Lacurom vs Jacoba

8/9/2019 Lacurom vs Jacoba

1/21

THIRD DIVISION

JUDGE UBALDINO A. LACUROM, A.C.

No. 5921Presii!" J#"e, Re"io!$% Tri$% Co#r&,

C$'$!$$! Ci&(, Br$!)* 29 $! Present:

P$iri!" J#"e, Br$!)* +,

Complainant,

QUISUMBING, J .,

Chairperson,

CARPIO,

- verss -

CAR

PIO

MOR

A!"S,

an#

$


2/21

INGA

, JJ .

ATT-. ELLIS . JACOBA $!

Proml%ate#:

ATT-. OLIVIA VELASCO/JACOBA,

Respon#ents. Mar&h

'(, )((*

+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - +

D E C I S I O N

CARPIO, J.0

T*e C$se

$his a#ministrative &ase arose rom a &omplaint

ile# on )) O&toer )((' /#%e Ual#ino A.

!a&rom 01/#%e !a&rom23, Pairin% /#%e, Re%ional

$rial Cort o Caanatan Cit, Bran&h 4(, a%ainst

respon#ent-sposes Att. "llis 5. /a&oa an# Att. Olivia

6elas&o-/a&oa 01respon#ents23. Complainant &har%e#

respon#ents 7ith violation o Rles ''.(4,8'9 ''.(,8)9

an# ';.('849 o the Co#e o Proessional Responsiilit.


3/21

T*e $)&s

$he /a&oa-6elas&o-/a&oa !a7 5irm is &onsel

or plainti Ale


4/21

or#ere# to pa 6enera&ion P'(,(((.(( or the hose

&overe# $a+ @e&laration No. ()((*-(''4.

SO OR@"R"@.8*9

6enera&ionEs &onsel ile# a Motion or

Re&onsi#eration 07ith Reest or Inhiition389 #ate#

4( /l )((' 014( /l )((' motion23, pertinent

portions o 7hi&h rea#:

II. PR"5A$ORF S$A$"M"N$

$his R"SO!U$ION o R"6"RSA! is an

AB?ORR"N$ NU!!I$F as it is entirel @"6OI@

o a&tal an# le%al asis. It is a !e%al

MONS$ROSI$F in the sense that the ?onorale

R"GIONA! $RIA! COUR$ a&te# as i it 7ere the

@ARAB 0@ept. o A%rarian Reorm

A@/U@ICA$ION BOAR@3 + + + ?O>?ORRIB!" an# $"RRIB!" $he mistaHes are

ver patent an# %larin% + + +

+ + + +

III. GROUN@S 5OR

R"CONSI@"RA$ION

'. $he ?onorale Pairin% Cort Presi#in%

/#%e "RR"@ in Peremptoril an# S##enl

Reversin% the 5in#in%s o the !o7er Cort /#%e

an# the Re%lar R$C Presi#in% /#%e:


5/21

+ + + $he #een#ant ile# a Motion or

Re&onsi#eration, an# ater a ver estionale

S?OR$ perio# o time, &ame this S$UNNING an#

SU@@"N R"6"RSA!. >ithot an le%al or

a&tal asis, the ?on. Pairin% /#%e simpl an# peremptoril R"6"RS"@ t7o 0)3 #e&isions in

avor o the plainti. $his is hi%hl estionale, i

not sspi&ios, hen&e, this Motion or

Re&onsi#eration.

