A.C. No. 13118 - MONICA M. PONTIANO, ROSALYN M. MATANDAG, ELSIE R. BALINGASA, CRISELDA J. ESPINOZA, MIGUEL R. PANGLILINGAN, MARLON A. VILLA, AND LOUIE T. DELA CRUZ, COMPLAINANTS VS. ATTY. FABIAN A. GAPPI.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, competence, not only in the knowledge of law, but also in the management of the cases by giving these cases appropriate attention and due preparation, is expected from a lawyer. Under the foregoing provisions, once a lawyer takes up the cause of his client, he is duty-bound to serve the latter with competence, and to attend to such client's cause with diligence, care, and devotion whether he accepts it for a fee or for free. He owes fidelity to such cause and must always be mindful of the trust and confidence reposed upon him. Therefore, a lawyer's neglect of a legal matter entrusted to him by his client constitutes inexcusable negligence for which he must be held administratively liable. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, Canon 11 provides: Canon 11 - A lawyer shall observe and maintain the respect due to the courts and to judicial officers and should insist on similar conduct by others. x x x x By deliberately failing to attend the scheduled hearing ordered by the [LA], [r]espondent reflects his willful disregard for [c]ourt orders putting in question his suitability to discharge his duties and functions as a lawyer. Respondent's absence during the scheduled hearing is an obvious disregard or refusal and disrespect to comply with the [c]ourt's orders. When [r]espondent was admitted to the Bar, he also took an oath to "obey the laws," "do no falsehood," and conduct himself as a lawyer according to the best of his knowledge and discretion. In the facts of this case, [r]espondent clearly violated the canons and his sworn duty when he deliberately misrepresented the documents he submitted to his clients for signature. Had [c]omplainants failed to notice the false stipulations on the document presented by [r]espondent, they would have been prejudiced and would have caused the withdrawal of their labor case. To be " dishonest " means the disposition to lie, cheat, deceive, defraud or betray; be unworthy; lacking in integrity, honesty, probity, integrity in principle, fairness and straight forwardness while conduct that is "deceitful" means the proclivity for fraudulent and deceptive misrepresentation, artifice or device that is used upon another who is ignorant of the true facts, to the prejudice and damage of the party imposed upon. Rule 1.01, Canon 1 of the CPR instructs that, as officers of the court, lawyers are bound to maintain not only a high standard of legal proficiency, but also of morality, honesty, integrity, and fair dealing. Indubitably, respondent fell short of such standard when [he] committed the [aforecited] acts of deception against complainants. Such acts are not only unacceptable, disgraceful, and dishonorable to the legal profession: they reveal basic moral flaws that make him unfit to practice law. When lawyers, in the performance of their duties, act in a manner that prejudices not only the rights of their client, but also of their colleagues and offends due administration of justice, appropriate disciplinary me