Cited Laws
Accordingly, the BI granted her Petition in an Order [4] dated July 14, 2023 leading to the issuance of a Certificate of Re-acquisition/Retention of Philippine Citizenship/Identification Certificate [5] similarly dated July 14, 2023. Thereafter, Jacinto, on August 7, 2023, took her Oath of Allegiance [6] to the Republic of the Philippines before a solemnizing officer of the BI in the City of Manila, Philippines. [7] Considering the foregoing, Jacinto filed the present Petition with the OBC. Following the documents previously required by the OBC as indicated in In Re: Muneses, [8] she submitted the following documents: (a) A copy of her Certificate of Naturalization [9] dated May 29, 2023; (b) A certified true copy of the Petition for Retention/Re-Acquisition of Philippine Citizenship [10] dated June 26, 2023; (c) A certified true copy of the BI Order [11] dated July 14, 2023; (d) A certified true copy of the Certificate of Re-acquisition/Retention of Philippine Citizenship [12] dated July 14, 2023; (e) A certified true copy of the Oath of Allegiance [13] to the Republic of the Philippines dated August 7, 2023; (f) An original copy of a Certification [14] of Good Standing from the OBC dated August 30, 2023; (g) An original copy of a Certification [15] of Good Standing from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) dated July 13, 2023; (h) An original copy of a Certification [16] from the IBP dated July 13, 2023 indicating that she is a bona fide lifetime member having paid the required lifetime dues to the IBP; (i) A Letter of Recommendation [17] dated August 30, 2023 from Atty. Ben Dominic R. Yap in support of the Petition; (j) A Certification [18] dated August 29, 2023 issued by Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara; (k) A Certification [19] dated August 29, 2023 issued by Dean Jose Maria G. Hofileña of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law; (l) A Multi-Purpose Clearance [20] from the National Bureau of Investigation dated September 4, 2023; (m) A photocopy of the Official Receipt [21] dated January 4, 2023 as proof of payment of her professional tax for year 2023; (n) A copy of her Certificate of Compliance [22] dated February 2, 2023 issued by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Office stating that she has complied with the required units for the 7 th Compliance Period under Bar Matter No. 850. The OBC Report and Recommendation In its Report and Recommendation [23] dated October 2, 2023, the OBC recommended that Jacinto be allowed to retake the Lawyer's Oath and sign the Roll of Attorneys. According to the OBC, she was able to comply with all the requirements found in the case of In Re: Muneses. [24] The Issue Before the Court The lone issue for the Court's resolution is whether Jacinto's privilege to practice law should be formalized. The Court's Ruling The Court adopts the Report and Recommendation of the OBC with modification. Time and time again, this Court has emphasized that any person who is privileged to practice law in t