In Re 2003 Bar Exams

6
Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila EN BANC B.M. No. 1222 April 24, 2009 RE: 2003 BAR EXAMINATIONS x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x ATTY. DANIO DE !U"MAN, Petitioner, R E S O L U ! O N YNARES#SANTIA!O, J.: his treats the Petition for "u#icial Cle$enc% an# Co$passion #ate# No&e$ber '(, )((* file# b% petitioner +anilo #e u$an. /e pra%s that this /onorable Court 0in the exercise of e1uit% an# co$passion, 2rant petitioner3s plea for 4u#icial cle$enc% , an# thereupon, or#er his reinstate$ent as a $e$ber in 2oo# stan#in2 of the Philippine Bar.0 ' o recall, on 5ebruar% 6, )((6, the Court pro$ul2ate# a Resolution, in B.M. No. '))), the #ispositi&e portion of 7hich rea#s in part8 9/ERE5ORE, the Court, actin2 on the reco$$en#ations of the !n&esti2atin2 Co$$ittee, hereb% resol&es to : ;'< +!SBAR Att% . +AN!LO +E U=MAN fro$ the practice of la7 effecti&e upon his receipt of this RESOLU!ON> x x x x he sub4ect of the Resolution is the lea?a2e of 1uestions in Mercantile La7 #urin2 the )((@ Bar Exa$inations. Petitioner at that ti$e 7as e$plo%e# as an assistant la7%er in the la7 fir$ of Bal2os Pere, one of 7hose partners, Marcial Bal2os, 7as the exa$iner for Mercantile La7 #urin2 the sai# bar exa$inations. he Court ha# a#opte# the fin#in2s of the !n&esti2atin2 Co$$ittee, 7hich i#entifie# petitioner as the person 7ho ha# #o7nloa#e# the test 1uestions fro$ the co$puter of Bal2os an# faxe# the$ to other persons. he Office of the Bar Confi#ant ;OBC< has fa&orabl% reco$$en#e# the reinstate$ent of petitioner in the Philippine Bar. !n a Report #ate# "anuar% , )((, the OBC ren#ere# its assess$ent of the petition, the rele&ant portions of 7hich 7e 1uote hereun#er8 Petitioner narrate# that he ha# labore# to beco$e a la7%er to fulfill his father3s chil#hoo# #rea$ to beco$e one. his tas? 7as not particularl% eas% for hi$ an# his fa$il% but he 7ille# to en#ure the sa$e in or#er to pa % tribute to his parents. Petitioner a##e# that e&en at a &er% %oun2 a2e, he alrea#% i$pose# upon hi$self the #ut% of ren#erin2 ser&ice to his fello7$en. At ' %ears, he starte# his exposure to public ser&ice 7hen he 7as electe# Chair$an of the San22unian2 Dabataan ;SD< of Baran2a% u?tu?an, a2ui2 Cit%. +urin2 this ti$e, he initiate# se&eral pro4ects benefitin2 the %outh in their baran2a%. hereafter, petitioner focuse# on his stu#ies, ta?in2 up Bachelor of Arts in Political Science an# e&entuall% pursuin2 Bachelor of La7s. !n his secon# %ear in la7 school, he 7as electe# as the Presi#ent of the Stu#ent Council of the !nstitute of La7 of the 5ar Eastern Uni&ersit% ;5EU<. /ere, he spearhea#e# &arious acti&ities inclu# in2 the con#uct of se$inars for la7 stu#ents as 7ell as the hol#in2 of bar operations for bar exa$inees.

Transcript of In Re 2003 Bar Exams

8/9/2019 In Re 2003 Bar Exams

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/in-re-2003-bar-exams 1/6

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

B.M. No. 1222 April 24, 2009

RE: 2003 BAR EXAMINATIONS

x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

ATTY. DANIO DE !U"MAN, Petitioner,

R E S O L U ! O N

YNARES#SANTIA!O, J.:

his treats the Petition for "u#icial Cle$enc% an# Co$passion #ate# No&e$ber '(, )((* file# b% petitioner +anilo #e

u$an. /e pra%s that this /onorable Court 0in the exercise of e1uit% an# co$passion, 2rant petitioner3s plea for 4u#icialcle$enc%, an# thereupon, or#er his reinstate$ent as a $e$ber in 2oo# stan#in2 of the Philippine Bar.0'

o recall, on 5ebruar% 6, )((6, the Court pro$ul2ate# a Resolution, in B.M. No. '))), the #ispositi&e portion of 7hich

rea#s in part8

9/ERE5ORE, the Court, actin2 on the reco$$en#ations of the !n&esti2atin2 Co$$ittee, hereb% resol&es to : 

