! na! loob,! for! instance,! the! judge! is! indebted! to! the! lawyer!
appearing! before! him! because! the! lawyer! was! very! instrumental! in! his! appointment! to! the! judiciary! or! because! the!
counsel!supported!his!legal!education.!2.)!Counsel!appearing!before!him!is!also!the!counsel!of!the!judge!in!a!separate!
and!personal!case!of!the!judge.!!
! Grounds!cited!by!the!Supreme!Court!to!be!invalid!grounds!for!voluntary!inhibition:!!
1. The!counsel!for!a!party!filed!an!administrative!case!against!the!judge.!
! According!to!SC,!absent!concrete!evidence!that!the!judge!actually!avenged!for!him!or!that!the!judge!is!unfair,!
this!cannot!be!a!ground!for!voluntary!inhibition.!This!is!because!a!contrary!rule!might!be!abused!by!lawyers!by!
simply!filing!an!administrative!case!against!unpleasant!judges.!
2. Mere!friendship!!
! Judges!are!not!expected!to!be!hermit!and!it!is!also!not!a!surprise!that!judges!will!have!friends!within!the!legal!
circle.!So!friendship!per!se!is!not!a!ground!for!voluntary!inhibition.!
!
! GR:!Voluntary!Inhibition!cannot!be!compelled!by!mandamus.!This!is!because!it!is!a!ministerial!duty!and!a!discretionary!
act.!!
! Disadvantages!of!the!rule!of!inhibition:!It!can!be!used!by!a!judge!to!extricate!himself!to!a!case.!Any!creative!judge!can!
invent!just!and!valid!reasons!as!the!rules!provide!that!ground!for!voluntary!inhibition!is!merely!just!or!valid!reasons,!
such!as!when!the!case!has!become!too!hot!to!handle!or!if!the!case!gets!boring.!!
! To!prevent!these!disadvantages,!we!have!to!rely!on!the!guidance!of!the!SC:!
- Mere!suspicion!is!not!enough,!there!should!be!enough!evidence!to!prove!it!showing!bias!and!partiality.!Issuance!of!
erroneous!order!that!pertains!to!the!judges!function!may!not!be!a!proper!consideration!to!charge!a!judge!of!bias!
except!where!the!orders!taken!not!singly!but!collectively!shows!that!the!judge!has!lost!neutrality!of!an!impartial!
magistrate.!!
- Exception! to! the! GR! that! voluntary! inhibition! cannot! be! compelled! by! mandamus! H! if! there! is! grave! abuse! of!
discretion,! manifest! injustice! or! palpable! extent! of! authority! equivalent! to! denial! of! a! settled! right! to! which!
 petitioner! is! entitled,! and! when! there! is! no! other! plain! and! adequate! remedy.! This! recognizes! that! a! judge's!
decision! to! refuse! to! recognize! on! account! of! disqualification! is! not! conclusive,! and! his! competency! may! be!
determined!upon!application!for!mandamus!to!compel!him!to!act.!!
!
Case(1:(PAGODA(CASE(
! That!the!judge's!rights!must!be!weighed!against!their!duty!to!decide!cases!without!fear!of!repression.!The!inhibition!
must!be!for!just!and!valid!reasons,!the!mere!implication!of!bias!or!partiality!is!not!enough!grounds!for!them!to!inhibit!
especially!when!the!charge!is!without!basis.!The!judge!here!issued!an!injunction!and!an!order!of!dismissal,!these!were!
questioned!by!one!of!the!parties!but!it!was!later!on!reversed!and!the!thing!has!to!go!on,!so!the!other!party!said!that!
the! judge! must! inhibit! because! he! already! dismissed! the! case! and! even! granted! an! injunctive! writ,! and! it! already!
showed! the! judgment! of! the! judge! regarding! the! case! and! that! they! no! longer! see! the! judge! as! impartial.! The! judge!
however,! explained! and! has! satisfactorily! established! the! reason! for! his! orders! but! inhibited! himself! nonetheless,! to!
avoid!any!suspicion!that!he!is!impartial.!According!to!the!SC,!what!the!judge!has!done!was!to!uphold!the!integrity!of!the!
judiciary! as! an! institution! worthy! of! public! trust! and! confidence,! when! he! inhibited! himself! after! satisfactorily!
explaining!himself!but!to!affirm!his!order!of!inhibition!would!open!the!floodgates!to!a!form!of!forum!shopping!in!which!
litigants!will!be!allowed!to!shop!for!a!judge!more!sympathetic!to!their!cause!and!such!action!would!be!antithetical!to!
the!speedy!and!fair!administration!of!justice.!Thus,!the!SC!reversed!the!inhibition!and!demanded!the!judge!to!continue!
hearing!the!case.!
!
Case(2(
! Petitioner!aside!from!his!bear!allegation!has!not!showed!that!the!judge!has!been!biased!against!a!particular!party.!The!
judge!even!acknowledge!in!his!inhibitory!order!that!the!motion!of!disqualification!contained!no!statement!of!specific!
acts!or!act!that!would!show!her!partiality!or!bias.!But!the!judge!nonetheless,!inhibited!for!purposes!of!casting!away!any!
doubt!or!perception!of!bias!on!the!part!of!the!petitioner.!SC!said,!clearly!there!is!no!just!and!valid!reason!to!support!the!
inhibition!of!the!judge.!
!
Case(3:(Webb(vs(People(
! The!fact!that!judge!Padilla!wrote!adversely!against!petitioner!is!not!enough!reason!absent!any!extrinsic!evidence!of!bias!
or!bad!faith!to!conclude!that!the!judge!is!bias!and!partial!against!petitioner.!The!court!has!emphasized!that!the!remedy!
of! erroneous! interlocutory! ruling! in! the! part! of! the! trial! is! not! outright! disqualification! of! a! judge! for! there! is! yet! to!
come!a!judge!for!the!omniscient!to!issue!rulings!that!are!always!infallible.!!
!
Case(4(
! There!is!motion!for!inhibition!but!the!judge!refuse!to!inhibit.!The!case!for!trial!was!a!case!for!murder!and!the!principal!
accused!was!at!large!and!subjected!to!trial!was!only!the!accessory.!The!trial!judge!ruled!that!the!accused!was!innocent!
and!the!evidence!points!to!the!principal!accused!who!is!at!large!and!so!he!acquitted!the!accessory!and!discussed!in!his!
decision!that!the!principal!was!the!one!guilty.!Later,!the!principal!was!apprehended!and!a!case!was!filed!against!him.!
The!case!was!raffled!to!the!same!judge!and!thus,!the!principal!accused!filed!for!a!motion!to!inhibit!the!judge!citing!the!
previous!decision!!of!the!judge!but!the!judge!refused,!he!said!that!his!previous!decision!will!not!affect!his!fairness!and!
partiality!because!whe!he!penned!his!previous!decision,!he!wrote!it!with!reference!to!the!evidence!presented!to!that!
trial!and!so!if!the!accused!will!present!evidence!to!the!contraty!then!it!will!not!affect!his!fairness!and!impartiality,!and!
will!rule!the!matter!based!on!fact!and!law.!The!SC!said,!the!respondent!judge!who!acquitted!the!accused!and!adjudged!
petitionerHprincipal! accusedas! guilty,! who! was! then! at! large! and! subsequently! petitioner! was! apprehended! and! tried!
before! respondent! judge,! it! was! held! that! the! judge's! previous! statement! could! not! be! free! from! suspicion! that! in!
deciding!petitioner's!case!he!will!be!biased!or!prejudiced.!Under!such!circumstances,!prohibition!is!available!to!enjoin!
him! from! deciding! the! case! and! petitionr! is! entitled! to! have! this! case! decided! by! another! judge.! So! the! writ! of!
prohibition!was!issued.!
!
(
SECTION( ( 6.( ( A( judge( disqualified( as( stated( above( ( may,( instead( of( withdrawing( from( the( proceeding,( disclose( ( on( the((
records(the(basis(of(disqualification.((If,(based(on(such(disclosure,((the(parties(and(lawyers,((independently(of(the(judge's(
participation,( ( all( agree( in( ( writing( that( the( reason( for( ( inhibition( is( immaterial( or( unsubstantial,( the( judge( may( then((
participate(in((the(proceeding.((The(agreement,(signed(by(all(parties((and(lawyers,(shall(be(incorporated(in((the(record(of(
the(proceedings.(!
(
! One!of!the!favorite!topics!in!the!bar!!!
! The!GR!is!mandatory!disqualification!if!the!instances!in!sec.!5!are!present.!Sec.!6!is!exception!to!the!rule!of!mandatory!
disqualification.!This!is!called!the!REMITTAL!OF!DISQUALIFICATION.!!
! Here!the!parties!waive!the!cause!for!disqualification!except!if!the!judge!invalidly!continue!with!the!proceedings!
! Requisites:!
1. The!parties!and!their!lawyers!must!agree!independently!of!their!decision.!Thus,!the!judge!must!not!interfere!and!
the!parties!must!be!given!opportunity!to!confer!among!themselves.!
2. The! reason! for! inhibition! is! immaterial! or! unsubstantial.! This! means! that! the! parties! agree! in! this! particular!
circumstance!that!the!reason!for!inhibition!is!immaterial!or!unsubstantial.!It!must!also!be!stated!in!the!agreement!
that!there!is!a!ground!for!disqualification!and!that!they!agreed!to!consider!it!as!immaterial!and!unsubstantial.!
3. Their!agreement!must!be!reduced!in!writing!signed!by!all!parties!and!lawyers!and!entered!upon!the!records!of!the!
case.!
! Ex.!1.)!Counsel!of!one!of!the!parties!is!the!judge's!son!and!the!judge!announced!that!the!former!is!his!son!but!such!fact!
will!not!affect!his!decisions!thereafter!asked!permission!from!the!other!counsel!and!party!to!allow!such!disqualification!
and!continue!with!the!trial.!The!3!requisites!are!not!present!thus,!it!is!not!a!valid!remittal!of!disqualification.!The!parties!
did!not!agree!independently!because!the!judge!participated,!not!considered!immaterial!or!unsubstantial!by!the!parties,!
and!finally!they!did!not!reduce!it!in!writing.!
! Ex.!2.)!Same!facts!as!no.!1!but!the!judge!asked!for!the!decision!of!the!parties!on!the!next!hearing!day.!The!parties!are!
then! given! the! opportunity! to! confer! among! themselves! independent! of! the! judge’s! decision! and! so! the! parties!
accompanied!by!their!lawyers!met!in!a!coffee!shop,!and!there!the!judge’s!son!divulge!that!his!father!disowned!him!and!
disinherited!him!from!his!last!will!and!testament.!The!other!lawyer!agreed!and!even!mentioned!that!he!knows!for!a!
fact!that!the!said!lawyer/judge’s!son!has!for!many!times!lost!his!case!tried!in!his!father’s!sala.!After!which,!they!agreed!
that!the!reason!for!inhibition!is!immaterial!and!unsubstantial!and!reduced!it!in!writing!signed!by!the!parties!and!their!
lawyers.!Is!it!a!valid!remittal!of!disqualification?!Yes,!it!is!already!valid!as!all!the!requisites!are!satisfied.!
!
!
CANON(4(
(
PROPRIETY(
(
Propriety(and(the(appearance(of(propriety(are(essential(to(the(performance(of(all(the(activities(of(a(judge.(
(
SECTION(1.(Judges(shall(avoid(impropriety(and(the(appearance(of(impropriety(in(all(of(their(activities.(
(
! In!this!modern!age,!proper!is!no!longer!hear!no!evil,!see!no!evil,!speak!no!evil,!it!also!now!includes!POST!no!evil!:P!
! Take! note:! APPEARANCE;! Judges! must! appear! to! be! proper! because! the! appearance! of! impropriety! is! already!
actionable.!
! Ex.!1.)!There!are!photos!of!a!judge!and!his!subordinate!coming!out!of!the!hotel.!The!judge!contended!that!the!pictures!
do!not!prove!anything.!The!Court!said!that!you!do!not!have!to!prove!that!because!actual!impropriety!is!not!necessary,!
appearance!of!impropriety!is!already!actionable.!
! Ex.! 2.)! The! judge! heard! a! motion! while! on! vacation,! he! conducted! the! hearing! in! his! room! and! he! is! just! wearing! a!
jacket.!–!IMPROPER!
! Ex.!3.)!The!judge!privately!met!a!litigant!in!a!resort.!–!IMPROPER!
! Ex.!4.)!The!judge!conducted!office!and!hearings!in!his!residence.!–!IMPROPER!
! Ex.!5.)!The!judge!held!the!hand!of!his!interpreter!and!kiss!by!her!lips.!–!IMPROPER!
! Ex.!6.)!A!case!re:!a!judge!held!to!be!improper!due!to!her!picture!posted!in!Friendster!wearing!an!off!shoulder!suggestive!
dress.!!
!
!
SECTION( 2.( As( a( subject( of( constant( public( scrutiny,( judges( must( accept( personal( restrictions( that( might( be( viewed( as(
burdensome(by(the(ordinary(citizen(and(should(do(so(freely(and(willingly.(In(particular,(judges(shall(conduct(themselves(in(
a(way(that(is(consistent(with(the(dignity(of(the(judicial(office.!
!
! So!there!are!restrictions!that!judges!must!voluntarily!embrace!because!their!conduct!must!always!be!in!keeping!with!
the!dignity!of!their!office.!
! Ex.!Use!of!foul!language!
! Ex.!Being!drunk!in!a!party!
! Ex.!A!judge!who!confronted!her!former!boyfriend!and!the!latter’s!female!companion!in!a!restaurant.!
! There!are!many!restrictions!because!they!are!the!visible!representation!of!the!law.!
! A!judge!should!regulate!his!activities!so!as!it!may!not!conflict!with!his!judicial!duties.!(Canon!5!of!the!Old!Code!Judicial!
Conduct!is!more!detailed!relative!to!this.)!
! A! judge! is! permitted! to! have! extrajudicial! activities! but! of! course,! judicial! functions! should! prevail! over! judicial!
activities.!
! Extrajudicial!activities:!
1. Vocational,! Civic! and! Charitable! Activities! –! a! judge! can! write,! lecture,! teach,! speak! on! nonHlegal! subjects!
(legal!subject!also!of!course!).!Must!not!conflict!or!degrade!judicial!functions.!
! All!these!must!be!in!keeping!with!the!dignity!of!judicial!functions.!
! A!judge!being!an!actress!or!singer!–!it!will!conflict!with!the!judicial!functions!as!she!may!use!her!time!
memorizing!her!script!:P!
! A!judge!being!an!acrobat!performer!or!a!model!in!a!nude!painting!:P!!Remember:!Must!not!conflict!
or!degrade!judicial!functions.!
2. The!judge!can!engage!in!art!and!other!recreational!activities.!
3. They!can!be!an!officer,!director,!trustee!or!nonHlegal!adviser!of!nonHprofit,!nonHpolitical,!education,!religious,!
charitable,!fraternal,!civic!organizations.!
4. Financial! Activities! –! allowed! to! enter! into! a! business! but! he! must! refrain! from! business! dealings! that! will!
affect!partiality!or!interfere!with!the!performance!of!judicial!functions!or!increase!involvement!with!persons!
that! will! likely! come! to! court.! Ex.! Surety! Bonding! Company! is! not! allowed! as! it! increases! involvement! with!
lawyers!or!persons!that!will!likely!come!to!court.!
5. A! judge! should! not! serve! as! officer,! director,! manager,! adviser,! or! employee! of! any! business.! So! if! the!
organization!is!for!profit!then!it!cannot!be,!except!as!a!director!of!family!business.!He!cannot!be!a!manager!in!
the!family!business!because!he!has!to!be!in!the!business!for!the!most!part!of!his!time!and!it!will!now!be!in!
conflict!with!his!judicial!functions.!
6. Should!not!lose!judicial!information!or!data.!!
7. Should!not!acquire!property!or!right!in!litigation.!
8. Must!make!full!financial!disclosure!through!SALN.!It!includes!to!that!of!the!members!of!his!family.!
9. Fiduciary!Activities!–!a!judge!MAY!serve!as!executor,!administrator,!trustee,!guardian!or!other!fiduciary!only!
nd
for!the!estate,!trust!or!person!of!a!member!of!the!immediate!family.!!(Spouse!and!relatives!within!the!2 !civil!
degree!of!consanguinity)!Only!if!such!service!do!not!interfere!with!the!proper!performance!of!judicial!duties.!
Ex.! Judge! named! as! executor! of! his! spouse’s! estate! which! consists! of! properties! all! over! the! world! and! the!
judge!has!to!travel!and!he!already!exhausted!all!his!leave!credits.!!This!is!not!allowed!as!it!already!conflicts!
with!his!judicial!functions.!
10. Practice!of!Law!and!other!profession!–!No!private!practice!of!law!(absolutely!prohibited);!other!profession!–!
they! can! unless! prohibited! by! the! Constitution! or! law! provided! that! it! will! not! conflict! with! his! judicial!
function.!!