+ + + +

8$he Resoltion9 assmes 5AC$S that havenot een estalishe# an# presmes 5AC$S not part

o the re&or#s o the &ase, all 1loa#e#2 in avor o

the alle%e# 1$"NAN$.2 Clearl, the

R"SO!U$ION is an INSU!$ to the /#i&iar an#

an ANAC?RONISM in the /#i&ial Pro&ess. Nee#

7e sa more

+ + + +

. $he ?onorale Pairin% Cort Presi#in%

/#%e "RR"@ in ?ol#in% $hat the @een#ant is

"ntitle# to a ?omelot, an# $hat the Resi#ential

!O$ in Qestion is $hat ?omelot:

$?IS "RROR IS S$UP"N@OUS an# a real

BON"R. >here #i# the ?onorale PAIRING

/U@G" ase this &on&lsion + + + $his?ORR"N@OUS MIS$AJ" mst e &orre&te# here

an# no7

+ + + +


6/21

*. $he ?onorale Pairin% Cort Presi#in%

/#%e "RR"@ Grievosl in ?ol#in% an# @e&larin%

that $he 8&ort9 A QUO "rroneosl $ooH

Co%niKan&e o the Case an# $hat It ?a# No

/ris#i&tion over the S, t it is also the

Best I!!US$RA$ION o the Maniol# G!ARING

"RRORS &ommitte# the ?on. Pairin% Cort

/#%e.

+ + + +

$his Or#er o the Cort or the plainti to

sell his R"SI@"N$IA! ?OUS" to the #een#ant

or the ri#i&losl !O> pri&e o P'(,(((.(( est

illstrates the !on% !ine o 5alt reasonin%s an#

"RRON"OUS &on&lsions o the ?on. Pairin%


7/21

Cort Presi#in% /#%e. !iHe the proverial

MONS$"R, the Monstros Resoltion shol# e

slain on si%ht89

$he 4( /l )((' motion prae# that 0'3 /#%e

!a&rom inhiit himsel 1in or#er to %ive plainti a

i%htin% &han&e2 an# 0)3 the Resoltion e re&onsi#ere#

an# set asi#e.8;9 Att. Olivia 6elas&o-/a&oa 016elas&o-

/a&oa23 si%ne# the motion on ehal o the /a&oa-

6elas&o-/a&oa !a7 5irm.

On * A%st )((', /#%e !a&rom or#ere#

6elas&o-/a&oa to appear eore his sala an# e+plain

7h she shol# not e hel# in &ontempt o &ort or the

1ver #isrespe&tl, insltin% an# hmiliatin%2 &ontents

o the 4( /l )((' motion.8'(9 In her "+planation,

Comments an# Ans7er,8''9 6elas&o-/a&oa &laime# that

1?is ?onor Hno7s eorehan# 7ho a&tall prepare#the s


8/21

si#e + + + then &olle&tivel an# &ertainl the

present a &a&ophoni& pi&tre o total an# tter

#isrespe&t. + + +

+ + + +

>e most respe&tll smit that plainti L

&onsel #i# not


9/21

8'*9

6elas&o-/a&oa move# or re&onsi#eration o the

'4 Septemer )((' or#er. She re&onte# that on her 7a

ot o the hose or an aternoon hearin%, Att. "llis

/a&oa 01/a&oa23 stoppe# her an# sai# 1O, pirmahan

mo na ito kasi last day na, baka mahuli.2 0Si%n this as it

is #e to#a, or it mi%ht not e ile# on time.3 She

si%ne# the plea#in% han#e# to her 7ithot rea#in% it, in

1trstin% lin# aith2 on her hsan# o 4= ears 7ith

7hom she 1entrste# her 7hole lie an# tre.28'9

$his plea#in% trne# ot to e the 4( /l )((' motion

7hi&h /a&oa #rate# t &ol# not si%n e&ase o his

then sspension rom the pra&ti&e o la7.8'9

6elas&o-/a&oa lamente# that /#%e !a&rom ha#

on# her %ilt o &ontempt 7ithot &on#&tin% anhearin%. She a&&se# /#%e !a&rom o harorin% 1a