;'< +!SBAR Att%. +AN!LO +E U=MAN fro$ the practice of la7 effecti&e upon his receipt of this RESOLU!ON>

x x x x

he sub4ect of the Resolution is the lea?a2e of 1uestions in Mercantile La7 #urin2 the )((@ Bar Exa$inations. Petitioner

at that ti$e 7as e$plo%e# as an assistant la7%er in the la7 fir$ of Bal2os Pere, one of 7hose partners, Marcial

Bal2os, 7as the exa$iner for Mercantile La7 #urin2 the sai# bar exa$inations. he Court ha# a#opte# the fin#in2s of the

!n&esti2atin2 Co$$ittee, 7hich i#entifie# petitioner as the person 7ho ha# #o7nloa#e# the test 1uestions fro$ the

co$puter of Bal2os an# faxe# the$ to other persons.

he Office of the Bar Confi#ant ;OBC< has fa&orabl% reco$$en#e# the reinstate$ent of petitioner in the Philippine Bar.

!n a Report #ate# "anuar% , )((, the OBC ren#ere# its assess$ent of the petition, the rele&ant portions of 7hich 7e

1uote hereun#er8

Petitioner narrate# that he ha# labore# to beco$e a la7%er to fulfill his father3s chil#hoo# #rea$ to beco$e one. his tas?

7as not particularl% eas% for hi$ an# his fa$il% but he 7ille# to en#ure the sa$e in or#er to pa% tribute to his parents.

Petitioner a##e# that e&en at a &er% %oun2 a2e, he alrea#% i$pose# upon hi$self the #ut% of ren#erin2 ser&ice to his

fello7$en. At ' %ears, he starte# his exposure to public ser&ice 7hen he 7as electe# Chair$an of the San22unian2

Dabataan ;SD< of Baran2a% u?tu?an, a2ui2 Cit%. +urin2 this ti$e, he initiate# se&eral pro4ects benefitin2 the %outh in

their baran2a%.

hereafter, petitioner focuse# on his stu#ies, ta?in2 up Bachelor of Arts in Political Science an# e&entuall% pursuin2Bachelor of La7s. !n his secon# %ear in la7 school, he 7as electe# as the Presi#ent of the Stu#ent Council of the !nstitute

of La7 of the 5ar Eastern Uni&ersit% ;5EU<. /ere, he spearhea#e# &arious acti&ities inclu#in2 the con#uct of se$inars for

la7 stu#ents as 7ell as the hol#in2 of bar operations for bar exa$inees.

8/9/2019 In Re 2003 Bar Exams

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/in-re-2003-bar-exams 2/6

+espite his $an% extra-curricular acti&ities as a %outh an# stu#ent lea#er, petitioner still $ana2e# to excel in his stu#ies.

hus, he 7as conferre# an Aca#e$ic Excellence A7ar# upon his 2ra#uation in Bachelor of La7s.

Upon a#$ission to the bar in April ', petitioner i$$e#iatel% entere# 2o&ern$ent ser&ice as a Le2al Officer assi2ne#

at the San22unian2 Ba%an of a2ui2. Si$ultaneousl%, he also ren#ere# free le2al ser&ices to less fortunate resi#ents of

a2ui2 Cit% 7ho 7ere then in nee# of le2al assistance.

!n March )(((, petitioner 7as hire# as one of the Associate La7%ers at the Bal2os an# Pere La7 Offices. !t 7as #urin2

his sta% 7ith this fir$ 7hen his craft as a la7%er 7as polishe# an# #e&elope#. +espite ha&in2 entere# pri&ate practice, he

continue# to ren#er free le2al ser&ices to his fello7 a2ui2eos.

hen in 5ebruar% )((6, b% a su##en t7ist of fate, petitioner3s flourishin2 career 7as cut short as he 7as strippe# of his

license to practice la7 for his alle2e# in&ol&e$ent in the lea?a2e in the )((@ Bar Exa$inations.