11. ExHofficio!H!Engage!in!notarization!of!documents!connected!with!the!exercise!of!their!official!functions!except!
in!far!flung!municipalities!where!there!are!no!notaries!public!or!no!lawyers!an!MTC!Judge!can!perform!any!act!
within! the! competent! of! a! regular! notary! public! as! long! as! notarial! fees! shall! be! for! the! government! and!
turned!over!to!the!municipal!treasurer!and!there!is!a!certification!made!to!the!notarized!document!attesting!
to!the!lack!of!lawyer!or!notary!public.!(more!academic!than!real!because!lawyers!are!everywhere)!
12. NonHjudicial!appointment!–!judges!cannot!accept!any!appointment!or!designation!to!any!agency!performing!
quasiHjudicial!or!administrative!function.!But!other!appointments!are!allowed!such!as!a!President!of!the!Home!
Owners!Association,!Chairman!of!the!Sinulog!Committee!or!judge!in!a!beauty!pageant.!
13. Judges! should! not! make! political! speeches,! contribute! to! partisans,! publicly! endorse! candidates! or! political!
office,!or!participate!in!other!partisan!political!activities.!Judges!can!only!vote!or!opt!not!to!vote.!That!is!their!
only!political!right.!Of!course,!they!can!entertain!their!own!opinion!but!cannot!make!political!speeches.!Ex.!
The!judge’s!brother!served!as!watcher!because!his!brother!ran!for!Mayor.!He!filed!for!a!leave!of!absence!on!
the!day!of!the!election.!Proper?!This!is!not!proper!as!it!is!engaging!in!partisan!political!activities.!
!
!
SECTION(3.(Judges(shall,(in(their(personal(relations(with(individual(members(of(the(legal(profession(who(practice(regularly(
in(their(court,(avoid(situations(which(might(reasonably(give(rise(to(the(suspicion(or(appearance(of(favoritism(or(partiality.(
(
! So!the!judge!should!make!sure!that!his!action!does!not!give!rise!to!suspicion!of!any!impartiality.!
! Ex.!the!judge!who!had!coffee!with!councilors!who!appeared!before!his!sala;!asking!for!aircons!and!tables!from!lawyers!
!
(
SECTION(4.(Judges(shall(not(participate(in(the(determination(of(a(case(in(which(any(member(of(their(family(represents(a(
litigant(or(is(associated(in(any(manner(with(the(case.(
(
SECTION(5.(Judges(shall(not(allow(the(use(of(their(residence(by(any(member(of(the(legal(profession(to(receive(clients(of(
the(latter(or(of(other(members(of(the(legal(profession.(
(
! What!if!the!lawyer!is!the!son!of!the!judge!and!the!client!goes!to!the!house?!Sec.5!is!very!clear,!judges!shall!not!allow!
the!use!of!their!residence!by!ANY!member…(
(
(
SECTION(6.(Judges,(like(any(other(citizen,(are(entitled(to(freedom(of(expression,(belief,(association(and(assembly,(but(in(
exercising(such(rights,(they(shall(always(conduct(themselves(in(such(a(manner(as(to(preserve(the(dignity(of(the(judicial(
office(and(the(impartiality(and(independence(of(the(Judiciary.(
(
! Ex.!in!his!order,!the!judge!wrote!respondent!is!a!selfHordained!public!violent!with!a!contaminated!mind!and!assuming!a!
profession!of!a!crocodile.!Proper!order?!Judges,!claim!freedom!of!expression.!SC!said!that!it!must!be!regulated!in!a!way!
that! it! is! keeping! to! the! dignity! of! the! legal! profession! and! in! keeping! of! impartiality! of! the! judicial! office.! It! already!
paints! a! picture! regarding! the! opinion! of! the! judge! towards! the! respondent! and! it! may! give! the! appearance! of!
partiality.(
! So!judges!should!maintain!objectivity!at!all!times!and!in!exercising!their!freedom!of!expression,!it!must!always!be!in!
keeping!of!the!judicial!office.(
! Judges!picketing!before!the!SC!for!increase!of!their!salary.!They!cannot!do!that!for!it!is!not!in!keeping!with!the!dignity!
of!judicial!office.(
(
(
SECTION( 7.( Judges( shall( inform( themselves( about( their( personal( fiduciary( and( financial( interests( and( shall( make(
reasonable(efforts(to(be(informed(about(the(financial(interests(of(members(of(their(family.(
! Saln!
!
!
SECTION(8.(Judges(shall(not(use(or(lend(the(prestige(of(the(judicial(office(to(advance(their(private(interests,(or(those(of(a(
member(of(their(family(or(of(anyone(else,(nor(shall(they(convey(or(permit(others(to(convey(the(impression(that(anyone(is(
in(a(special(position(improperly(to(influence(them(in(the(performance(of(judicial(duties.!
! Ex.!the!judge!filed!a!case!for!estafa!in!his!own!sala,!so!in!his!own!case!he!is!the!private!offended!party!and!he!issued!a!
warrant!of!arrest!–!taking!advantage!of!the!judicial!office!to!advance!his!own!private!interest.(
! Ex.!the!judge!posted!advertisement!for!restaurant!personnel!in!his!court!room!and!does!his!interview!in!his!office!–!SC!
said! that! it! is! impropriety! for! promotion! of! business! activities! moreover,! the! ones! who! will! be! able! to! read! the!
advertisements!are!the!lawyers!and!litigants,!and!so!he!is!increasing!the!possibility!of!involvement!of!litigants,!lawyers!
and!other!persons!who!are!likely!to!come!to!court.(
(
(
Dec.(03,(2015(
!
Sec.(9.Confidential(information(acquired(by(judges(in(their(judicial(capacity(shall(not(be(used(or(disclosed(for(any(other(
purpose(related(to(their(judicial(duties.(!
!
Very!common!violation!is!the!release!or!leaking!of!draft!decisions!prior!to!the!official!promulgation!of!the!court.!Somebody!
commanded!by!the!judge!has!already!leaked!the!decision.!So!this!is!not!allowed.!!
!
What!could!be!the!reason!for!the!judge!to!release/leak!his!decision!draft!decision?!No!valid!reason.!You!could!only!think!of!
illegal!reasons.!Why!should!you!release!it!beforehand?!So!that!you!can!collect!preliminary!payment?!!
!
In! a! case,! a! Supreme! Court! justice! who! was! already! retired! was! filed! an! administrative! case.! Although! SC! justices! are!
impeachable,! there! is! no! longer! point! for! impeaching! him! because! at! that! time! he! was! no! longer! a! justice.! The!
administrative!case!was!filed!against!him!for!the!reason!that!he!leaked!a!decision!of!the!Supreme!Court.!And!what!did!the!
SC! say,! it! is! a! violation.! And! what! is! the! penalty?! A! fine! of! 500,000! to! be! deducted! from! his! retirement! benefits.! Not! to!
mention!perpetual!disqualification!from!any!government!office.!!
!
Sec.(10.(Subject(to(the(proper(performance(of(judicial(duties,(judges(may(
(
A. Write,( lecture,( teach( and( participate( in( activities( concerning( the( law,( the( legal( system,( the( administration( of(
justice(or(related(matters;(
B. Appear(at(a(public(hearing(before(an(official(body(concerned(with(matters(relating(to(the(law,(the(legal(system,(
the(administration(of(justice(or(related(matters;(
C. Engage( in( other( activities( if( such( activities( do( not( detract( from( the( dignity( of( the( judicial( office( or( otherwise(
interfere(with(the(performance(of(judicial(duties.((
!
(selfHexplanatory)!
!
Sec.(11.(Judges(shall(not(practice(law(whilst(the(holder(of(judicial(office.((
!
We!know!that!judges!cannot!practice!law.!!
!
Sec.(12.(Judges(may(form(or(join(associations(of(judges(or(participate(in(other(organizations(representing(the(interests(of(
judges.(!
!
Judges,!under!Sec.!12,!have!the!freedom!of!association.!Ofcourse!they!can!always!form!or!join!association!of!judges.!!
!
Sec.(13.(Judges(and(members(of(their(families(shall(neither(ask(for,(nor(accept,(any(gift,(bequest,(loan(or(favor(in(relation(
to(anything(done(or(to(be(done(or(omitted(to(be(dine(by(him(or(her(in(connection(with(the(performance(of(judicial(duties.(
!
Is!it!familiar?!Very!similar!to!the!provisions!on!bribery.!Direct!bribery,!Indirect!bribery,!and!in!special!laws,!under!RA!3019!or!
The!AntiHGraft!and!Corrupt!Practices!Act!there!is!also!a!parallel!provision.!As!well!as!in!RA!6713.!For!RA!6713,!there!is!both!
criminal!and!administrative!component!of!the!liability.!So!you!must!be!able!to!correlate.!What!is!the!consequence!of!this?!If!
all!the!elements!under!the!RPC,!then!the!judge!can!be!criminally!indicted!for!bribery.!Can!you!also!be!charged!under!RA!
3019?!Yes.!Because!RA!3019!is!a!special!law.!And!particularly,!it!provides!that!the!offenses!in!3019!are!in!addition!to!other!
offenses! under! other! laws.! If! found! criminally! liable,! there! is! also! a! civil! liability.! All! those! are! in! addition! to! the!
administrative!liability!also.!!
!
!
!
Not!all!gifts!are!prohibited.!You!invited!a!judge!to!be!a!speaker.!What!could!be!an!allowable!gift?!Token!of!appreciation,!
mug,! whine.! So! those! are! appropriate! to! the! occasion! in! which! it! was! given.! So! you! always! have! to! view! it! under! the!
circumstances.!It!is!the!judge’s!birthday.!Can!you!give!a!gift?!Question:!Do!you!know!the!judge!personally!so!that!you!can!
give!him!a!bday!gift.!Are!you!the!judge’s!friend,!or!relative,!or!family?!Or!is!your!relation!to!the!judge!is!that!of!being!purely!
a!litigant!in!his!court.!Let’s!say:!Yes!you!can!give!him!a!gift!because!you’ve!been!bestfriends!since!law!school.!Can!you!give!
him!a!car?!So!you!should!look!at!the!kind!of!gift.!Is!it!appropriate?!Can!you!give!him!a!bday!cake?!So!you!always!have!to!ask!
whether! it! is! appropriate! to! give! the! gift! on! the! occasion! in! which! it! was! made.! Or! will! it! be! perceived! as! intended! to!
influence!the!judge?!Or!will!it!give!rise!to!the!appearance!of!partiality.!So!muhatag!ka!kay!bestfriends!mu!since!lawschool.!
Imung!gihatag!kay!picture!frame!with!a!picture!nga!kamung!duha.!With!the!demand!that!the!judge!will!hang!it!in!the!court!
room.!HAHAHA.!Again,!that!will!give!rise!to!the!appearance!of!partiality.!!
!
There!are!corollary!provisions!regarding!the!giving!of!gifts.!So!you!just!read!the!particular!provisions!in!RA!6713.!!
!
So!example!in!a!case:!The!judge!accepted!the!free!use!of!a!car.!And!avail!for!free!battery!recharging!services!of!the!shop!of!
a!litigant!who!has!a!pending!case!before!him.!H!IMPROPER!
!
(
 Canon(5(
EQUALITY(
!
Sec.( 1.( Judges( shall( be( aware( of( and( understand( diversity( in( society( and( differences( arising( from( various( sources,(
including,( but( not( limited( to,( race,( color,( sex,( religion,( national( origin,( caste,( disability,( age,( marital( status,( sexual(
orientation,(social(and(economic(status,(and(other(like(causes.((
!
Canon!5!is!on!equality.!But!take!note!that!t!the!very!first!section,!it!talks!about!differences.!What!does!this!mean?!Equality!
but!there!are!differences.!What!is!equality?!General!rule!is!that!we!have!to!treat!everyone!and!everything!equally.!Except!if!
there!is!a!valid!cause!for!different!treatment.!You!cannot!be!just!always!so!naive!and!say!na!equal!ra!gyud!tanan.!But!what!if!
there!is!a!cause!to!differentiate.!Whatif!there!is!legitimate!cause!arising!from!various!sources?!Should!you!still!give!equal!
treatment?! There! is! no! prohibition! against! differentiation.! What! is! prohibited! is! differentiation! on! improper! or! irrelevant!
grounds.! Like! on! the! right! to! vote,! should! it! matter! if! you! are! a! male! or! female?! No.! Male! and! female! must! be! treated!
equally,! because! there! is! no! reason! for! different! treatment.! What! about! right! to! education?! It! shouldn’t! matter.! What!
about!the!maternity!leave!and!paternity!leave!under!the!law?!How!many!days!do!we!have!for!maternity!leave!under!the!
law?!It’s!60!days.!Paternity!leave!how!many!days?!7!days!are!you!sure?!So!between!60!days!and!7!days!is!there!an!unequal!
treatment?! Ofcourse! there! is!! Kadako! ug! difference.! There! is! unequal! treatment.! But! is! there! a! reason! for! the! different!
treatment?! Yes!! SO! that! is! what! we! mean! by! the! provision! that! the! judge! should! be! aware! of! the! legitimate! causes! for!
diversity.!!
!
How!about!differentiation!based!on!religion.!Let’s!say!flag!raising.!Can!we!compel!everyone!to!attend!the!flag!raising!and!
lowering!ceremonies.!Equal!treatment!so!everybody!attend!!NO.!Which!religion!are!we!talking!about?!Jehova’s!Witnesses.!
They! may! not! participate! in! flag! raising! and! lowering! ceremony! because! it! is! against! their! religion.! Is! it! a! valid! cause! for!
different! treatment?! Muana! ang! uban! employees,! unfair.! There! is! unequal! treatment,! yes.! But! there! is! a! cause! for! the!
unequal!treatment.!!
!
Solo!parent’s!leave!how!many!days?!Can!the!“double!parents”!(for!the!lack!of!a!better!term)!say!unfair?!There!is!unequal!
treatment?!Yes.!But!is!it!fair?!Yes.!Because!their!is!a!just!cause!for!the!diversity.!!
!
Juvenile!Justice!Act.!Under!this!law,!it!is!difficult!to!imprison!minors.!There!are!3!accused!in!a!case.!X!(20!yrs!old),!Y!and!Z!are!
8!yrs.!Old.!And!then,!X!says,!nganung!ako!ra!man!gi!filan!ug!kaso?!And!to!think!my!job!there!is!just!to!drive!them!to!the!
house.!Sila!ra!man!jud!tu!ang!nangawat.!Wala!ko!kahibaw!sa!ilang!gibuhat!didto!sa!sulod.!Why!am!I!the!only!accused!in!the!
case?!There!is!unequal!treatment!but!there!is!a!reason!for!such.!It!is!the!minority.!!
!
Under! Magna! Carta! Act! for! Disabled! Persons,! disabled! persons! have! privileges! and! rights.! Senior! Citizens! Act,! the! senior!
citizens!have!discounts.!They!can!watch!movies!for!free.!The!differentiation!is!based!on!age.!!
!
YRASUEGUI(vs(PAL(
!
Obesity!according!to!him!is!a!disability!or!a!disease!and!so!he!is!terminated!because!of!his!disease.!But!can!the!employer!
terminate?!Yes.!Because!as!the!main!function!of!the!flight!attendant!is!flight!safety.!So!flight!safety!is!crucial!in!the!airline!
business.!Cabin!attendants!must!maintain!agility!at!all!times!to!inspire!passenger!confidence.!!
!
Other!professions!where!body!size!can!be!a!cause!to!differentiate?!What!about!policeman?!They!also!have!ideal!waistline!
and!weight.!It!depends!on!who!the!chief!is!and!if!the!chief!is!strict!in!implementing!the!rules.!But!they!should!be!healthy,!
they!should!not!be!obese!or!something.!For!firemen,!what!I!know!is!that!they!do!not!have!similar!rules!as!policemen,!but!if!
they!maintain!their!fitness,!they!have!incentives,!e.g!health!insurance.!So!can!the!other!firemen!complain!and!say!its!unfair?!
NO!because!the!nature!of!the!job!requires!a!certain!degree!of!fitness.!!
!
Same!thing!with!the!flight!attendant.!SC!said!passenger!safety!goes!to!the!core!of!the!job!of!a!cabin!attendant.!On!board!an!
aircraft,! the! body! weight! and! size! of! the! cabin! attendant! are! important! factors! to! consider! in! case! of! emergency.! The!
biggest!problem!with!an!overweight!cabin!attendant!is!the!possibility!of!impeding!passengers!from!evacuating!the!aircraft!
should!the!occasion!call!for!it.!Being!overweight!necessarily!impedes!mobility.!Indeed!in!an!emergency!situation!seconds!
are!what!cabin!attendants!are!dealing!with,!not!minutes.!Three!lost!seconds!can!translate!into!three!lost!lives.!Evacuation!
might!slow!down!just!because!a!wide!cabin!attendant!is!blocking!the!narrow!aisle.!!
!
So!these!are!the!very!words!of!the!Supreme!Court.!
!