personal ven#etta,2 or#erin% her imprisonment #espite

her stats as 1senior la# la7er o the IBP Neva "&i


10/21

$he re&or#s sho7 that 7ith the assistan&e o

&onsel /a&oa an# the /a&oa-6elas&o-/a&oa !a7

5irm, 6enera&ion ha# e+e&te# an ai#avit on )4

A%st )((' a&&sin% /#%e !a&rom o Hno7in%lren#erin% n


11/21

Reor& $! Re)oe!$&io! o3 &*e IBP

Respon#ents #i# not ile an ans7er an# neither

#i# the appear at the hearin% set IBP Commissioner

Att. !#ia A. Navarro 01IBP Commissioner Navarro23

#espite si&ient noti&e.8)9

IBP Commissioner Navarro, in her Report an#

Re&ommen#ation o '( O&toer )((), re&ommen#e#the sspension o respon#ents rom the pra&ti&e o la7

or si+ months.8);9 IBP Commissioner Navarro on#

that 1respon#ents 7ere prone to s8in%9 oensive an#

#ero%ator remarHs an# phrases 7hi&h amonte# to

#is&ortes an# #isrespe&t or athorit.284(9 Altho%h

the remarHs 7ere not #ire&te# at /#%e !a&rom

personall, the 7ere aime# at 1his position as a


12/21

Several #as later, 6elas&o-/a&oa so%ht

re&onsi#eration o the IBP Boar# #e&ision, ths:8449

+ + + +

4. 5or the inormation o the ?onorale

Commission, &*e rese!& )o%$i!& o3 J#"e

L$)#ro is sub judice4 &*e s$e iss#es i!o%e

i! &*is )$se $re r$ise 'e3ore &*e Ho!or$'%e

Co#r& o3 Ae$%s rese!&%( e!i!" i! CA/G.R.

SP No. 6697+ 3or Cer&ior$ri $! M$!$&or(

I!*i'i&io! 8i&* TRO $! Pre%ii!$r( I!#!)&io!+ + +D

. >e ile# an A#ministrative Case a%ainst

/#%e !a&rom eore the Spreme Cort involvin%

the same isses 7e raise# in the aorementione#

Certiorari &ase, 7hi&h 7as #ismisse# the

Spreme Cort or ein% prematre, in vie7 o the

pen#in% Certiorari &ase eore the Cort o AppealsD

=. In liHe manner, ot o respe&t an#

#eeren&e to the Cort o Appeals, the present

&omplaint shol# liHe7ise e #ismisse# an#or

sspen#e# pen#in% resoltion o the &ertiorari &ase

the Cort o Appeals.849 0"mphasis spplie#3

T*e Co#r&:s R#%i!"

On a preliminar note, 7e re


13/21

&onsi#ere# sub judice in vie7 o the petition or

&ertiorari an# man#ator inhiition 7ith preliminar

in


14/21

him 7hile a petition or &ertiorari assailin% the same

or#ers is pen#in% 7ith an appellate &ort.

A#ministrative reme#ies are neither alternative nor

&mlative to


15/21

+ + + Co#!se% 8*o + + + si"!s $ %e$i!"

i! io%$&io! o3 &*is R#%e, or $%%e"es s)$!$%o#s or

i!e)e!& $&&er &*erei! + + + s*$%% 'e s#'e)& &o

$rori$&e is)i%i!$r( $)&io!. 0"mphasis

spplie#3

B si%nin% the 4( /l )((' motion, 6elas&o-

/a&oa in ee&t &ertiie# that she ha# rea# it, she Hne7 it

to e meritorios, an# it 7as not or the prpose o

#elain% the &ase. ?er si%natre spplie# the motion

7ith le%al ee&t an# elevate# its stats rom a mere

s&rap o paper to that o a &ort #o&ment.

6elas&o-/a&oa insists, ho7ever, that she si%ne#

the 4( /l )((' motion onl e&ase o her hsan#Es

reest t she #i# not Hno7 its &ontents eorehan#.

Apparentl, this pra&ti&e o si%nin% ea&h otherEs

plea#in%s is a lon%-stan#in% arran%ement et7een the

sposes. A&&or#in% to 6elas&o-/a&oa, 18s9o impli&it is

8their9 trst or ea&h other that this happens all the time.