+e&astate#, petitioner then practicall% loc?e# hi$self insi#e his house to a&oi# the rather una&oi#able conse1uences of his

#isbar$ent.

On March )((6, ho7e&er, petitioner 7as 2i&en a ne7 lease in life 7hen he 7as ta?en as a consultant b% the Cit%

o&ern$ent of a2ui2. Later, he 7as #esi2nate# as a $e$ber of the Secretariat of the People3s La7 Enforce$ent Boar#

;PLEB<. 5or the next fi&e ;F< %ears, petitioner concentrate# $ainl% on ren#erin2 public ser&ice.

Petitioner hu$bl% ac?no7le#2e# the #a$a2in2 i$pact of his act 7hich unfortunatel%, co$pro$ise# the inte2rit% of the

 bar exa$inations. As coul# be borne fro$ the recor#s of the in&esti2ation, he cooperate# full% in the in&esti2ation

con#ucte# an# too? personal responsibilit% for his actions. Also, he has offere# his sincerest apolo2ies to Att%. Bal2os, to

the Court as 7ell as to all the )((@ bar exa$inees for the unforeseen an# uninten#e# effects of his actions.

Petitioner a&erre# that he has since learne# fro$ his $ista?es an# has ta?en the sai# hu$blin2 experience to $a?e hi$ a

 better person.

Mean7hile, as part of his Petition, petitioner sub$itte# the follo7in2 testi$onials an# en#orse$ents of &arious

in#i&i#uals an# entities all attestin2 to his 2oo# $oral character8

'< Resolution No. '(', Series of )((G, 0Resolution Expressin2 5ull Support to +anilo . +e u$an in hisApplication for "u#icial Cle$enc%, En#orsin2 his Co$petence an# 5itness to be Reinstate# as a Me$ber of the

Philippine Bar an# for Other Purposes0 #ate# 6 "une )((G of the San22unian2 Panlun2so#, Cit% of a2ui2>

)< 0!san2 Bu?as na Liha$ na Na2lala%on2 !paratin2 sa Dataas-aasan2 /u?u$an an2 Buon2 Suporta n2

Pa$unuan at $2a Dasapi n2 Southeast People3s Hilla2e /o$eo7ners Association, !nc. ;SEP/HOA< ?a% +anilo

. +e u$an sa Dan%an2 Petis%on2 Ma2a7aran n2 Dapata7aran at an2 Boluntar%on2 Pa2-susulon2 sa

Dan%an2 Da?a%ahan Upan2 Maibali? sa Dan%a an2 $2a Pribilehi%o n2 !san2 Abo2a#o0 #ate# ' "une )((G of the

Southeast People3s Hilla2e /o$eo7ners Association, !nc. ;SEP/HOA<, !ba%o-ipas, Cit% of a2ui2>

@< 0!san2 Bu?as na Liha$ na Na2lala%on2 !paratin2 sa Dataas-aasan2 /u?u$an an2 Buon2 Suporta n2

Pa$unuan at $2a Dasapi n2 Sa$ahan2 Resi#ente n2 Maulin2 Cree?, !nc. ;SAREMAC< ?a% . +anilo . +e

u$an sa Dan%an2 Petis%on2 Ma2a7aran n2 Dapata7aran at an2 Boluntar%on2 Pa2-susulon2 sa Dan%an2Da?a%ahan Upan2 Maibali? sa Dan%a an2 $2a Pribilehi%o n2 !san2 Abo2a#o0 #ate# ' "une )((G of the

Sa$ahan2 Resi#ente n2 Maulin2 Cree?, !nc. ;SAREMAC<, Lo7er Bicutan, Cit% of a2ui2>

6< 0!san2 Bu?as na Liha$ na Na2lala%on2 !paratin2 sa Dataas-aasan2 /u?u$an an2 Buon2 Suporta n2

Pa$unuan at $2a Dasapi n2 Sa$ahan n2 $2a Maralita ;PULON DEN+!< Nei2hborhoo# Association, !nc.