Sec.(2.(Judges(shall(not,(in(the(performance(of(judicial(duties,(by(words(or(conduct,(manifest(bias(or(prejudice(towards(
any(person(or(group(on(irrelevant(grounds.((
!
But!if!there!is!relevant!ground,!for!a!different!treatment,!then!again!we!know!that!it!is!allowed.!!
!
Sec.(3.(Judges(shall(carry(out(judicial(duties(with(appropriate(consideration(for(all(persons,(such(as(the(parties,(witnesses,(
lawyers,( court( staff( and( judicial( colleagues,( without( differentiation( on( any( irrelevant( ground,( immaterial( to( the( proper(
performance(of(such(duties.((
!
So!treat!everyone!fairly!again!unless!if!there!is!cause.!Like!different!treatment!for!child!witnesses.!Is!it!allowed?!Yes.!Can!
you! question! hostile! witnesses! differently.! Yes.! If! there! is! a! ground! for! different! treatment! then! there! could! be! different!
treatment.!!
!
Are!judges!allowed!to!treat!new!lawyers!differently?!Let’s!have!canon!10!of!the!Old!Code.!!
!
Judges( should( be( courteous( to( counsel( especially( to( those( who( are( young( and( inexperienced.( A( judge( should( be(
patient,(attentive,(and(courteous(especially(to(the(new(and(inexperienced.((
!
So!judges!should!be!more!considerate!to!the!new!lawyers.!Because!veteran!lawyers!commit!mistakes!so!how!much!more!
the!new!lawyers.!Judges!should!be!courteous!to!the!new!and!inexperienced!lawyers.!But!do!not!abuse!this!also.!There!are!
stories!of!judges!nga!magbagutbot.!So!it!also!depends!on!what!the!lawyer!did.!Kung!pwede!ba!sya!ma!consider!or!dili!ba!ma!
consider!sa!judge.!!
!
It!doesn’t!say!how!many!years.!So!I!cannot!also!say!say!how!many!years!is!considered!young!and!inexperienced.!
!
Sec.( 4.( Judges( shall( not( knowingly( permit( court( staff( or( others( subject( to( his( or( her( influence,( direction( or( control( to(
differentiate(between(persons(concerned,(in(a(matter(before(the(judge,(on(any(irrelevant(ground.((
!
If!the!judge!cannot!differentiate!on!irrelevant!grounds,!the!same!is!true!for!his!subordinates.!And!for!lawyers!also.!!
!
SEC.( 5.( Judges( shall( require( lawyers( in( proceedings( before( the( court( to( refrain( from( manifesting,( by( words( or( conduct,(
bias(or(prejudice(based(on(irrelevant(grounds,(except(such(as(are(legally(relevant(to(an(issue(in(proceedings(and(may(be(
the(subject(of(legitimate(advocacy.((
(
The!provisions!in!Canon!5!are!all!new!provisions.!You!cannot!see!these!provisions!in!the!old!code.!!
!
(
CANON(6.(COMPETENCE(AND(DILIGENCE(
!
Sec.(1.(The(judicial(duties(of(a(judge(take(precedence(over(all(other(activities.((
!
Sec.(2(Judges(shall(devote(their(professional(activity(to(judicial(duties,(which(include(not(only(the(performance(of(judicial(
functions(and(responsibilities(in(court(and(the(making(of(decisions,(but(also(other(tasks(relevant(to(the(judicial(office(or(
the(court’s(operations.((
!
Simply!put,!the!duty!of!the!judge!is!not!just!rendering!decisions.!What!is!the!other!job?!As!administrator!of!his!court.!As!the!
manager!of!his!court.!!
!
Judges!have!been!disciplined!for!court!case!records!or!missing!documents.!And!the!judge!cannot!just!put!the!blame!to!the!
court! personnel.! Because! as! manager,! as! administrator! of! his! own! court! room,! he! should! have! exerted! supervision! and!
control!over!his!court!employees.!So!there!are!administrative!function!of!the!judge.!The!judge!should!be!on!top!in!record!
and!file!keeping!and!supervision!of!court!personnel.!!
!
If!the!judge!notices!a!court!personnel!nga!maldita!kaayo!ug!tanan!members!of!the!public!singhagan.!It!is!the!judge’s!duty!to!
properly!train!such!court!personnel!as!to!the!proper!treatment!of!clients.!!
!
Sec.( 3.( Judges( shall( take( reasonable( steps( to( maintain( and( enhance( their( knowledge,( skills( and( personal( qualities(
necessary(for(the(proper(performance(of(judicial(duties,(taking(advantage(for(this(purpose(the(training(and(other(facilities(
which(should(be(made(available,(under(judicial(control,(to(judges.((
!
Like!lawyers!they!should!keep!themselves!updated!with!law!and!jurisprudence.!The!pressure!is!all!the!more!so!for!judges.!
Are!judges!compelled!to!attend!MCLE?!Mandatory!Continuing!Legal!Education.!Are!judges!compelled!to!attend?!Under!the!
bar!matter!in!MCLE,!judges!are!among!the!persons!exempted!from!attending!MCLE.!Why!are!they!exempted?!Because!they!
have!their!own!counterpart!in!the!judiciary.!They!also!have!their!continuing!legal!education.!!
!
In!deciding!cases,!it!is!the!judge’s!duty!to!follow!the!doctrines!and!rulings!of!the!Supreme!Court.!Any!deviation!may!have!
detrimental!consequences!beyond!the!immediate!controversy.!!
!
So!the!judge!is!handling!a!case!for!declaration!of!nullity!of!marriage.!And!the!judge!is!a!devout!catholic.!His!religion!tells!him!
that!he!should!not!break!up!a!marriage.!But!the!evidence!in!the!case!tells!him!that!there!is!psychological!incapacity!thus!the!
marriage!should!be!declared!void.!What!should!the!judge!do?!He!should!follow!the!facts!and!the!law.!Therefore!declare!the!
marriage! null! and! void.! So! he! should! follow! the! doctrines! and! rulings.! Thus! if! he! feels! that! a! doctrine! enunciated! by! the!
Supreme! Court! is! against! his! conscience,! he! may! state! his! personal! opinion! on! the! matter! but! should! decide! the! case! in!
accordance!with!the!law!or!doctrine!and!not!his!personal!beliefs.!!
!
So!judges!should!not!allow!their!personal!belief!and!convictions!to!prevail!over!a!settled!jurisprudence.!!
!
Case:!
The!judge!rendered!decisions!pursuant!to!the!directives!of!dwarves.!He!admitted!all!of!these.!He!rendered!decisions!pursuant!
to!the!directions!of!dwarves.!And!the!dwarves!have!names:!Luis,!Arman,!and!Anghel.!He!also!would!have!healing!sessions!in!
his!court!room.!He!also!admitted!to!having!rendered!decisions!while!in!a!trance.!And!he!would!change!the!colors!of!his!robes!
to!recharge!his!psychic!powers.!!
!
The!judge!was!dismissed!from!the!judiciary.!SC!said!you!must!decide!based!on!the!law!and!jurisprudence.!!
!
Ignorance(of(the(law(
I(is!the!main!spring!of!injustice!and!as!well!as!corruption.!!
!
Ignorance!of!the!law.!Correlate!this!with!the!pertinent!revised!penal!code!provisions!such!as:!knowingly!rendering!an!unjust!
judgment,!judgment!rendered!through!negligence,!unjust!interlocutory!order,and!malicious!delay!in!the!administration!of!
justice.!You!review!what!are!the!elements!of!these!felonies.!!
!
Doctrine(of(Judicial(Immunity((
!
A! judge! is! not! disciplined! for! a! mere! error.! To! be! liable! the! error! must! constitute! gross! ignorance! of! the! law,! bad! faith,!
dishonesty,!hatred!or!some!other!like!motives.!So!erroneous!decisions.!Is!it!actionable?!Can!you!file!an!administrative!case!
against! the! judge! for! an! erroneous! decision?! No.! What! is! the! proper! remedy?! You! can! have! appeal,! motion! for!
reconsideration,!certiorari,!petition!for!review!and!all!those!remedies!under!the!rule!of!court.!That!is!why!we!have!these!
remedies!because!there!is!an!acknowledgment!that!judges!commit!mistakes!along!the!way.!!
!
Sec.(4( Judges( shall( keep( themselves( informed( about( relevant( developments( of( international( law,( including(
international(conventions(and(other(instruments(establishing(human(rights(norms.((
(
Why! do! judges! have! to! keep! themselves! informed! about! the! international! law?! Because! according! to! the! constitution,!
internal!law!and!principles!form!part!of!our!legal!system.!!
!
Sec.( 5( Judges( shall( perform( all( judicial( duties,( including( the( delivery( of( reserved( decisions,( efficiently,( fairly,( and( with(
reasonable(promptness.((
!
This! is! to! expedite! proceedings.! This! section! frown! upon! delays.! This! includes! utilization! of! preHtrial! and! discovery!
procedures.!It!also!includes!alternative!dispute!resolution.!In!the!constitution,!the!period!within!which!to!render!decisions!is!
provided.! For! Supreme! Court,! the! timeHframe! is! 24! months.! Lower! collegiate! courts! 12! months.! Other! lower! courts! 3!
months.!!
And! the! constitution! says! judges! “shall”.! Shall! signifies! mandatory.! Does! this! mean! that! the! constitutional! provision! is!
mandatory?!Let’s!review.!If!a!mandatory!law!is!violated,!what!is!the!effect?!The!act!is!void.!The!proceedings!are!void.!So!if!
we!give!it!mandatory!construction,!can!you!imagine!the!consequences?!What!happens!if!the!judge!is!late!in!rendering!his!
decision.!Does!this!mean!that!the!decision!is!void?!The!proceedings!will!be!void?!So!that!could!not!have!been!the!intent!of!
the!constitution.!Because!if!that!were!the!case,!ang!pilidihunon!nga!party,!mag!ampo!na!lang!nga!unta!ma!late!na!lang!si!
judge!para!ang!proceedings!ma!void.!So!despite!the!mandatory!language,!this!should!be!given!a!directory!effect.!What!is!
the!effect!if!there!is!a!violation!of!a!directory!law?!Is!the!act!void?!No!it!is!valid.!Are!the!proceedings!void?!No!proceedings!
are!still!valid.!But!it!could!render!the!responsible!officer!to!administrative!liability.!
!
If! for! some! valid! reason! the! judge! cannot! decide! a! case! for! a! certain! period! he! must! request! the! Supreme! Court! for! an!
extension!of!time!to!resolve!it.!!
!
Certificate(of(Service(
!
Judges! do! not! have! biometrics.! They! only! execute! a! certificate! of! service! that! they! work! for! all! the! working! days! of! the!
month.!And!they!also!say!in!their!certificate!that!they!have!no!pending!case!which!has!not!been!resolved!after!90!days!for!
RTC!judges).!This!is!a!preHrequisite!for!receiving!their!salary.!!
!
A! judge! who! fails! to! decide! cases! within! the! required! period! of! time! and! continues! to! collect! his! salaries! upon! his!
certification!that!he!has!no!pending!matter!to!resolve!beyond!the!required!period!transgresses!the!constitutional!right!of!
the!people!to!a!speedy!disposition!of!cases.!The!usual!defenses!of!good!faith!and!lack!of!malicious!intent!kay!pro!forma!man!
gud! na! ang! certificate! of! service.SC! said! it! does! not! completely! free! a! judge! from! liability.! So! the! penalties! could! range!
depending! on! how! the! supreme! court! will! view! the! gravity! of! the! offense.! Penalties! range! from! reprimand! to! dismissal.!
Most!of!the!dismissals!were!the!result!of!gross!and!inexcusable!negligence!or!because!of!the!use!of!the!falsified!certificate!
of!service!to!camouflage!the!delay.!
!
What!excuses!for!delay!are!not!given!credit?!
H!clogged!dockets!(dili!pwede!kay!himuon!na!lang!ni!nga!pirmi!palusot!pirmi)!
H!delay!in!the!transcription!of!stenographic!notes!(judges!are!even!discouraged!from!depending!on!stenographic!notes)!
H!inefficiency!or!mismanagement!of!court!personnel!!
!
Character!of!the!decision:!It!must!express!clearly!and!distinctly!the!facts!and!the!laws!on!which!it!is!based.!Reason:!to!show!
that!the!judge!fully!understood!the!case.!To!avoid!suspicion.!To!promote!confidence!in!the!judge’s!intellectual!integrity.!And!
to!contribute!useful!precedent!to!the!growth!of!the!law.!!
!
Sec.( 6.( Judges( shall( maintain( order( and( decorum( in( all( proceedings( before( the( court( and( be( patient,( dignified( and(
courteous(in(relation(to(litigants,(witnesses,(lawyers(and(others(with(whom(the(judge(deals(in(an(official(capacity.(Judges(
shall( require( similar( conduct( of( legal( representatives,( court( staff( and( others( subject( to( their( influence,( direction( or(
control.((
!
Judges! should! maintain! decorum! and! order! in! his! court! because! judicial! proceedings! are! not! a! joke.! It! is! not! a! circus.! In!
maintaining! order! and! decorum,! judges! should! not! resort! to! violent! or! tempestuous! means.! Example:! a! judge! wields! his!
firearm! to! the! people! in! his! court.! Or! the! judge! compels! the! witness! to! swallow! chewing! gum.! Shouting! at! parties! and!
litigants.!!
!
So!a!judge!before!he!insists!proper!conduct!on!others,!he!should!be!first!an!example!of!proper!conduct.!!
!
Sec.(7(Judges(shall(not(engage(in(conduct(incompatible(with(the(diligent(discharge(of(judicial(duties.(!
!
Examples:!
!
The!judge!lives!far!away!from!his!court!(ParanaqueH!Bataan).!So!because!of!that,!the!judge!held!his!hearings!on!Mondays!to!
Wednesdays! and! goes! home! the! rest! of! the! week.! The! judge! was! disciplined! because! his! conduct! is! incompatible! with!
diligence.!!
!
The!judge!declared!Wednesday!as!his!midweek!pause.!So!no!hearing!for!this!day.!Chill!day.!Disciplined!also!because!it!is!
incompatible!with!the!diligent!discharge!of!judicial!duties.!!
!
!
!
Administrative(Liability(of(judges((Consequences(if(judges(violate(their(ethical(duties)(
!
Supreme!Court!justices:!
!
Sec.(2(Art.(11( Grounds(for(impeachment(
H!Culpable!violation!of!the!constitution!
H!Treason!
H!Bribery!
H!Graft!and!Corruption!
H!other!high!crimes!
H!Betrayal!of!public!trust!
!
Corona!Impeachment.!
He!was!impeached!because!of!his!failure!to!disclose!in!his!SALN!the!true!extent!of!his!assets.!!
!
!
Administrative!Offenses,!Administrative!Liabilities!of!Judges!!
Read(Rule(140(of(Rules(of(Court(
The!administrative!cases!against!a!judge!are!classified!into!three:!
A. Serious!
B. Less!serious!
C. Slight!
!
Why!do!we!have!such!classification?!Because!the!imposable!penalty!will!differ.!!
!
SEC.(7.(Classification(of(charges.(–(Administrative(charges(are(classified(as(serious,(less(serious,(or(light.cralaw(
SEC.(8.(Serious(charges.(–(Serious(charges(include:chanrobles(virtual(law(library(
1.(Bribery,(direct(or(indirect;(
2.(Dishonesty(and(violations(of(the(AntiIGraft(and(Corrupt(Practices(Law((R.A.(No.(3019);(
3.(Gross(misconduct(constituting(violations(of(the(Code(of(Judicial(Conduct;(
4.(Knowingly(rendering(an(unjust(judgment(or(order(as(determined(by(a(competent(court(in(an(appropriate(proceeding;(
5.(Conviction(of(a(crime(involving(moral(turpitude;(
6.(Willful(failure(to(pay(a(just(debt;(
7.(Borrowing(money(or(property(from(lawyers(and(litigants(in(a(case(pending(before(the(court;(
8.(Immorality;(
9.(Gross(ignorance(of(the(law(or(procedure;(
10.(Partisan(political(activities;(and(cralaw(
11.(Alcoholism(and/or(vicious(habits.cralaw(
SEC.(9.(Less(Serious(Charges.(–(Less(serious(charges(include:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary(
1.(Undue(delay(in(rendering(a(decision(or(order,(or(in(transmitting(the(records(of(a(case;(
2.(Frequently(and(unjustified(absences(without(leave(or(habitual(tardiness;(
3.(Unauthorized(practice(of(law;(
4.(Violation(of(Supreme(Court(rules,(directives,(and(circulars;(
5.(Receiving(additional(or(double(compensation(unless(specifically(authorized(by(law;(
6.(Untruthful(statements(in(the(certificate(of(service;(and(cralaw(
7.(Simple(Misconduct.cralaw(
SEC.(10.(Light(Charges.(–(Light(charges(include:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary(
1.(Vulgar(and(unbecoming(conduct;(
2.(Gambling(in(public;(
3.(Fraternizing(with(lawyers(and(litigants(with(pending(case/cases(in(his(court;(and(cralaw(
4.(Undue(delay(in(the(submission(of(monthly(reports.(
!
