A.C. No. 2024 - SALVADOR T. CASTILLO, COMPLAINANT, VS. ATTY. PABLO M. TAGUINES.

Ruling

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Board of Governors hereby recommends that ATTY. PABLO M. TAGUINES be SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of one (1) year." [6] The Courts Ruling A thoroughgoing review of the affidavits, pleadings and other papers as well as the documentary evidence submitted by the parties convinces this Court of the correctness of the foregoing findings and conclusion of the IBP Board of Governors. They are consequently adopted and approved. Respondent expressly admitted having received the sum of money intended for complainant. Despite various and repeated demands by complainant, and complainants resort to the filing of criminal and administrative charges, and notwithstanding that respondent had innumerable opportunities, over the course of so many years, to turn over and deliver the P500.00 to the complainant, he nevertheless persisted in refusing to do so. Thus we cannot but agree with the IBPs conclusion that respondent misappropriated the sum. But respondent made matters even worse, not only by his contumacious refusal to comply with a valid obligation for nearly eighteen (18) years, but also by "fooling the complainant" through the issuance of a bouncing check - in short, piling one offense on top of another. This is simply appalling. If the P500.00 was indeed such a measly sum by his own estimation, his conduct with respect to satisfying the lawful demand of the complainant betrayed his own declarations. Calling respondent "unfit to continue as a member of the Bar" is putting it very mildly. Canon 16 of the Code of Professional Responsibility [7] explicitly provides that "(a) lawyer shall hold in trust all moneys and properties of his client that may come into his possession," while Rule 16.03 of the same canon provides that "(a) lawyer shall deliver the funds or property of his client when due or upon demand. x x x" On the other hand, Rule 1.01 provides that (a) lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct." It is obvious that respondent has no concern whatsoever for the property rights of others nor for canons of professional responsibility, not to mention, any respect for the Solicitor General, the IBP or this Court. That being so, suspension from the practice of law for one year, as recommended by the IBP, is the minimum penalty that respondent deserves for his outrageous conduct under the circumstances. WHEREFORE, in light of the foregoing, the respondent Pablo M. Taguines is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of ONE (1) YEAR, effective upon notice hereof. Let copies of this Decision be spread upon his record in the Bar Confidants Office and furnished the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. SO ORDERED.