;SAMANA< ?a% . +anilo . +e u$an sa Dan%an2 Petis%on2 Ma2a7aran n2 Dapata7aran at an2

Boluntar%on2 Pa2-susulon2 sa Dan%an2 Da?a%ahan Upan2 Maibali? sa Dan%a an2 $2a Pribilehi%o n2 !san2

Abo2a#o0 #ate# ' "une )((G of the Sa$ahan n2 $2a Maralita ;PULON DEN+!< Nei2hborhoo# Association,

!nc. ;SAMANA<, Sta. Ana, Cit% of a2ui2>

8/9/2019 In Re 2003 Bar Exams

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/in-re-2003-bar-exams 3/6

F< 0An Open Letter Attestin2 Personall% to the Co$petence an# 5itness of +anilo . +e u$an as to 9arrant

the rant of "u#icial Cle$enc% an# his Reinstate$ent as Me$ber of the Philippine Bar0 #ate# * "une )((G of

Mi2uelito Naareno H. Llantino, Lao2an, respeses an# Llantino La7 Offices>

< 0esti$onial to the Moral an# Spiritual Co$petence of +anilo . +e u$an to be rul% +eser&in2 of "u#icial

Cle$enc% an# Co$passion0 #ate# F "ul% )((G of Re&. 5r. Paul . Bala2tas, Parish Priest, Arch#iocesan Shrine of

St. Anne>

G< 0esti$onial Letter0 #ate# '* 5ebruar% )((* of Att%. Loreto C. Ata, Presi#ent, 5ar Eastern Uni&ersit% La7

Alu$ni Association ;5EULAA<, 5ar Eastern Uni&ersit% ;5EU<>

*< 0!san2 Bu?as na Liha$ na Na2lala%on2 !paratin2 sa Dataas-aasan2 /u?u$an an2 Buon2 Suporta n2

Pa$unuan at $2a Dasapi n2 Sa$ahan2 Bisi2 Da$a% sa Daunlaran, !nc. ;SAB!SDA< ?a% . +anilo . +e

u$an sa Dan%an2 Petis%on2 Ma2a7aran n2 Dapata7aran at an2 Boluntar%on2 Pa2-susulon2 sa Dan%an2

Da?a%ahan Upan2 Maibali? sa Dan%a an2 $2a Pribilehi%o n2 !san2 Abo2a#o0 #ate# * "ul% )((* of the

Sa$ahan2 Bisi2 Da$a% sa Daunlaran, !nc. ;SAB!SDA<>

< Boar# Resolution No. (), Series of )((*, 0A Resolution Reco2niin2 the Contributions of +anilo . +e

u$an to the People3s La7 Enforce$ent Boar# ;PLEB< I a2ui2 Cit%, Attestin2 to his Ut$ost +e#ication an#

Co$$it$ent to the Call of Ci&ic an# Social +ut% an# for Other Purposes0 #ate# '' "ul% )((* of the People3s La7

Enforce$ent Boar# ;PLEB<>

'(< 0A Personal Appeal for the rant of "u#icial 5or2i&eness an# Co$passion in 5a&or of +anilo . +e u$an0

#ate# '6 "ul% )((* of Att%. E#7in R. San#o&al, Professor, Colle2e of La7, San Sebastian Colle2e I Recoletos>

''< 0An Open Letter Personall% Attestin2 to the Moral co$petence an# 5itness of +anilo . +e u$an0 #ate# F

Septe$ber )((* of Mr. Nixon 5. 5a#ero2, +eput% ran# JDnKi2ht, Dni2hts of Colu$bus an# Presi#ent, eneral

Parent-eacher Association, a2ui2 National /i2h School, Lo7er Bicutan, a2ui2 Cit%>

')< 0esti$onial Letter0 #ate# F Septe$ber )((* of Att%. Pri$iti&o C. Cru, Presi#ent, a2ui2 La7%ers Lea2ue,

!nc., u?tu?an, a2ui2 Cit%>

'@< 0esti$onial Letter0 #ate# )' October )((* of "u#2e /ilario L. La1ui, Presi#in2 "u#2e, Re2ional rail Court;RC<, Branch )'*, ueon Cit%> an#

'6< 0esti$onial Letter0 #ate# )* October )((* of "ustice Oscar M. /errera, for$er "ustice, Court of Appeals an#

for$er +ean, !nstitute of La7, 5ar Eastern Uni&ersit% ;5EU<.