!
Examples:(
!
Bribery( !!H! the!judge!was!caught!in!an!entrapment!receiving!a!bribe!money.!Dismissed.!
Dishonesty!H! False!testimony!by!a!judge!where!he!was!a!witness!in!a!judicial!proceeding!
False!statement!in!application!to!the!judiciary!that!he!has!no!pending!case!(concealment)!
Concealment!in!the!biodata!form!required!by!the!JBC!of!his!previous!dismissal!as!assistant!city!! fiscal!
*! Take! note! in! the! last! two! examples,! these! acts! pertain! to! acts! before! he! was! a! judge.! But! it! was! a! reason! for! his!
dismissal!from!the!judiciary.!Acts!prior!to!admission!can!be!a!ground!for!removal!or!discipline!of!a!judge.!!
!
Unjust(judgment(or(order(H!(Criminal!Law)!There!must!be!a!prior!finding!or!determination!before!the!apellate!court!that!the!
judge! has! indeed! committed! the! proscribed! act! in! an! appeal! from! the! judgment! or! a! special! civil! action! challenging! the!
order.!Before!you!find!the!judge!guilty,!there!must!have!been!a!prior!order!or!judgment!declaring!that!the!judgment!was!
wrong.!It!is!premature!to!file!an!administrative!case!when!the!appeal!or!special!civil!action!is!still!pending.!!
!
Gross(misconduct!H!the!misconduct!must!be!serious!that!is!weighty,!momentous.!There!must!be!reliable!evidence!showing!
that!the!judicial!acts!complained!of!were!corrupt!or!were!intended!to!violate!the!law.!!
(
(
December(10,(2015(
(
In(re:(Inting(
Can!the!CA!justice!participate!in!the!affairs!of!her!homeowners!association?!
6Yes.!
Facts:!
The!complaint!was:!as!Justice!of!the!CA,!she!should!have!desisted!from!joining!the!elections!for!the!officers!and!members!of!
the! Board! of! Trustees! of! her! homeowners! association! and! gotten! embroiled! in! the! issues! that! animated! the! two! groups!
which!shared!the!powers!of!the!association,!thus!getting!drawn!into!a!bitter!litigation.!
Ruling:!
Joining!the!judiciary!does!not!mean!that!a!judge!should!live!the!life!of!a!hermit.!The!Code!of!Judicial!Ethics!does!not!bar!him!
from! joining! associations! or! institutions! that! promote! the! common! good.! To! be! sure,! no! social! or! moral! considerations!
prevent! him! from! taking! active! part! in! organizations! that! aim! to! promote! the! welfare! of! his! family! or! community,! like! a!
homeowners!association.!!
!
(
A.M.(No.(MTJI09I1738(
The! judge! delayed! in! rendering! decision.! The! judge! failed! to! decide! within! 30Hday! period! required! under! the! Rule! on!
Summary!Procedure.!In!addition!to!this!present!charge,!he!was!already!found!guilty!for!other!administrative!offenses.!In!
fact,!the!SC!already!decided!has!already!dismissed!the!judge!for!gross!inefficiency,!gross!ignorance!of!the!law,!dereliction!of!
duty!and!violation!of!the!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct.!
!
Is!the!case!moot!and!academic?!!
SC:!It!is!not!moot!and!academic.!!
• GUILTY!of!the!less!serious!charge!of!undue!delay!in!resolving!Civil!Case!No.!20191,!for!which!she!is!FINED!the!amount!of!
P20,000,!to!be!deducted!from!her!accrued!leave!credits,!since!she!had!already!been!dismissed!from!the!service.!
• Judgment!without!prejudice!to!be!outcome!of!her!other!remaining!and/or!pending!administrative!cases.!
!
!
The(incorporators(of(Mindanao(Institute(Inc.(et.(al.(vs.(UCCP(et.(al,(G.R.(No.(171765.(March(21,(2012(
• Law!Firm!of!Judge’s!Son!entered!appearance!as!collaborating!counsel!in!a!case!before!the!Judge.!
• Judge!Dayan!should!have!immediately!inhibited!himself!from!the!case!upon!learning!of!the!entry!of!appearance!of!
his!son’s!law!firm.!Where!the!disqualifying!fact!in!indubitable!and!the!parties!to!the!case!make!no!waiver!of!such!
disqualification,!as!in!the!case!at!bench,!Section!1,!Rule!137!of!the!Rules!of!Court!forthwith!completely!strips!the!
judge!of!authority!to!proceed.!
!
!
Judges:(Gross(Incompetence(and(gross(inefficiency(
Respondent! judge! failed! to! decide! 102! criminal! cases! and! 43! civil! cases! in! violation! of! the! Code! of! Judicial! Conduct.! He!
cannot!take!refuge!behind!the!common!excuse!of!heavy!caseload!to!justify!his!failure!to!decide!and!resolve!case!promptly.!
He! could! have! asked! the! Court! for! a! reasonable! period! of! extension! to! dispose! of! the! cases! but! did! not.! His! inefficiency!
caused!not!only!unnecessary!financial!strain!but!also!physical!and!emotional!anxiety!to!litigants.!
• Judge!was!fined!P50,000!to!be!deducted!from!his!retirement!benefits.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH09H2198,!January!18,2011)!
!
!
Judges:(Gross(ignorance(of(the(law(
Judge!reversed!and!modified!a!final!and!executor!order!of!the!Acting!Judge!not!upon!the!instance!of!any!of!the!parties!in!
Civil! Case! No.! 3383HR! but! motu! prorio! in! violation! of! settled! jurisprudence.! Respondent! failed! to! meet! the! exacting!
standards! of! judicial! conduct! and! integrity.! He! has! shown! himself! unworthy! of! judicial! robe! and! place! of! honor! reserved!
form!guardians!of!justice.!
• Judge!was!dismissed!from!the!service.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH07H062.!January!18,!2011)!
!
!
Judges:(Gross(misconduct(
Judge!procured!form!complainant!the!building!materials!he!needed!for!the!construction!of!his!house.!He!compromised!his!
position!as!a!judge.!He!compromised!his!position!as!a!judge.!xxx!In!such!a!case!his!business!and!financial!dealings!with!the!
complainant!would!create!a!doubt!about!his!fairness!and!impartiality.!In!deciding!the!case!and!would!tend!to!corrode!the!
respect!and!dignity!of!the!court.!
• Dismissed! form! the! service! with! forfeiture! of! all! benefits! and! with! prejudice! to! his! reHemployment! in! the!
government!service!including!GOCC’s!(A.M.!No.!RTJH09H2189,!January!18,!2011)!
!
!
Judges:(Impropriety(
Using!the!letterhead!of!the!court:!
Judge!sent!a!letter,!in!his!official!letterhead,!to!complaint!to!discuss!a!matter!pending!before!his!own!court.!
• For! committing! acts! of! impropriety! in! violation! of! the! Code! of! Judicial! Conduct,! respondent! judge! was! fined!
P5,000.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH11H2267,!January!9,!2011)!
!
!
Judges:(Gross(misconduct(for(violating(the(Code(of(Judicial(Conduct(
Judge!violated!specifically!Rule!3.02!of!said!Canon!3!when!he!ordered!the!implementation!of!the!Order!placing!the!receivers!
of! the! insolvent! corporation! in! possession! of! the! properties! thereof! including! those! of! complainants! issued! by! his! retire!
predecessor!which!Order!was!declared!null!and!void!by!the!Court!of!Appeals!and!affirmed!by!the!Supreme!Court.!He!should!
have!read!and!studied!personally!the!records!of!the!case!page!by!page!before!issuing!said!order.!
• For!gross!misconduct,!respondent!was!fined!P25,000.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH07H2069,!December!14,!2011)!
!
!
Judge:(Gross(misconduct(
Judge!(1)!talked!to!a!prospective!litigant!in!his!court,!(2)!recommended!the!counsel!to!handle!the!case,!and!(3)!prepared!the!
Motion!to!Withdraw!as!Counsel!of!the!lawyer!he!recommended!which!pleading!was!filed!in!his!court!and!was!acted!upon!
by!him.!
Not!allowed,!this!is!gross!misconduct.!
• Fined!P25,000!to!be!deducted!from!his!retirement!benefits.!(A.M.!No.!MTJH09H1734,!January!19,!2011)!
!
!
Judges:(Impropriety(and(Gross(misconduct(
• Judge!embraced,!kissed!and!sucked!complainant’s!breast,!touched!her!private!parts,!against!complainant’s!will.!
• (The!judge!already!retired!in!this!case,!prior!to!this!case)!
Held!respondent!not!retired,!his!misconduct!would!have!merited!his!dismissal!from!service.!However,!he!was!fined!
P40,000!to!be!deducted!from!his!retirement!benefits.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH08H2136,!September!21,!2010)!!!!
!
!
Judges:(Violation(of(Section(1,(Canon(4,(of(the(New(Code(of(Judicial(Conduct(
Respondent!judges!failed!to!live!up!to!the!standard!of!propriety!entrenched!in!the!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct.!Shouting!at!
each!other!in!the!workplace!and!during!office!hours!is!discourtesy!and!disrespect!not!only!towards!coHworkers,!but!also!to!
the!court!as!well.!The!behaviour!of!both!respondents!are!totally!unbecoming!of!members!of!the!judicial!service.!What!is!
more!detestable!is!the!fact!that!their!squabble!arose!out!of!a!mere!allowance!coming!from!the!local!government!
• Both!respondent!judges!were!fined!P11,000!each.!(A.M.!No.!RTCH08H2124!and!A.M.!No.!RTCH08H2125,!August!27,!
2009)!
!
!
Judges:(Dishonesty(and(falsification(of(an(official(document(
Judge’s!act!of!making!an!obviously!false!statement!in!his!PDS!(personal!data!sheet)!was!not!mere!inadvertence.!He!
answered!“no”!to!the!simple!question!posed!in!the!PDS.!He!answered!“no”!to!the!question!“have!you!ever!been!charged!
formally!with!any!infraction?”,!but!the!truth!was!he!has!been!charged!with!an!infraction.!
• Dismissed!from!the!service!with!forfeiture!of!all!benefits!with!prejudice!to!reemployment!in!the!government!
service!including!GOCC’s.!Respondent!was!also!disbarred!for!violation!of!Canons!1!and!2!and!Rules!1.01!and!10.01!
of!the!Code!of!Professional!Responsibility.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH08H2138,!August!25,!2009)!
Remember!automatic!conversion?!
Can!the!judge!be!subjected!to!disciplinary!proceedings,!as!a!judge!and!as!lawyer!at!the!same!time?!
6Yes.!That’s!what!happened!here.!
!
!
Judges:(Violation(of(Canon(2(of(the(Code(of(Judicial(Ethic(and(Rule(2.03(of(the(Code(of(Judicial(Conduct(
The!court’s!heading!of!letterhead,!as!per!Report!of!the!Court!Administrator,!serves!as!a!primary!indentifier!of!the!office.!
When!correspondence!bearing!the!court’s!heading!gives!the!impression!that!it!has!the!imprimatur!of!the!court,!and!that!
the!signatory!carries!such!representation.!Considering!this!important!implication,!scrupulous!use!of!the!court’s!heading!
must!be!observed!at!all!times.!
!
Respondent!used!court’s!heading!in!his!personal!letter,!and!unwillingly!dragged!the!name!of!the!court!into!his!private!
affairs,!giving!the!appearance!that!there!is!an!implied!consent!of!the!court,!to!his!case.!
!
Admonished:!(A.M.!No.!MTJH08H1712,!August!20,!2008)!
!
!
Gross(Ignorance(of(the(Law/Procedure(
The!MTC!judge!denied!a!Motion!to!Quash!the!Information!for!lack!of!jurisdiction!despite!the!fact!that!the!salary!grade!of!
the!accused!employee!is!28!and!the!allegation!that!the!offense!was!committed!in!relation!to!office!thus!falling!under!the!
executive!jurisdiction!of!the!Sandiganbayan.!(A.M.!No.!RTJH04H1857,!Nov.!23,2004)!
!
Regular!courts6!26!and!below!
Sandiganbayan6!27!and!above,!except!those!included!by!the!law!despite!having!26!and!below!salary!grade.!
!
!
Gross(Ignorance(
Crime!charged!is!reckless!imprudence!resulting!in!homicide!and!the!judge!ordered:!
1. The!impounding!of!the!bus!involved!with!directive!that!it!be!released!only!upon!posting!of!P50,000!cash!bond;!
2. Increased!the!bond!of!the!accused!from!P60,000!to!P350,000!to!be!posted!cash.!
Gross!ignorance!of!the!excessive!bail!imposed!on!the!accused.!The!order!of!impounding!is!considered!as!an!error!of!
judgment!because!there!was!no!SC!ruling!yet.!
!
!
Gross(ignorance(of(the(Law(
The!judge!issued!a!warrant!of!arrest!against!the!lawyer!of!the!accused!for!his!failure!to!attend!the!promulgation!of!
judgment!and!directed!that!said!lawyer!to!remain!in!jail!until!the!judgment!is!promulgated.!
!
!
Gross(Ignorance(of(the(Law(
The!judge!failed!to!require!the!presence!of!the!accused!during!the!promulgation!of!judgment.!There!are!on!two!(2)!
instances!when!the!presence!of!the!accused!is!not!required:!(a)!when!the!judgment!is!for!a!light!offense,!In!which!case,!the!
counsel!of!the!accused!or!a!representative!may!stand!for!him;!and!(b)!in!cases!where!despite!due!notice!the!accused!or!his!
bondsman!or!warden!and!counsel,!the!accused!failed!to!appear.!(A.M.!no.!RTJH04H1875,!nov.!9,2005)!
!
!
Gross(Ignorance(of(the(Law/Procedure(
The!judge!cited!the!complainant!for!direct!contempt!and!issued!a!warrant!of!arrest!against!him!recommending!no!bail.!He!
stayed!in!detention!for!days.!Further,!the!judge!also!cited!the!complainant’s!counsel!in!direct!contempt!for!attaching!to!a!
Motion!for!Inhibition,!the!complainant’s!affidavit!exected!to!support!his!complaint!against!the!judge!and!assessed!a!fine!of!
P3,000.!
!
Sec.!1!Rule!71!provides!that!if!imprisonment!is!imposed!by!the!RTC!or!a!court!of!equivalent!rank!the!maximum!period!is!10!
days.!The!order!did!not!only!fail!to!specify!the!period,!worse!the!complainant!was!detained!beyond!the!maximum!period!
allowed.!
!
Further,!if!fine!is!imposed!the!maximum!amount!is!P2,000.!He!imposed!an!amount!beyond!the!maximum.!
!
!
Gross(inefficiency(
A.M.!no.!RTJH05H1950,!Feb.!13,!2006!
! Additional!court!assignments!or!designations!imposed!upon!a!judge!do!not!make!him!less!liable!for!any!delay!in!
the!resolution!of!pending!cases.!
So,!the!judge!could!be!assigned!to!many!courts!but!it!is!not!an!excuse!for!delaying!the!resolution!of!pending!cases.!
!
(
Impartiality((
A.M.!No.!RTJH02H14452,!April!4,!2005!
! The!judge!acted!as!broker!together!with!the!complainant!in!the!sale!of!lots!to!the!Church!of!Jesus!Christ!of!Latter!
Day!Saints!Inc.!
! “By!allowing!himself!to!act!as!agent!in!the!sale!of!the!subject!property,!respondent!judge!has!increased!the!
possibility!of!his!disqualification!to!act!as!an!impartial!judge!in!the!event!that!a!dispute!involving!the!said!contract!of!sale!
arises.!
! Also!the!possibility!that!the!parties!to!the!sale!might!plead!before!his!court!is!not!remote!and!his!business!dealings!
with!them!might!not!only!create!suspicion!as!to!his!fairness!but!also!to!his!ability!to!render!it!in!a!manner!that!is!free!from!
any!suspicion!as!to!its!fairness!and!impartiality!and!also!as!to!the!judge’s!integrity.”!
!
!
Impropriety(
A.M.!No.!MTJH04H1453,!Aug.!25,!2005!
Respondent!judge!issued!4!checks!to!complainant!as!reimbursement!for!the!down!payment!to!the!latter!paid!the!former!
relative!to!the!aborted!sale!of!the!judge’s!apartment!to!her.!The!checks!bounced!for!insufficiency!of!accounts!or!closure!of!
account.!The!judge!did!not!deny!said!facts!and!even!added!in!his!comment!that!“to!end!this!problem”!he!has!conveyed!to!
complainant!parcels!of!land!hence!prayed!that!the!complainant!be!considered!closed!and!terminated.!
!
“A!magistrate!of!the!law!must!comport!himself!at!all!times!in!such!a!manner!that!his!conduct,!official!or!otherwise,!can!bear!
the!most!searching!scrutiny!of!the!public!that!looks!up!to!him!as!the!epitome!of!integrity!and!justice”!
!