$hro%h the ears, 8she9 alrea# lost &ont o the

nmer o plea#in%s prepare# one that is si%ne#

the other.2849 B 6elas&o-/a&oaEs o7n a#mission,

thereore, she violate# Se&tion 4 o Rle . $his

violation is an a&t o alsehoo# eore the &orts, 7hi&h

in itsel is a %ron#

or s


16/21

an other %ron# arisin% rom the &ontents o the 4(

/l )((' motion.84;9

>e no7 &onsi#er the evi#en&e as re%ar#s /a&oa.?is name #oes not appear in the 4( /l )((' motion.

?e asserts the ina#missiilit o 6elas&o-/a&oaEs

statement pointin% to him as the athor o the motion.

$he Cort &annot easil let /a&oa o the hooH.

5irstl, his Ans7er 7ith Se&on# Motion or Inhiition

#i# not &ontain a #enial o his 7ieEs a&&ont. Instea#,/a&oa implie#l a#mitte# athorship o the motion

statin% that he 1traine# his %ns an# ire# at the errors

7hi&h he per&eive# an# elieve# to e %i%anti& an#

monmental.28(9

Se&on#l, 7e in# 6elas&o-/a&oaEs version o the

a&ts more plasile, or t7o reasons: 0'3 her rea&tion tothe events 7as imme#iate an# spontaneos, nliHe

/a&oaEs #eense 7hi&h 7as raise# onl ater a

&onsi#erale time ha# elapse# rom the erption o the

&ontroversD an# 0)3 /a&oa ha# een &onsel o

re&or# or 6enera&ion in Civil Case No. )4*,

spportin% 6elas&o-/a&oaEs assertion that she ha# not

1a&tall parti&ipate8#92 in the prose&tion o the &ase.

Moreover, /a&oa ile# a Maniestation in Civil

Case No. )4*, prain% that /#%e !a&rom a7ait the

ot&ome o the petition or &ertiorari eore #e&i#in% the


17/21

&ontempt &har%e a%ainst him.8'9 $his petition or

&ertiorari an&hors some o its ar%ments on the premise

that the motion 7as, in a&t, /a&oaEs han#i7orH.8)9

$he marital privile%e rle, ein% a rle o

evi#en&e, ma e 7aive# ailre o the &laimant to

oe re&all his

se o the ollo7in% 7or#s an# phrases: abhorrent nullity, legal monstrosity, horrendous mistake, horrible

error , boner , an# an insult to the judiciary and an

anachronism in the judicial process. "ven 6elas&o-

/a&oa a&Hno7le#%e# that the 7or#s &reate# 1a


18/21

&a&ophoni& pi&tre o total an# tter #isrespe&t.289

Respon#ents nonetheless tr to e+&lpate

themselves sain% that ever remarH in the 4( /l)((' motion 7as 7arrante#. >e #isa%ree.

>ell-re&o%niKe# is the ri%ht o a la7er, oth as

an oi&er o the &ort an# as a &itiKen, to &riti&iKe in

properl respe&tl terms an# thro%h le%itimate

&hannels the a&ts o &orts an#


19/21

presentin% or threaten to present non#e# &riminal

&har%es to otain an improper a#vanta%e in an &ase

or pro&ee#in%.

Shortl ater the ilin% o the 4( /l )((' motion

t eore its resoltion, /a&oa assiste# his &lient in

instittin% t7o a#ministrative &ases a%ainst /#%e

!a&rom. As 7e have earlier note#, Civil Case No. )4*

7as then pen#in% eore /#%e !a&romEs sala. $he

CortEs attention is #ra7n to the a&t that the timin% o

the ilin% o these a#ministrative &ases &ol# ver 7ell

raise the sspi&ion that the &ases 7ere inten#e# as

levera%e a%ainst /#%e !a&rom.

Respon#ent sposes have oth een the se impose# the penalt o one ear sspension.

8;9

As or 6elas&o-/a&oa, onl re&entl this Cort

ine# her P=,((( or appearin% in aran%a &on&iliation


20/21


21/21

ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Asso&iate

/sti&e

Documents

Lacurom vs Jacoba