A.C. No. 11104 - ROGELIO PASAMONTE, COMPLAINANT, VS. ATTY. LIBERATO TENEZA.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

accordingly increased the penalty earlier meted him of five years suspension from the practice [of] law to Disbarment and his name stricken off from the Roil of Attorney . The Extended Resolution issued on April 21, 2014 by the IBP Board of Governors held that Atty. Teneza's utter disregard for the sanctity of marriage, not only of his own but also those of around him, shows his unfitness to continue practicing law and his unworthiness of the principles that the privilege confers upon him. [22] Thereafter, the case was transmitted to this Court for review. Issue Should Atty. Teneza be disbarred from the practice of law due to his alleged immoral acts? Ruling The Court affirms the factual findings and recommendation of the IBP Board of Governors. Possession of good moral character is both a condition precedent and a continuing requirement to membership in the legal profession. [23] Canon 1, Rule 1.01 and Canon 7, Rule 7.03 of the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR) mandate all lawyers to possess good moral character at the time of their application for admission to the Bar, and require them to maintain such character until their retirement from the practice of law, [24] viz .: CANON 1 A lawyer shall uphold the Constitution, obey the laws of the land and promote respect tor law and legal processes. Rule 1.01. A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct. x x x x CANON 7 A lawyer shall at all times uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession and support the activities of the integrated bar. x x x x Rule 7.03. A lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, nor shall he, whether in public or private life, behave in a scandalous manner to the discredit of the legal profession. In Valdez v. Dabon , [25] we held: Lawyers have been repeatedly reminded by the Court that possession of good moral character is both a condition precedent and a continuing requirement to warrant admission to the Bar and to retain membership in the legal profession. This proceeds from the lawyer's bounden duty to observe the highest degree of morality in order to safeguard the Bar's integrity, and the legal profession exacts from its members nothing less. Lawyers are called upon to safeguard the integrity of the Bar, free from misdeeds and acts constitutive of malpractice. Their exalted positions as officers of the court demand no less than the highest degree of morality. The Court explained in Arnobit v. Atty. Arnobit that "as officers of the court, lawyers must not only in fact be of good moral character but must also be seen to be of good moral character and leading lives in accordance with the highest moral standards of the community. A member of the bar and an officer of the court is not only required to refrain from adulterous relationships or keeping a mistress but must also behave himself as to avoid scandalizing the public by creating the impression that he is flout