“The!conveyance!of!several!pieces!of!realty!does!not!close!and!terminate!the!case.!Disciplinary!proceedings!involve!not!only!
private!interest.!They!are!undertaken!to!maintain!the!faith!and!confidence!of!the!people!in!the!government.!To!allow!the!
parties!to!dictate!the!course!of!disciplinary!investigations!would!render!hollow!the!Courts!power!of!supervision!over!court!
officials!and!employees!and!prejudice!public!service.!
!
!
A.M.!!No.!RTJH09H1460!March!31,!2006!
Finding:!
1. For!Simple!Misconduct!
The!judge!circulated!calling!cards!bearing!the!following!:!his!name!as!the!Presiding!judge!of!RTC!Br.!73!Malabon!
City;!indicating!that!he!is!a!“bar!exams!top!notcher!(87.55)!and!with!“full!second!honors”!from!Ateneo!de!Manila!
University,!AB!and!LLB.!
!
Before!he!starts!his!court!session!he!is!introduced!as!a!private!law!!practitioner,!a!graduate!of!Ateneo!de!Manila!
University!with!second!honors,!and!a!bar!top!notcher!during!the!1983!Bar!examinations!with!an!average!of!
87.55%.!
!
Then!a!reading!of!the!Holy!Bible,!particularly!the!Book!of!Revelation!according!to!St.!John!follows.!Then!he!gives!
the!people!in!the!court!room!the!opportunity!to!ask!questions!on!the!matter!read.!If!no!question!is!asked!the!
session!starts.!
!
There!is!a!violation!of!Canon!2,!Rule!2.02!of!the!Code!of!Judicial!Conduct!which!states!that!a!judge!should!not!seek!
publicity!for!personal!vainglory.!
!
2. Gross!ignorance!because!of!3!fundamental!errors:!
a. He!ordered!the!release!of!accused!on!recognizance!without!the!presence!of!the!prosecutor,!thus,!depriving!
the!latter!of!any!opportunity!to!oppose!the!reading;!
b. He!ordered!the!release!without!first!requiring!the!probation!officer!to!render!a!cases!study!and!investigation!
report;!
c. The!order!granting!the!release!of!the!accused!on!recognizance!was!not!reduced!in!writing,!insisting!that!orders!
made!in!open!court!need!not!be!reduced!into!writing!
!
3. Unbecoming!conduct!for!partiality!in!criminal!cases!because!he!relayed!to!the!members!of!the!audit!team!that!in!
criminal!cases!he!is!always!“pro!accused”!particularly!concerning!detention!prisoners!and!bonded!accused!who!
have!to!continually!pay!for!the!premiums!on!their!bonds!during!the!pendency!of!their!cases.!
!
4. Unbecoming!conduct!for!signing!a!pleading!in!his!personal!case!despite!the!fact!that!he!had!a!lawyer,!indicating!
therein!that!he!is!presiding!judge!of!RTC!Br.!73!Malabon!City!and!appending!to!the!pleading!a!copy!of!his!oath!with!
a!picture!of!his!oathHtaking.!
!
“The!only!logical!explanation!is!that!he!was!obviously!trying!to!influence!or!put!pressure!on!a!fellow!judge!by!
emphasizing!that!he!himself!is!a!judge!and!is!thus!in!the!right.”!
!
5. Unbecoming!conduct!for!openly!criticizing!the!Rules!of!Court!and!the!Philippine!justice!system!and!for!using!highly!
improper!and!intemperate!language!during!court!proceedings.!
!
 Penalty!imposed:!Fine!of!P40,000!after!taking!into!consideration!the!fact!that!he!was!new!in!the!job!(relative!
inexperience)!when!he!slammed!with!the!charge!and!considering!further!that!there!was!no!allegations!or!proof!
that!he!acted!in!bad!faith!or!with!corrupt!motives.!
!
!
Who!can!remove!judges?!
• G.R:!Supreme!Court!En!Banc!–!penalty!to!be!imposed!is!the!dismissal!of!a!judge,!or!suspension!of!one!year!or!more!
or!a!fine!not!exceeding!P10,000,!or!both.!
• Exc:!Supreme!Court!Division!
!
IBP!has!no!administrative!and!investigative!jurisdiction!over!judges.!!
Can!IBP!investigate!judges?!
• In!Pamatong!vs.!Davide!(A.C.!No.!7197,!January!23,!2007),!the!Court,!by!Resolution!dated!Sept.!5,!2006,!approved!
in!principle!the!amendment!of!SC!Circular!No.!3H89!such!that!the!IBP!is!henceforth!required!to!forward!the!SC!for!
appropriate!disposition!all!complainants!for!disbarment!and!discipline!filed!with!the!IBP!against!all!justices!and!
judges,!sitting!or!retired.!
• Otherwise!stated,!IBP!has!no!jurisdiction,!but!only!to!forward!the!case!to!the!SC.!
!
Rule(140,(ROC(
When!it!comes!to!procedure!against!judges,!we!have!Rule!140!of!ROC!
Like!any!other!cases,!it!is!initiated!by!a!complaint!
!
Who!can!file!a!complaint?!(Sec.1)!
1. The!SC!motu!proprio!
2. Anybody!as!long!as!it!is!verified!complaint!H!Supported!by!affidavits!of!person!who!have!personal!knowledge!of!the!
facts!alleged!therein!or!by!documents!which!may!substantiate!said!allegations.!
3. Anonymous!complaint!H!supported!by!public!records!of!indubitable!integrity!
Ex:!the!judge!who!was!always!wrong!in!applying!ISLAW.!Attached!in!the!complaint!is!a!compilation!of!his!decisions!
in!criminal!cases.!And!when!you!look!at!the!dispositive!part,!wrong!application!of!ISLAW,!will!this!complaint!
prosper?!–Yes,!it!will!be!entertained!because!it!is!supported!by!public!records!of!indubitable!integrity!
!
(Section!2)!
• If!the!complaint!is!not!sufficient!in!form!and!substance!–!outright!dismissal!
• If!the!complaint!is!sufficient!in!form!and!substance!H!a!copy!thereof!shall!be!served!upon!the!respondent,!and!he!
shall!be!required!to!comment!within!ten!(10)!days!from!the!date!of!service.!
!
(Section!3)!
Upon!the!filing!of!the!respondent’s!comment,!or!upon!the!expiration!of!the!time!for!filing!the!same!,!the!SC!will:!
1. refer!the!matter!to!the!Office!of!the!Court!Administrator!for!evaluation,!report,!and!recommendation;!or!
2. assign!the!case!for!investigation,!report,!and!recommendation!to:!
o a!retired!member!of!the!Supreme!CourtH!if!the!respondent!is!a!Justice!of!the!Court!of!Appeals!and!the!
Sandiganbayan!
o a!Justice!of!the!Court!of!AppealsH!!if!the!respondent!is!a!Judge!of!a!Regional!Trial!Court!or!of!a!special!
court!of!equivalent!rank!!
o a!Judge!of!the!Regional!Trial!CourtH!if!the!respondent!is!a!Judge!of!an!inferior!court.!
!

(Section!4)HHearing!
• conducted!by!the!OCA!or!the!SC!or!CA!or!RTC!judge,!as!the!case!may!be.!
• must!be!confidential,!only!the!decision!is!made!public!(sec.!5)!
(so!if!the!RTC!judge!calls!a!case!for!hearing,!the!lawyer!of!the!judge!must!object!to!the!hearing!of!the!judge!in!public.)!
• may!be!done!ex!parte!H!If,!after!due!notice,!the!respondent!fails!to!appear!!
• terminated!within!90!days!from!commencement!of!hearing! or!within!such!extension!as!the!Supreme!Court!may!grant.!
!
(Section!5)H!Report!
Within!thirty!(30)!days!from!the!termination!of!the!investigation,!the!investigating!Justice!or!Judge!shall!submit!to!the!
Supreme!Court!a!report!containing!findings!of!fact!and!recommendation.!
!
(Section!6)H!Action!
The!Court!shall!take!such!action!on!the!report!as!the!facts!and!the!law!may!warrant.!
!

January(14,(2016(
!
What(is(Legal(Ethics?(
• Branch!of!moral!science!which!treats!of!the!duties!which!an!attorney!owes!to!the!court,!to!his!client,!to!his!
colleagues!in!the!profession!and!to!the!public!as!embodied!in!the!constitution,!rules!of!court,!code!of!professional!
responsibility,!canons!of!professional!ethics,!moral!law!and!special!laws!
• first!part!of!definition!talks!about!4Hfold!duty!of!an!attorney!
• last!part!of!definition!talks!about!the!sources!of!legal!ethics:!
1. Code!of!Professional!Responsibility:!usual!source!
2. Constitution!
3. Rules!of!Court!
4. Special!Laws!
5. Jurisprudence!
!
!
Duties(of(an(attorney,((those(which(he/she(owes(to(the:(
1. public!
2. court!
3. bar!
4. client!
!
Section(20.((Rule(138(ROC.(Duties(of(attorneys.(
(
1. To!maintain!allegiance!to!the!Republic!of!the!Philippines!and!to!support!the!Constitution!and!obey!the!laws!of!the!
Philippines.!
!
2. To!observe!and!maintain!the!respect!due!to!the!courts!of!justice!and!judicial!officers;!
!
3. To!counsel!or!maintain!such!actions!or!proceedings!only!as!appear!to!him!to!be!just,!and!such!defenses!only!as!he!
believes!to!be!honestly!debatable!under!the!law.!
!
4. To!employ,!for!the!purpose!of!maintaining!the!causes!confided!to!him,!such!means!only!as!are!consistent!with!
truth!and!honor,!and!never!seek!to!mislead!the!judge!or!any!judicial!officer!by!an!artifice!or!false!statement!of!fact!
or!law;!
!
5. To!maintain!inviolate!the!confidence,!and!at!every!peril!to!himself,!to!preserve!the!secrets!of!his!client,!and!to!
accept!no!compensation!in!connection!with!his!client's!business!except!from!him!or!with!his!knowledge!and!
approval;!
!
6. To!abstain!from!all!offensive!personality!and!to!advance!no!fact!prejudicial!to!the!honor!or!reputation!of!a!party!or!
witness,!unless!required!by!the!justice!of!the!cause!with!which!he!is!charged;!
!
7. Not!to!encourage!either!the!commencement!or!the!continuance!of!an!action!or!proceeding,!or!delay!any!man's!
cause,!from!any!corrupt!motive!or!interest;!
!
8. Never!to!reject,!for!any!consideration!personal!to!himself,!the!cause!of!the!defenseless!or!oppressed;!
!
 9. In!the!defense!of!a!person!accused!of!crime,!by!all!fair!and!honorable!means,!regardless!of!his!personal!opinion!as!
to!the!guilt!of!the!accused,!to!present!every!defense!that!the!law!permits,!to!the!end!that!no!person!may!be!
deprived!of!life!or!liberty,!but!by!due!process!of!law.!
!
Privileges(of(Attorney((
• first!grade!civil!service!eligibility!for!any!position!in!the!classified!service!in!the!government!the!duties!of!which!
require!knowledge!of!law!
• second!grade!civil!service!eligibility!for!any!other!government!position!which!does!not!prescribe!proficient!in!law!
qualification.!
!
Importance(of(legal(ethics(
• The!highest!moral!and!ethical!standards!should!be!maintained!so!that!the!people!will!continue!to!repose!their!
trust!in!lawyers!and!in!the!role!they!play!in!the!administration!of!justice.!Consequently!the!continued!existence!of!
the!legal!profession!is!ensured.!
• If!lawyers!are!bound!by!a!set!of!rules,!the!primary!purpose!of!which!is!to!ensure!that!lawyers!are!trustworthy!
people,!then!society!will!maintain!its!trust!and!confidence!in!the!justice!system!and!the!legal!profession.!
• If!the!public!will!not!trust!lawyers!anymore,!then!the!legal!profession!will!die!a!natural!death.!Nobody!will!go!to!
lawyers!anymore!and!perhaps!will!just!take!the!law!into!their!own!hands.!
!
Can(legal(ethics(make(you(rich?(What(is(the(danger(if(the(lawyer(forgets(the(rules(of(legal(ethics?(
• A!lawyer!may!get!rich!but!he!may!get!disbarred.!Observance!of!the!rules!of!legal!ethics!is!essential!for!selfH
preservation!and!preservation!of!one’s!career.!It!is!not!as!if!that!legal!ethics!will!make!you!poor,!far!from!that,!
many!lawyers!reach!the!pinnacle!of!success!even!while!completely!observant!of!legal!ethics.!
!
The(legal(profession(is(not(a(money(making(trade.(
Primary(characteristics(which(distinguish(the(legal(profession(from(a(business:(
1. duty!of!public!service,!of!which!emolument!is!a!byHproduct!
• this!tells!us!that!the!primary!purpose!of!the!legal!profession!is!the!duty!of!public!service!and!emolument!is!
merely!a!byHproduct!
• example:!A!business!without!profit!after!10!!or!20!years!is!considered!a!failure!because!it!makes!no!
money.!However,!a!lawyer!who!is!not!very!rich!but!is!one!of!the!most!respected!is!not!considered!a!
failure.!It!is!not!the!emolument!that!defines!a!lawyers,!rather!it!is!the!quality!of!his!work.!
2. lawyer!is!an!officer!of!the!court!
3. fiduciary!relation!to!client!
• fiduciary:!based!on!trust!and!confidence!
• fiduciary!relationship!not!always!present!in!business.!
! example:!Even!if!one!does!not!trust!the!airline,!he!has!no!choice!but!to!ride!it.!But!if!a!client!
hires!a!lawyer,!then!it!means!the!client!trusts!the!lawyer.!
4. candor,!fairness!to!colleagues!in!the!bar!
• courtesy!towards!fellow!lawyers!in!observed!in!the!legal!profession!
! example:!it!is!unethical!for!lawyers!to!steal!the!clients!of!other!lawyers!
• in!business,!the!aim!is!to!monopolize!the!market,!to!get!all!the!clients!in!order!to!maximize!profits.!!
!
!
Can(corporations(practice(law?(
• No.!Practice!of!law!is!reserved!only!to!natural!persons!who!are!lawyers!such!as!solo!practitioners!or!in!partnership!
with!other!lawyers.!
• Corporation!law:!corporation!is!an!entity!which!is!distinct!and!separate!from!its!individual!stockholders!
• If!corporations!are!allowed!to!practice!law,!it!could!become!an!avenue!for!unscrupulous!lawyers!to!evade!liability!
by!hiding!behind!the!veil!of!corporate!fiction.!This!is!totally!inconsistent!with!the!principle!that!the!legal!profession!
demands!personal!responsibility!and!accountability!from!the!lawyer.!
• Besides,!the!corporation!did!not!go!to!law!school!or!take!the!bar.!The!nature!of!the!legal!profession!is!such!that!it!
can!only!be!exercised!in!the!flesh!and!blood!of!a!real!natural!person.!!
• Law!firms!are!allowed.!A!law!partnership!does!not!qualify!as!a!partnership!under!the!contemplation!of!the!civil!
code.!It!is!called!partnership!in!the!loose!sense.!
 • A!partnership!in!the!practice!of!law!is!a!mere!relationship!or!association!for!such!particular!purpose.!It!is!not!a!legal!
entity,!it!is!not!a!partnership!formed!for!the!purpose!of!carrying!on!a!trade!or!business!or!of!holding!property.!It!is!
an!association!or!relationship!for!the!purpose!of!practicing!law.!
!
!
Tan(vs(del(Rosario(
• A!professional!law!partnership!even!if!registered!with!the!SEC!is!not!even!a!taxpayer.!And!any!lawyer!practicing!law!
under!a!law!partnership!is!considered!a!solo!practitioner!who!is!the!taxpayer!and!not!the!law!partnership.!
• The!law,!in!fact,!prohibits!a!business!or!commercial!partnership!or!juridical!entity!to!engage!in!the!practice!of!law,!
the!reason!being!that!a!commercial!partnership!or!juridical!entity,!by!the!very!nature!of!the!practice!of!law,!cannot!
possess!nor!comply!with!the!qualifications!and!requirements!of!a!lawyer.!
!
Sec.(1,(rule(138,(ROC(
Who(may(practice(law?(
Any!person!(natural!person)!heretofore!duly!admitted!as!a!member!of!the!bar,!or!hereafter!admitted!as!such!in!accordance!
with!the!provisions!of!this!rule,!and!who!is!in!good!and!regular!standing,!is!entitled!to!practice!law.!
!
Sources(of(legal(ethics(
I.(Constitution(as(a(source(of(legal(ethics(
Sec.!5[5],!art.!VIII,!1987!constitution!
The!SC!shall!promulgate!rules!concerning:!!
1. the!protection!and!enforcement!of!constitutional!rights,!
2. pleading,!practice,!and!procedure!in!all!courts,!!
3. the!admission!to!the!practice!of!law,!!
• If!the!SC!can!admit!a!person!to!the!practice!of!law,!it!can!also!disbar!the!person.!Aside!from!
promulgating!Rules!of!Court!pertaining!to!the!admission!to!the!bar,!the!SC!also!has!rules!regarding!
discipline!and!disbarment!of!lawyers.!!
4. the!Integrated!Bar!
• The!SC,!under!the!ROC,!mandates!the!integration!of!the!Bar!!
5. legal!assistance!to!the!underprivileged.!!
!
Can(these(persons(practice(law(concurrent(with(their(public(posts?(
!1.! President,!viceHpresident,members!of!the!cabinet,!and!their!deputies!or!assistants!
• No.!The!Constitution!provides!that!the!pres,!VP,!members!of!the!cabinet,!and!their!deputies!and!
assistants,!shall!not,!during!their!tenure,!practice!any!other!profession.!
!2.! Senators,!members!of!house!of!representatives!
• Yes!but!with!restrictions!on!personal!appearaance.!
• Sec.!14,!art.!VI,!1987!constitution!
o No!Senator!or!Member!of!the!House!of!Representatives!may!personally!appear!as!counsel!
before:!!
1. any!court!of!justice!
2. Electoral!Tribunals!
3. quasiHjudicial!and!other!administrative!bodies.!
!3.! Members!of!constitutional!commission!
• No.!Prohibited!by!the!Constitution.!
!4.! Ombudsman!and!deputies!
• No.!Prohibited!by!the!Constitution.!
!5.! Judges!and!justices!
• No.!
!6.! Retired!judges!and!justices!
• Yes!but!with!restrictions!found!on!legislation.!
!7.! Governors,!city!mayors,!and!municipal!mayors.!
• No!as!found!in!the!Local!Government!Code!
!8.! Baranggay!Captains!and!Sanggunian!Members!
• Yes!because!not!included!in!the!enumeration!of!officials!prohibited!from!practicing!law.!
 !
!
! Numbers!1!to!4!above!are!examples!of!the!Constitution!being!a!source!of!legal!ethics.!
! Numbers!5!to!8!above!are!examples!of!Legislation!being!a!source!of!legal!ethics.!
!
Puyat(vs.(De(guzman,(Jr.((113(scra(31)(
A!member!of!congress!cannot!indirectly!fail!to!follow!the!constitutional!prohibition!of!not!appearing!personally!as!counsel!
before!the!SEC!by!buying!a!no.!of!share!in!the!corporation!after!his!appearance!as!counsel!therein!was!contested.!
!
II.(Rules(of(court(as(a(source(of(legal(ethics(
Sec.!7,!rule!85!
When!the!executors!or!administrator!is!an!attorney,!he!shall!not!charge!against!the!estate!any!professional!fees!for!legal!
services!rendered!by!him.!
Reason:!to!avoid!temptation!on!the!part!of!the!executor/administrator.!As!executor/administrator,!the!lawyer!makes!major!
decisions! like! who! to! hire! as! lawyer! and! how! much! to! pay! the! lawyer.! This! prohibition! disallows! the! lawyerH
administrator/executor!from!hiring!himself!and!paying!himself!an!exorbitant!amount!of!attorney’s!fees.!
!
Sec.!24[B],!rule!13!
!An!attorney!cannot,!without!the!consent!of!his!client,!be!examined!as!to!any!communication!made!by!the!client!to!him,!or!
his!advice!given!thereon!in!the!course!of,!or!with!a!view!to,!professional!employment.!
!
Rule!138!–!Attorneys!and!Admission!to!the!Bar!
Rule!138HA!–!Law!Student!Practice!Rule!
Rule!139HA!H!!Integrated!Bar!of!the!Philippines!
Rule!138HB!–!Grievance!Procedure!Against!Lawyers!
!
!
!
III.(Legislation(as(a(source(of(legal(ethics(
Art.!1491[5],!Civil!Code!
The! following! persons! cannot! acquire! by! purchase,! even! at! a! public! or! judicial! auction,! either! in! person! or! through! the!
mediation! of! another:! [5]Justices,! judges,! prosecuting! attorneys,! clerks! of! superior! and! inferior! courts,! and! other! officers!
and! employees! connected! with! the! administration! of! justice,! the! property! and! rights! in! litigation! or! levied! upon! an!
execution! before! the! court! within! whose! jurisdiction! or! territory! they! exercise! their! respective! functions;! this! prohibition!
includes!the!act!of!acquiring!by!assignment!and!shall(apply(to(lawyers,(with(respect(to(the(property(and(rights(which(may(
be(the(object(of(any(litigation(in(which(they(may(take(part(by(virtue(of(their(profession.(!
!
Arts.!203,!222,!Labor!Code!
• Attorney's!fees!should!not!exceed!10%!of!the!amount!of!wages!recovered!
Art.!209,!RPC!
• Betrayal!of!Trust!by!an!Attorney!(review!the!elements)!
• Aside!from!criminal!liability,!the!lawyer!can!also!be!administratively!and!civilly!liable!
!
!
Section!90,!Title!III,!BOOK!1,!RA!7160!LGC!
Practice! of! Profession.! H! (a)! All! governors,! city! and! municipal! mayors! are! prohibited! from! practicing! their! profession! or!
engaging!in!any!occupation!other!than!the!exercise!of!their!functions!as!local!chief!executives.!
• if!the!governor!is!also!a!movie!star,!can!he!make!a!movie!while!in!office?!
o He!cannot.!But!some!get!away!with!it!because!nobody!complained.!!
• Baranggay!members!are!not!mentioned!so!not!restricted!
!
Public!officials!with!restrictions!in!the!practice!of!Law!
• No!Senator!or!Member!of!the!House!of!Representatives!may!personally!appear!as!counsel!before!any!court!of!
justice!or!before!the!Electoral!Tribunals,!or!quasiHjudicial!and!other!administrative!bodies.!!
!
Sec.!90,!RA!7160!!
That!sanggunian!members!who!are!also!members!of!the!Bar!shall!not:!
1. Appear!as!counsel!before!any!court!in!any!civil!case!wherein!a!local!government!unit!or!any!
office,!agency,!or!instrumentality!of!the!government!is!the!adverse!party;!
2. Appear!as!counsel!in!any!criminal!case!wherein!an!officer!or!employee!of!the!national!or!local!
government!is!accused!of!an!offense!committed!in!relation!to!his!office.!
3. Collect!any!fee!for!their!appearance!in!administrative!proceedings!involving!the!local!government!
unit!of!which!he!is!an!official;!and!
4. Use!property!and!personnel!of!the!government!except!when!the!sanggunian!member!concerned!
is!defending!the!interest!of!the!government.!
!
!
Retired!Judges!and!Justices!
RA!910:!
• no!retiring!Justice!during!the!time!that!he!is!receiving!said!pension!shall!appear!as!counsel!before!any!court!in!any!
civil!case!wherein!the!Government!or!any!subdivision!or!instrumentality!thereof!is!the!adverse!party,!or!in!any!
criminal!case!wherein!and!officer!or!employee!of!the!Government!is!accused!of!an!offense!committed!in!relation!
to!his!office,!or!collect!any!fee!for!his!appearance!in!any!administrative!proceedings!to!maintain!an!interest!
adverse!to!the!Government,!insular,!provincial!or!municipal,!or!to!any!of!its!legally!constituted!officers!
• restrictions!are!similar!to!the!first!two!restrictions!for!sangguniang!members!
!
Can!a!civil!service!employee!engage!in!the!private!practice!of!law?!
• A!civil!service!officer!or!employee!whose!duty!or!responsibility!does!not!require!his!entire!time!to!be!at!the!
disposal!of!the!government!may!not!engage!in!private!practice!of!law!without!the!written!permit!from!the!head!of!
the!department!concerned.!However,!government!officials!who!by!express!mandate!of!the!law!are!prohibited!
from!practicing!law!may!not,!even!with!the!consent!of!the!department!head,!engage!in!the!practice!of!law.!If!so!
authorized!by!the!department!head,!he!may,!in!an!isolated!case,!act!as!counsel!for!a!relative!or!close!family!friend.!
A!government!official!forbidden!to!practice!law!may!be!held!criminally!liable!for!doing!so.!An!officer!or!employee!
of!the!civil!service!who,!as!a!lawyer,!engages!in!the!private!practice!of!law!without!a!written!permit!from!the!
department!head!concerned!may!be!held!administratively!liable!therefor.!!
• So!if!his!duty!does!not!require!him!to!devote!his!entire!time!to!the!government,!then!he!can!practice!law!with!the!
condition!that!he!should!get!a!written!permit!from!the!head!of!the!department!concerned.!
• However,!if!a!government!official!is!expressly!prohibited!from!practicing!law,!no!amount!of!consent!or!authority!
from!a!department!head!can!allow!him!to!practice!law.!
• A!baranggay!captain!is!allowed!to!practice!law!but!he!must!get!consent!from!the!department!head!(DILG!head)!
!
!
Other(sources(of(legal(ethics(
• Code!of!Professional!Responsibility!
• Canons!of!professional!Ethics!
• Court!decisions,!treatises,!and!other!sources!
!
!
Are(ethics(and(morality(the(same?(
• It!is!ideal!that!they!are!the!same!but!they!are!not!necessarily!the!same.(
(
Relation!of!ethics!and!morality!
• Morals!define!personal!character,!while!ethics!stresses!a!social!system!in!which!those!morals!are!applied.!In!other!
words,!ethics!point!to!standards!or!codes!of!behavior!expected!by!the!group!to!which!the!individual!belongs.!
• example:!a!criminal!defense!lawyer!
o though!the!lawyer’s!personal!moral!code!likely!finds!murder!immoral!and!reprehensible,!ethics!demand!
that!the!accused!client!be!defended!as!vigorously!as!possible!even!when!the!lawyer!knows!the!party!is!
guilty!and!that!a!free!defendant!will!potentially!lead!to!more!crime.!Legal!ethics!must!override!personal!
morals!for!the!greater!good!of!upholding!a!justice!system!in!which!the!accused!is!given!a!fair!trial!and!the!
prosecution!must!prove!guilt!beyond!a!reasonable!doubt.!
!
!
Why!should!ethics!override!the!personal!moral!code!of!a!lawyer?!
• If!you!do!not!follow!the!rules!of!ethics,!you!may!be!vulnerable!to!administrative!penalties.!
!
Why!not!base!it!on!morality?!
• because!the!personal!moral!code!differs!from!one!person!to!the!next.!What!is!moral!for!me!may!not!be!moral!for!
you!and!vice!versa.!To!make!ethics!dependent!on!the!personal!moral!codes!of!a!lawyer!would!create!dangerous!
consequences!because!lawyers!could!just!claim!that!it!is!ethical!because!their!conscience!was!not!bothered!by!it.!!
• There!must!be!a!standard!set!of!ethical!rules!which!lawyers!must!follow!regardless!of!their!individual!moral!codes.!
!
!
!
!
Corollary(Principles:(
• Not!everything!legal!is!moral.!
• Not!everything!legal!is!ethical.!
o example:!lawyers!prohibition!against!acquiring!properties!in!litigation!
" if!acquired!while!case!is!pending,!the!contract!is!void.!!But!if!acquired!after!litigation,!the!act!is!
legal!but!it!is!not!necessarily!ethical!if!it!can!be!shown!that!the!lawyer!still!has!moral!ascendancy!
over!the!litigant!and!took!advantage!of!his!client!in!the!acquisition!of!the!property.!
!
Power(to(admit(to(the(Bar(
• vested!in!the!SC!
• the!authority!of!the!SC!over!the!legal!profession!is!a!constituent!element!of!its!judicial!power.!Accordingly,!any!
legislative!or!executive!judgment!substituting!that!of!the!SC!in!matters!concerning!the!admission!to!the!practice!of!
law,!____,!suspension,!disbarment,!or!reinstatement!of!an!attorney!infringes!upon!!
• Can!the!Congress!admit!to!the!Bar?!
o Bar!Flunkers!Act:!Congress!passed!a!law!reducing!the!passing!percentage.!Law!was!struck!down!as!
unconstitutional!being!an!encroachment!into!the!exclusive!prerogative!of!the!SC!to!admit!to!the!bar.!
!
Legislative(power(to(repeal,(alter(or(supplement(
1935!and!1973!constitution:!The!SC!shall!have!the!power!to!“promulgate!rules!concerning......!the!admission!to!the!practice!
of! law,! and! the! integration! of! the! Bar,! which! however! may! be! repealed,! altered! or! supplemented! by! the! Batasang!
Pambansa.!
!
1987!constitution:!deleted!the!power!of!the!legislature!to!repeal,!alter!or!supplement!SC!the!rules.!
!
Is(Congress(prohibited(from(enacting(laws(that(affect(the(legal(profession?(
• No.!The!power!of!Congress!to!legislate!is!plenary.!The!only!exception!are!those!prohibited!by!the!Constitution.!
• example:!!
o Congress!can!pass!a!law!limiting!the!collection!of!legal!fees!in!labor!cases!
o Congress!can!pass!a!law!to!criminalize!a!person!who!masquerades!as!a!lawyer!
• the!prohibition!is!against!passing!laws!that!encroach!on!the!exclusive!power!of!the!SC!to!admit!to!the!bar,!
integration!of!the!bar.!
!
Basic(requirement(for(admission(Sec.(2,(rule(138,(rules(of(court):(
1. citizen!of!the!Philippines,!!
o dual!citizen?!Yes,!can!be!admitted!to!the!Bar.!
2. at!least!twentyHone!years!of!age,!!
o Why!21!and!not!merely!18!(age!of!majority)?:!!
1. By!reason!of!impossibility!because!one!!still!has!to!take!up!undergraduate!and!law!degree.!
2. The!practice!of!law!requires!a!certain!level!of!maturity.!The!SC!said!that!it!is!reasonable!to!
assume!that!21!years!old!is!mature!enough!to!practice!law.!
3. good!moral!character,!!
 4. resident!of!the!Philippines;!
o should!be!accessible!to!the!SC!
5. must!produce!before!the!Supreme!Court!satisfactory!evidence!of!good!moral!character,!and!that!no!charges!
against!him,!involving!moral!turpitude,!have!been!filed!or!are!pending!in!any!court!in!the!Philippines.!
o The!admission!to!the!practice!of!law!is!a!judicial!proceeding!and!it!starts!the!moment!you!submit!your!
petition!to!take!the!bar.!
o Petition!should!allege!all!basic!requirements!for!admission.!Like!any!other!judicial!proceeding,!mere!
allegation!without!proof!will!not!be!believed!by!the!SC.!
• age!and!citizenship:!proven!by!birth!certificate!
• residence:!proven!by!baranggay!certification!
• good!moral!character:!proven!by!certification!executed!by!members!of!the!bar!in!good!standing!
who!know!you!and!know!you!to!be!a!person!of!good!moral!character;!at!least!3!testimonials!are!
required!
• no!charges!involving!moral!turpidude:!police!clearance,!NBI!clearance!
(
(
January(21,(2016(
Moral(Turpitude(
Hoffends!the!generally!accepted!code!of!mankind;!an!act!of!baseness,!vileness!or!depravity!in!the!private!and!social!duties!
which!a!man!owes!to!his!fellowmen!and!society!in!general;!immoral!law!in!itself,!regardless!of!the!fact!if!it!is!punishable!by!
law!or!not;!the!act!itself!is!inherently!immoral!regardless!the!prohibition!by!law.!
Examples:!robbery,!adultery,!bribery,!forgery,!libel!
!
Moreno(vs.(Araneta((
Facts:!
The!lawyer!issued!a!bouncing!check.!!Administrative!charge!was!filed!against!the!lawyer.!While!the!case!was!pending,!BP!22!
was!passed.!
!
Is!there!a!criminal!offense?6No,!because!criminal!laws!have!prospective!effect!and!by!the!time!the!check!was!issued!it!was!
not!yet!a!criminal!act.!
!
Ruling:!
The act of a person in issuing a check knowing at the time of the issuance that he or she does not have sufficient
funds in, or credit with, the drawee bank for the payment of the check in full upon its presentment, is also a
manifestation of moral turpitude!!
!
Can!the!SC!do!this?!Yes!because!moral!turpitude!is!considered!immoral!whether!punishable!by!law!or!not.!Therefore,!it!does!
not!preclude!the!SC!from!saying!that!the!issuance!of!the!rubber!checks!involves!moral!turpitude.!
!
(
Warranties(of(the(SC(in(Admitting(a(Person(to(the(Practice(of(Law:(
1.) Person!so!admitted!has!necessary!learning!and!proficiency!!
“necessary!learning!and!proficiency”6!refers!to!entry!level!skills!of!the!lawyer!
2.) He!is!of!good!moral!character!
!
!
In(Re(Petition(to(Resume(Practice(of(Law(of(Benjamin(Dacanay(
BM(No.(1678,(December(17,(2007(
!
Facts:!
Dacanay!is!a!Filipino!lawyer.!He!migrated!to!Canada!to!seek!medical!attention.!To!be!able!to!fully!avail!of!medical!benefits!in!
Canada,!he!had!to!become!a!Canadian!citizen!.Upon!return!to!the!Philippines,!he!wants!to!resume!his!practice!of!law.!He!
reacquired!Filipino!citizenship!under!RA!9255!and!before!the!Philippine!embassy!in!Canada!he!took!his!oath!of!allegiance!to!
the!Philippines.!!
!
What!should!he!do!to!resume!practice!of!law!in!the!Philippines?!
!
Ruling:!
Under! RA! 9255,! if! a! person! intends! to! practice! the! legal! profession! in! the! Philippines! and! he! reacquires! his! Filipino!
citizenship! pursuant! to! its! provisions! “he! shall! apply! with! the! proper! authority! for! a! license! or! permit! to! engage! in! such!
practice.”! Stated! otherwise,! before! a! lawyer! who! reacquires! Filipino! citizenship! pursuant! to! RA! 9255! can! resume! his! low!
practice,!he!must!first!secure!from!this!Court!the!authority!to!do!so,!conditioned!on:!
a.) The!updating!and!payment!in!full!of!the!annual!IBP!membership!dues!in!the!IBP!
b.) The!payment!of!professional!tax;!
c.) The!completion!of!at!least!36!credit!hours!of!MCLE;!this!is!specially!significant!to!refresh!the!applicant/petitioner’s!
knowledge!of!Philippine!laws!and!update!him!of!!legal!developments!and!
d.) The!retaking!of!the!lawyer’s!oath!which!will!not!only!remind!him!of!his!duties!and!responsibilities!as!a!lawyer!and!
as!an!officer!of!the!Court,!!but!also!renew!his!pledge!to!maintain!allegiance!to!the!Constitution!of!the!Philippines.!
!
!
Modern(Concept(of(Practice(of(Law(
Cayetano!vs.!Monsod,!201!SCRA!210!(1991)!
! Practice! of! Law! means! any! activity,! in! or! out! of! court,! which! requires! the! application! of! law,! legal! procedure,!
knowledge,!training!and!experience.!To!engage!in!the!practice!of!law!is!to!perform!those!acts!which!are!characteristics!of!
the!profession.!Generally,!to!practice!is!to!give!notice!or!render!any!kind!of!service,!which!device!or!service!required!the!use!
in! any! degree! of! legal! knowledge! or! skill! not! limited! to! appearing! in! court,! or! advising! and! assisting! in! the! conduct! of!
litigation,! but! embraces! the! preparation! of! pleadings! and! other! papers! incident! to! actions! and! special! proceedings,!
conveyancing,!the!preparation!of!legal!instruments!of!all!kinds,!and!the!giving!of!legal!advice!to!clients.!
!
!
Old(concept,(Practice(of(Law(
People!vs.!Villanueva,!14!SCRA!109!(1965)!
Criteria!Determinative!of!Practice!of!Law!
1.) Habituality!
2.) Compensation!
3.) Application!of!Law,!Legal!Principle,!Practice!of!Legal!!Procedure!which!calls!for!legal!knowledge,!competence!and!
experience!
4.) AttorneyHClient!Relationship!
!
!
Is(Teaching(of(law(Practice(of(Law?(
! A!law!professor!does!not!actually!deal!with!clients!whose!rights!are!or!may!be!subject!to!legal!controversies;!he!
does!not!hold!himself!out!to!the!public!as!a!lawyer!but!as!a!mentor!learned!in!the!law!who!is!qualified,!by!reason!of!his!legal!
training!instruct!students!on!legal!subject.!(Minister!of!Justice!Opinion!No.!89!Series!of!1986)!
!
Based!on!this!opinion,!teaching!of!law!is!not!a!practice!of!law!because!a!law!professor!is!not!acting!as!a!lawyer!but!as!a!
teacher.!This!is!1986!and!Cayetano!vs.!Monsod!was!decided!in!1991.!We,!therefore,!can!say!that!if!teaching!of!law!involves!
knowledge,!experience!then!it!is!practice!of!law.!So!what!to!follow?!I!AM!GIVING!YOU!BOTH!!Ex:!In!one!of!the!graduate!law!
school!in!Manila,!the!Dean!is!not!a!lawyer.!We!have!professionals!teaching!law!but!are!not!lawyers.!So!there!is!a!bit!truth!in!
the!pronouncement!of!the!Justice!Opinion!regardless!of!Cayetano!vs.!Monsod.!
!
!
Practice(of(Law(a(Privilege,(but(also(in(the(nature(of(a(right(
• Privilege!because!lawyers!must!bow!to!the!inherent!regulatory!power!of!the!Court!to!exact!compliance!with!the!
lawyer’s!public!responsibilities.!
• Right! because! the! lawyer! cannot! be! prevented! from! practicing! law! except! for! valid! reasons! (e.g.! prohibition! on!
some!public!officers)!
o Philippine!Lawyers’!Association!vs.!Agrava!
• Members! of! the! Philippine! Bar! should! be! allowed! to! practice! before! the! Patent! Office! (IPO)!
without!further!examination!or!other!qualification.!
!
Do! not! confuse! the! Agrava! case! with! the! lawyer! who! wants! to! be! employed.! The! case! talks! about! appearing! before! the!
Patent!Office.!But!if!you!want!to!be!employed!in!the!Legal!Dept.!of!Patent!Office,!it!is!always!the!employer’s!prerogative!if!
giving!an!examination!is!their!means!to!screen!applicants.!
(
(
Why(is(the(practice(of(law(generally(limited(to(lawyers?(
Hto!protect!party!litigants!because!of!the!complex!nature!of!judicial!proceedings!
Hto!protect!public!interest!through!assuring!that!judicial!proceedings!take!place!with!dispatch!without!sacrificing!justice!and!
efficiency!
!
!
Sanctions(for(Unauthorized(Practice(of(Law:(
• Injunction!to!restrain!continuation!of!unauthorized!practice;!contempt!of!court!(Sec!!3!(e),!Rule!71,!ROC),!criminal!
prosecution,!damages,!denial!of!right!to!fees.!
• Manangan! vs.! CFI! –! one! whop! masqueraded! a! lawyer! using! the! name! of! a! deceased! lawyer! __! found! guilty! of!
continuous! fraudulent! misrepresentation! and! highly! improper! conduct! tending! directly! to! impede,! obstruct,!
degrade! and! make! a! mockery! of! the! administration! of! justice.! Consequently,! he! was! adjudged! in! contempt! of!
court,!severely!censured,!and!sentenced!to!suffer!3!months!imprisonment.!
Can!you!disbar?!Of!course!you!cannot!disbar!a!non6lawyer,!but!there!could!be!unauthorized!practice!of!law!by!a!disbarred!
lawyer!or!by!lawyer!during!the!period!of!his!suspension.!This!suspended!lawyer!can!be!disbarred.!
!
Shari’a! lawyers! who! are! LLB! graduates! but! not! member! of! the! bar! are! not! allowed! to! practice! before! regular! courts!
even!if!both!parties!are!Muslims.!
Par.2!!Art!143!of!P.D.!!1083,!The!Code!of!Muslim!Personal!Laws!of!the!Philippines!provides!for!concurrent!jurisdiction!of!
the!Shari’a!Court!with!existing!civil!courts.!
!
They!have!to!be!admitted!also!to!the!Philippine!Bar.!In!the!same!way!that!if!one!is!admitted!to!the!Philippine!Bar!but!not!to!
the!Shari’a!Bar,!he!cannot!appear!before!the!Shari’a!courts.!Supreme!Court!gives!the!Shari’a!Bar!Exams.!
!
!
Appearance(“In(Propria(Persona”(or(“Pro(Se”(Practice(
Happearance!in!court!by!a!nonHlawyer!for!himself!and!without!the!assistance!of!a!member!of!the!Bar.!
Basis:!Sec.!1(2),!Art.!III,!Constitution!(due!process!clause)!
Hright!to!be!heard!by!himself!and!counsel,!except!in!criminal!cases);!Sec.!3,!Rule!7,!ROC!Every!pleading!must!be!signed!by!
the!party!or!a!counsel!representing!him..”!
!
If!a!non6lawyer!is!a!party!to!the!case,!he!can!appear!without!the!assistance!of!a!lawyer.!But!in!doing!so,!he!is!still!subject!to!
the!same!rules!of!procedure.!He!cannot!claim!exemption.!
!
“Sec.(34,(Rule(138,(ROC(–(By(whom(litigation(conducted.(
Hin! the! court! of! justice! of! the! peace,! a! party! may! conduct! his! litigation! in! person,! with! the! aid! of! an! agent! or! friend!
appointed! by! him! for! that! purpose,! or! with! the! aid! of! an! attorney.! In! any! other! court,! a! party! may! conduct! his! litigation!
personally!or!by!the!aid!an!attorney,!and!his!appearance! may!either!be!personal!or!by!a!duly!authorized!member!of!the!
bar.”!
!
Justice!of!the!peace!=MTC.!Therefore,!Pro!Se!practice!is!allowed!before!ANY!COURT.!
A!non6lawyer!in!pro!se!practice!is!engage!in!the!practice!of!law?!FALSE!
!
In!a!litigation,!parties!may!personally!do!everything!during!its!progress!–from!its!commencement!to!its!termination.!When!
they,! however,! act! as! their! own! attornyes,! they! are! restricted! to! the! same! rules! of! evidence! and! procedure! as! those!
qualified!to!practice!law;!otherwise,!ignorance!would!be!unjustifiably!rewarded.!
Individuals!have!long!been!permitted!to!manage,!prosecute!and!defined!their!own!actions;!and!when!they!do!so,!they!are!
not!considered!to!be!in! the! practice!of!law.!“One!does!not!practice! law! by! acting!for!himself!any!more!that!he! practices!
medicine!by!rendering!first!aid!in!himself.!
!
While!Pro!Se!Practice!is!allowed,!it!is!not!advisable.!(In!Re:!Joaquin!T.!Borromeo,!241!SCRA!405)!
“A!little!learning!is!a!dangerous!thing.!He!who!acts!as!his!own!lawyer!has!a!fool!for!a!client.”!
!
!
NonIlawyers(who(are(authorized(to(appear(in(court:(
• GR:!a!nonHlawyer!may!represent!a!party!before!the!MTC!
Exc:!Criminal!case!
Exc!to!exc:!in!a!locality!where!a!licensed!member!of!the!Bar!is!not!available!
• Senior! law! student! –! enrolled! in! a! recognized! law! school’s! clinical! education! program! approved! by! the! SC! may!
appear!before!any!court,!tribunal,!agency,!office,!without!compensation,!to!represent!indigent!clients!accepted!by!
the!Legal!Clinic!of!the!school;!under!direct!supervision!and!control!of!an!IBP!member!duly!accredited!by!the!law!
school:!civil,!criminal!,!administrative!(Sec.!1,!Rule!138HA,!Rules!of!Court)!
o Before!RTC!and!higher!courts!–!must!be!accompanied!by!a!supervising!lawyer!in!all!h8is!appearance.!
In! all! courts! you! need! a! supervising! lawyer.! The! only! difference! is! whether! you! need! to! be! accompanied! by! a!
supervising!lawyer.!
• Labor!Code!–!1)!when!they!represent!themselves,!2)!they!represent!their!organization!or!members!thereof!with!
written!authorization!of!the!latter,!3)!duly!accredited!members!of!any!legal!aid!office!duly!recognized!by!the!DOJ,!
or!the!IBP!in!cases!referred!to!by!the!latter!
• Cadastral!ActH!a!nonHlawyer!can!represent!claimant!before!the!cadastral!court!
• Before!the!Department!of!Agrarian!Reform!Adjudication!Board!
!
!
Proceedings(where(lawyers(are(Prohibited(to(Appear:(
1.) Conciliation!proceedings!under!the!Katarungang!Pamgbarangay!Law;!
2.) Small!Claims!cases;!
3.) Indigenous!System!of!Settlement!(Sec.!10,!Rule!4,!NCIP!ADMINISTRATIVE!CIRCULAR!NO.!1H03)!pursuant!to!RA!8371,!
otherwise! known! as! “The! Indigenous! People! Rights! Act! of! 1997”.! As! a! general! rule,! lawyers! are! prohibited! to!
appear!any!party!as!counsel,!except!when!such!lawyer!is!appearing!in!his/her!capacity!as!a!member!of!the!council!
of! elders! or! due! to! his/her! obligation! as! member! of! the! IP! community! or! for! the! purpose! of! defending! or!
prosecuting!his/her!case.!
4.) Sec.!5(7)!on!Settlement!of!Money!Claims,!Guidelines!on!Insurance.!Rule!XVI!of!the!Omnibus!Rules!and!Regulations!
Implementing! the! Migrant! Workers! and! Overseas! Filipino! Act! HLawyers! for! the! insurance! for! the! insurance!
companies,!unless!the!latter!are!!impleaded!shall!be!prohibited!to!appear!before!the!NLRC!in!money!claims!cases!HH
H!
!
!
Let’s!start!with!the!CPR!
CHAPTER(ONE.(THE(LAWYER(&(SOCIETY(
CANON(1.(UPHOLD(THE(CONSTITUTION,(OBEY(THE(LAWS,(PROMOTE(RESPECT(FOR(LAW(AND(LEGAL(PROCESSES(
!
LAWYER’S!OATH!–!contains!in!capsule!from!the!ethical!standards!required!for!lawyers.!
1.) Not! to! unduly! delay! a! case! –! lawyer! was! reprimanded! when! he! used! his! legal! expertise! to! unnecessarily! and!
unjustly!delay!a!case!(Del!Mundo!vs.!CA,!252!SCRA!43)!
2.) To! delay! no! man! for! money! or! malice! –! a! lawyer! should! not! delay! a! case! just! because! he! may! not! be! paid! well!
because!the!legal!profession!is!not!a!moneyHmaking!profession.!But!this!does!not!mean!that!a!lawyer!cannot!reject!
a!case!the!facts!of!which!do!not!convince!him!to!be!meritorious.!If!a!lawyer!is!deliberately!not!paid,!the!honourable!
thing!for!him!to!do!is!desist!from!the!case!as!to!allow!the!client!to!employ!another!lawyer.!
3.) Do!no!falsehood!–!Moreno!vs.!Araneta!
!
!
• Bongalonta!vs.!Castillo!,!240!SCRA!310!
The!lawyer!in!this!case,!used!the!IBP!number!of!another!lawyer.!His!defense!is!that!it!is!his!secretary’s!fault!for!not!
paying! his! IBP! dues! and! for! erroneously! placing! in! his! pleading! the! IBP! number! of! his! associate.! The! secretary!
executed!an!affidavit!affirming!the!lawyer’s!contention.!
Ruling:!
 As! employer! of! the! secretary,! the! lawyer! has! the! duty! to! supervise.! Secretary! is! not! the! guardian! of! the! lawyer’s!
responsibility.!
• Moreno!vs.!Araneta,!A.C.!No.!1109,!April!27,!2005!
!
!
DISCOURAGING(LAWSUITS(
IUnder(Rule(1.03(of(CPR,(a(lawyer(shall(not(for(any(corrupt(motive(or(interest,(encourage(any(suit(or(proceeding(or(delay(
any(man’s(cause.(
!
Ratio:!Not!to!clog!the!court’s!docket!with!cases!not!deserving!of!the!court’s!attention.!Clogging!of!dockets!result!to!slower!
administration!of!justice!which!translate!to!poor!service!to!the!public!by!the!court.!
!
Crime/Tort(of(MaintenanceI(Intermeddling(of(an(uninterested(party(to(encourage(a(lawsuit.(
A!lawyer!owes!to!the!society!and!to!the!court!the!duty!not!to!stir!up!litigation.!The!following!are!unprofessional!acts:!
1. Volunteering!advice!to!bring!lawsuit!except!when!ties!of!blood,!relationship!and!trust!make!it!a!duty!to!do!so.!
2. Hunting!up!defects!in!titles!or!other!causes!of!action;!to!breed!litigation!by!seeking!out!claims!for!personal!injuries!
3. Employing!agents!or!runners!
4. Paying!direct!or!indirect!reward!to!those!who!bring!or!influence!the!bringing!of!cases!to!his!office.!
5. Searching!for!unkown!heirs!and!soliciting!for!their!employment.!
!
Barratry!–offense!of!frequently!inciting!and!stirring!up!quarrels!and!suits;!fomenting!suits;!then!offering!his!legal!services!to!
one!of!the!parties.!
!
Ambulance(ChasingH!a!lawyer’s!act!of!figuratively!chasing!the!victims!of!an!accident!for!the!purpose!of!talking!to!the!victim!
or!the!latter’s!relatives!and!offering!his!legal!services!for!the!filing!of!the!cases!against!the!person!who!cause!the!accident.!
!
Recognized(evils(of(ambulance(chasing:(
1. Fomenting!of!litigation;!burden!on!courts!and!society!
2. Subornation!of!perjury!
3. Mulcting!of!innocent!persons!by!judgments,!upon!manufactured!causes!of!action!
4. Defrauding! of! injured! persons! having! proper! causes! of! action! but! ignorant! of! their! legal! rights! and! court!
procedures! by! means! of! contracts! which! retain! exorbitant! percentages! of! recovery! and! illegal! charges! for! court!
cost!and!expenses!and!by!settlement!made!for!good!returns!of!!fees!and!against!the!just!rights!of!the!injured.!
!
!
CANON(2.(MAKING(AVAILABLE(EFFICIENT(LEGAL(SERVICE(
Rule(2.01.(A(lawyer(shall(not(reject,(except(for(valid(reasons(the(cause(of(the(defenceless(or(the(oppressed(
• Valid! reasons! to! decline! engagement:! (Rule! 14.03! –! not! in! a! position! to! carry! out! the! work! effectively! or!
competently;!he!labors!under!a!conflict!of!interest!between!him!and!the!prospective!client!or!between!a!present!
client!!
• Most!exercise!the!same!degree!or!standard!of!diligence!accorded!to!paying!clients;!Legal!aid!is!not!a!charity!but!a!
public!service!
!
!
B.M.(No.(2012,(February(10,(2009,(PROPOSED(RULE(ON(MANDATORY(LEGAL(AID(SERVICE(FOR(PRATICING(LAWYERS(
!
All!practicing!lawyers!are!required!to!render!a!minimum!of!sixty!(60)!hours!of!free!legal!aid!services!to!indigent!litigants!in!a!
year.! Clerks! of! Court! and! the! IBP! Legal! Aid! Chairperson! of! IBP! Chapter! are! designated! to! coordinate! with! the! lawyer! for!
cases!where!he!may!render!free!legal!aid!service.!
!
Indigent!and!pauper!litigants!are!those!whose!gross!income!and!that!of!their!immediate!family!do!not!exceed!an!amount!
double! the! monthly! minimum! wage! of! an! employee! and! those! who! not! own! any! real! property! shall! be! exempt! from!
payment!of!docket!fee!and!other!legal!fees!as!well!as!transcripts!of!stenographic!notes.!
!
PENALTIES:!
A!penalty!of!P4,000!shall!be!imposed!on!the!lawyer!who!fails!to!meet!the!require!minimum!number!of!hours!of!legal!aid!
service!each!year!required!by!the!IBP!without!satisfactory!explanation.!The!lawyer!shall!have!a!“not!in!good!standing”!status!
and!shall!not!be!allowed!to!appear!in!court!or!any!quasiHjudicial!body!as!counsel!for!a!period!of!3!months.!A!lawyer!who!
fails!to!comply!with!the!duties!in!the!Rules!for!at!least!3!consecutive!years!shall!be!subject!to!disciplinary!proceedings!and!
may!be!suspended!from!practice!of!law!for!1!year.!!
!
!
Canon(2.03(Solicitation((discussed(together(with(Canon(3)(
!
Canon!2.04.!A!lawyer!shall!not!charge!rates!lower!than!those!customarily!prescribed!unless!the!circumstances!so!warrant.!
• Consider!the!IBP!Chapter!Local!Schedules!of!Attorney’s!Fees!
• To!avoid!demeaning!and!degrading!competition!
!
!
• Ulep!vs.!Legal!Clinic,!Inc.,!233!SCRA!378!
!
!
CANON(3.(USE(OF(TRUE,(HONEST,(FAIR(AND(OBJECTIVE(INFORMATION(IN(MAKING(KNOWN(HIS(LEGAL(SERVICES(
!
Advertising!
GR:!A!lawyer!cannot!advertise!his!talent,!as!he!is!a!member!of!an!honourable!profession!the!primary!purpose!of!which!is!to!
render!public!service!and!secure!justice;!remuneration!is!a!mere!incident.!
!
Exc:!(Forms!of!Permissible!Advertisement)!
1. Writing! legal! articles,! for! legal! publication! in! which! he! gives! information! about! the! laws! but! he! cannot! accept!
employment!from!such!publication!to!advise!inquirers!in!respect!to!individual!rights!of!persons!
2. Law!lists,!but!only!brief!biographical!and!informative!data!
3. Ordinary!professional!cards!
4. Notice!to!other!local!lawyers!and!publishing!in!a!legal!journal!!
5. Proffer!of!free!legal!services!to!the!indigent!even!when!broadcasted!over!the!radio!or!tendered!through!circulation!
of!printed!matter!to!the!general!public!
6. Simple!announcement!of!the!opening!of!a!law!firm!or!of!changes!in!the!partnership,!associates,!firm!name!or!office!
address,!being!the!convenience!of!the!profession!
7. Listing!in!a!phone!directory!of!his!name!but!not!under!a!designation!of!special!branch!of!law!
!
(
Solicitation(of(cases(constitutes(malpractice(
The!law!prohibits!lawyers!from!soliciting!cases!for!the!purpose!of!gain,!either!personally!or!through!paid!agents!or!brokers!
(Rule!138,!Sec.!27,!ROC)!
!
!
Use(of(Law(Firm(Name:(
1. In!the!choice!of!a!firm!name,!no!false,!misleading!or!assumed!name!shall!be!used.!The!continued!use!of!the!name!
of!a!deceased!partner!is!permissible!provided!that!the!firm!indicates!in!all!its!communications!that!said!partner!is!
deceased.!This!rule!abandoned!the!doctrine!in!the!case!of!In!Re:!Sycip,!92!SCRA!1!(1979).!
2. Where!a!partner!accepts!public!office,!he!shall!withdraw!from!the!firm!and!his!name!shall!be!dropped!from!the!
firm!name,!unless!the!law!allows!him!to!practice!concurrently.!
Ex:! If! a! partner! appointed! as! Secretary! of! DENR,! should! his! name! be! dropped! in! the! name! of! the! law! firm?! Yes,!
because!under!the!Constitution,!members!of!the!cabinet!are!not!allowed!to!practice!law.!
If!appointed!as!Chairman!of!Civil!Service!Commission?!–!Yes!because!prohibition!under!the!Constitution.!
If!elected!as!City!Councillor?!No!need,!because!Sangunian!members!are!allowed!to!practice!law.!
If!elected!as!Brgy.!Captain?!No!need,!because!brgy.!Captains!are!allowed!practice!law.!Only!mayors!and!governors!
are!prohibited.!YOU!SHOULD!KNOW!THESE.!!
3. Filipino! lawyers! cannot! practice! law! under! the! name! of! a! foreign! law! firm,! as! the! latter! cannot! practice! law! in!
Philippines!and!the!use!of!a!foreign!law’s!firm!name!is!unethical.!
 Regardless!if!such!lawyer!is!accredited!by!the!foreign!law!firm.!
!
!
CANON(5.(KEEP(ABREAST(OF(LEGAL(DEVELOPMENTS(AND(PARTICIPATE(IN(CONTINUING(LEGAL(EDUCATION(PROGRAM(
BAR(MATTER(850:(MANDATORY(CONTINUING(LEGAL(EDUCATION(,(August(8,(2000(
!
Requirements!for!Completion!of!MCLE:!at!least!36!hours!of!continuing!legal!education!activities!per!3!years:!
6!hours!–!legal!ethics!
4!hours!–!trial!and!pretrial!skills!
5!hours!–!alternative!dispute!resolution!
9!hoursH!updates!on!substantive!and!procedural!laws!and!jurisprudence!
4!hours!–!writing!and!oral!advocacy!
2!hours!–!international!law!and!international!law!and!international!conventions!
6!hours!–!other!subjects!as!may!be!prescribed!by!the!MCLE!Committee!
You!should!follow!the!breakdown!of!the!36!hours.!
!
EXEMPTIONS((Rule(7)(
SECTION(1.(Parties(exempted(from(the(MCLE.(II!The!following!members!of!the!Bar!are!exempt!from!the!MCLE!
requirement:!
(a)!The!President!and!the!Vice!President!of!the!Philippines,!and!the!Secretaries!and!Undersecretaries!of!Executive!
Departments;!
(b)!Senators!and!Members!of!the!House!of!Representatives;!
(c)!The!Chief!Justice!and!Associate!Justices!of!the!Supreme!Court,!incumbent!and!retired!members!of!the!judiciary,!
incumbent!members!of!the!Judicial!and!Bar!Council!and!incumbent!court!lawyers!covered!by!the!Philippine!Judicial!
Academy!program!of!continuing!judicial!education;!
(d)!The!Chief!State!Counsel,!Chief!State!Prosecutor!and!Assistant!Secretaries!of!the!Department!of!Justice;!
(e)!The!Solicitor!General!and!the!Assistant!Solicitors!General;!
(f)!The!Government!Corporate!Counsel,!Deputy!and!Assistant!Government!Corporate!Counsel;!
(g)!The!Chairmen!and!Members!of!the!Constitutional!Commissions;!
(h)!The!Ombudsman,!the!Overall!Deputy!Ombudsman,!the!Deputy!Ombudsman!and!the!Special!Prosecutor!of!the!Office!of!
the!Ombudsman;!
(i)!Heads!of!government!agencies!exercising!quasiHjudicial!functions;!
(j)!Incumbent!deans,!bar!reviewers!and!professors!of!law!who!have!teaching!experience!for!at!least!ten!(10)!years!in!
accredited!law!schools;!
(k)!The!Chancellor,!ViceHChancellor!and!members!of!the!Corps!of!Professors!and!Professorial!Lecturers!of!the!Philippine!
Judicial!Academy;!and!
(l)!Governors!and!Mayors.!
(
SEC.(2.(Other(parties(exempted(from(the(MCLE.(The!following!Members!of!the!Bar!are!likewise!exempt:!
(a)!Those!who!are!not!in!law!practice,!private!or!public.!
(b)!Those!who!have!retired!from!law!practice!with!the!approval!of!the!IBP!Board!of!Governors.!
(
Good(Causes(for(Exemption(from(or(Modification(of(Requirement:((Section(3)(
• Verified!Request!
• Grounds!
• Physical!disability!
• Illness!
• PostHgraduate!study!abroad!
• Proven!expertise!in!law!
In!a!case,!the!lawyer!indicated!in!the!pleading,!instead!of!putting!MCLE!compliance!certificate!number,!“MCLE!exemption!
application!pending.”!His!application!was!denied!and!so!he!filed!motion!for!reconsideration!for!the!denial!of!his!application!
for! exemption,! his! pleading! now! indicates! “MCLE! exemption! application! motion! for! reconsideration! pending.“! His! ground!
was!proven!expertise!of!experience!for!being!in!the!practice!for!50!years,!written!published!law!books!and!a!legal!counsel!of!
well6known! politicians! in! their! high6profiled! cases,! and! handled! noble! cases,! long! served! his! province! as! a! governor! and!
offered!a!seat!in!the!Supreme!Court.!!
Ruling:!
Proven!expertise!in!law,!under!this!rule,!refers!to!academic!qualifications.!
(
Consequences(for(NonIcompliance(
1. listed!as!delinquent!member!by!the!IBP!Board!of!Governors!upon!the!recommendation!of!the!Committee!on!MCLE!
!
The!listing!as!a!delinquent!member!is!administrative!in!nature!but!shall!be!made!with!notice!and!hearing!by!the!
Committee!on!MCLE.!
!
!
BAR!MATTER!NO.!1922,!
June!3,!2008!
"Bar!Matter!No.!1922.!–!Re:!Recommendation!of!the!Mandatory!Continuing!Legal!Education!(MCLE)!Board!to!Indicate!in!All!
Pleadings!Filed!with!the!Courts!the!Counsel’s!MCLE!Certificate!of!Compliance!or!Certificate!of!Exemption.!–!The!Court!
Resolved!to!NOTE!the!Letter,!dated!May!2,!2008,!of!Associate!Justice!Antonio!Eduardo!B.!Nachura,!Chairperson,!Committee!
on!Legal!Education!and!Bar!Matters,!informing!the!Court!of!the!diminishing!interest!of!the!members!of!the!Bar!in!the!MCLE!
requirement!program.!

The!Court!further!Resolved,!upon!the!recommendation!of!the!Committee!on!Legal!Education!and!Bar!Matters,!to!REQUIRE!
practicing!members!of!the!bar!to!INDICATE!in!all!pleadings!filed!before!the!courts!or!quasiHjudicial!bodies,!the!number!and!
date!of!issue!of!their!MCLE!Certificate!of!Compliance!or!Certificate!of!Exemption,!as!may!be!applicable,!for!the!immediately!
preceding!compliance!period.!Failure!to!disclose!the!required!information!would!cause!the!dismissal!of!the!case!and!the!
expunction!of!the!pleadings!from!the!records.!

The!New!Rule!shall!take!effect!sixty!(60)!days!after!its!publication!in!a!newspaper!of!general!circulation."!CaprioHMorales!
Velasco,!Jr.,!Nachura,!JJ.,!on!official!leave.!

Is!this!applicable?!NO.!IT!HAS!ALREADY!BEEN!CHANGED.!THE!CONTROLLING!RULE!IS!OCA(CIRCULAR(NO.(79,(2014.(Instead(
of(dismissal(of(the(case(or(expunction(of(the(pleadings(from(the(records,(the(consequence(is(only(fine(for(lawyers.(

OCA(CIRCULAR(NO.(79I2014(

The!following!rules!for!nonHdisclosure!of!current!MCLE!compliance/exemption!number!in!the!pleadings:(
(i)The!lawyer!shall!be!imposed!a!fine!of!P2,000.00!for!the!first!offense,!P3,000.00!for!the!second!offense!and!P4,000.00!for!
the!third!offense;!
(ii)!In!addition!to!the!fine,!counsel!may!be!listed!as!a!delinquent!member!of!the!Bar!pursuant!to!Section!2,!Rule!13!of!Bar!
Matter!No.!850!and!its!implementing!rules!and!regulations;!and!
(iii)!The!nonHcompliant!lawyer!shall!be!discharged!from!the!case!and!the!client/s!shall!be!allowed!to!secure!the!services!of!a!
new!counsel!with!the!concomitant!right!to!demand!the!return!of!fees!already!paid!to!the!nonHcompliant!lawyer.!
!

CANON(6.(APPLCABILITY(OF(THE(CPR(TO(LAWYERS(IN(THE(GOVERNMENT(SERVICE(
• A!lawyer!does!not!shed!his!professional!obligations!upon!assuming!public!office.!
• Lawyers! who! are! incumbent! judges! governed! by! the! Code! of! Judicial! Conduct.! Judges! cannot! be! investigated! by!
the!IBP!Commission!on!Bar!Discipline.!
!
Government! lawyers! are! prohibited! to! engage! in! private! practice! unless! authorized! by! the! Constitution! or! law,! provided!
that!such!practice!will!not!conflict!or!tend!to!conflict!with!their!official!functions!(Sec.!7!(bH2),!RA!6713)!
!
!
Canon(6.01.(Lawyers(engaged(in(public(prosecution(
• Primary!duty!is!not!to!convict!but!to!see!that!justice!is!done.!
• The! suppression! of! facts! or! concealment! of! witnesses! capable! of! establishing! the! innocence! of! the! accused! is!
highlyHreprehensible!and!is!a!cause!for!disciplinary!action.!
!
A!prosecutor!is!a!quasiHjudicial!officer.!
Thus,!he!should!seek!equal!and!impartial!justice.!He!should!be!as!much!concerned!with!seeing!that!no!innocent!man!suffers!
as!seeing!that!no!guilty!man!escapes.!
!
!
If!a!prosecutor!finds!that!there!is!no!sufficient!evidence:!
• In!the!preliminary!investigation:!resolve!to!the!effect!that!there!is!no!probable!cause.!
• If!case!has!already!been!filed:!file!a!motion!before!the!court!for!the!dismissal!of!the!action!
• If!case!on!appeal:!recommend!before!the!appellate!court!the!acquittal!of!the!accused.!
!
!
Canon(6.02.(
IA(lawyer(in(the(public(service(shall(not(use(his(public(position(to(promote(or(advance(his(private(interests,(nor(allow(the(
latter(to(interfere(with(his(public(duties(
!
GR:!a!lawyer!who!holds!a!government!office!may!not!be!disciplined!as!a!member!of!the!Bar!for!misconduct!in!the!discharge!
of!his!duties!as!a!government!official.!
Exc:!misconduct!is!of!such!character!as!to!affect!his!qualification!as!a!lawyer!or!to!show!moral!delinquency,!then!he!may!be!
disciplined!as!a!member!of!the!Bar.!
!
!
Canon(6.(03.(After(leaving(government(service,(a(lawyer(shall(not(accept(engagement(or(employment(in(connection(with(
any(matter(in(which(he(had(intervened(while(in(said(service.(
!
PCGG(vs.(Sandiganbayan(
G.R.(No.(151805((2005)(
Read(this(case(
• AdverseHinterest!conflicts!
• CongruentHinterest!conflicts!
!
(
Coverage(for(midterms:(
• Introduction!of!Judicial!ethics!
• Judicial!Ethics!
# Both!old!and!new!code!
• Administrative!liability!of!judges!
• Procedure!against!judges!
• Introduction!to!Legal!Ethics!!
• Canon!1H6!of!Legal!Ethics!
!
!
!