Citin2 the case of !n Re8 Carlos S. Basa, petitioner plea#e# that he be affor#e# the sa$e ?in#ness an# co$passion in or#er

that, li?e Att%. Basa, his pro$isin2 future $a% not be perpetuall% foreclose#. !n the sai# case, the Court ha# the occasion

to sa%8

Carlos S. Basa is a %oun2 $an about ) %ears of a2e, a#$itte# to the bars of California an# the Philippine !slan#s.

Recentl%, he 7as char2e# in the Court of 5irst !nstance of the Cit% of Manila 7ith the cri$e of ab#uction 7ith consent,

7as foun# 2uilt% in a #ecision ren#ere# b% the /onorable M.H. +e Rosario, "u#2e of 5irst !nstance, an# 7as sentence# to be i$prisone# for a perio# of t7o %ears, ele&en $onths an# ele&en #a%s of prision correccional. On appeal, this #ecision

7as affir$e# in a 4u#2$ent han#e# #o7n b% the secon# #i&ision of the Supre$e Court.

x x x x

9hen co$e next, as 7e $ust, to #eter$ine the exact action 7hich shoul# be ta?en b% the court, 7e #o so re2retfull% an#

reluctantl%. On the one han#, the &iolation of the cri$inal la7 b% the respon#ent attorne% cannot be li2htl% passe# o&er.

On the other han#, 7e are 7illin2 to strain the li$its of our co$passion to the utter$ost in or#er that so pro$isin2 a career

$a% not be utterl% ruine#.

8/9/2019 In Re 2003 Bar Exams

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/in-re-2003-bar-exams 4/6

Petitioner pro$ise# to co$$it hi$self to be $ore circu$spect in his actions an# sole$nl% ple#2e# to exert all efforts to

atone for his $is#ee#s.

here $a% be a reasonable 2roun# to consi#er the herein Petition.

!n the case of Re8 Petition of Al Ar2osino to a?e the La7%er3s Oath ;Bar Matter G')<, 7hich $a% be applie# in the

instant case, the Court sai#8

After a &er% careful e&aluation of this case, 7e resol&e to allo7 petitioner Al Caparros Ar2osino to ta?e the la7%ers oath,si2n the Roll of Attorne%s an# practice the le2al profession 7ith the follo7in2 a#$onition8

!n allo7in2 Mr. Ar2osino to ta?e the la7%er3s oath, the Court reco2nies that Mr. Ar2osino is not inherentl% of ba# $oral

fiber. On the contrar%, the &arious certifications sho7 that he is a #e&out Catholic 7ith a 2enuine concern for ci&ic #uties

an# public ser&ice.

he Court is persua#e# that Mr. Ar2osino has exerte# all efforts, to atone for the #eath of Raul Ca$ali2an. 9e are

 prepare# to 2i&e hi$ the benefit of the #oubt, ta?in2 4u#icial notice of the 2eneral ten#enc% of %outh to be rash

te$erarious an# uncalculatin2.

x x x x

Mean7hile, in the case of Ro#olfo M. Bernar#o &s. Att%. !s$ael 5. Me4ia ;A#$inistrati&e Case No. )*6<, the Court JinK

#eci#in2 7hether or not to reinstate Att%. Me4ia to the practice of la7 state#8

he Court 7ill ta?e into consi#eration the applicant3s character an# stan#in2 prior to the #isbar$ent, the nature an#

character of the char2es for 7hich he 7as #isbarre#, his con#uct subse1uent to the #isbar$ent an# the ti$e that has

elapse# in bet7een the #isbar$ent an# the application for reinstate$ent.

Petitioner 7as barel% thirt% ;@(< %ears ol# an# ha# onl% been in the practice of la7 for fi&e ;F< %ears 7hen he 7as

#isbarre# fro$ the practice of la7. !t is of no #oubt that petitioner ha# a pro$isin2 future ahea# of hi$ 7here it not for the

#ecision of the Court strippin2 off his license.

Petitioner is also of 2oo# $oral repute, not onl% before but li?e7ise, after his #isbar$ent, as atteste# to o&er7hel$in2l% b% his constituents, collea2ues as 7ell as people of ?no7n probit% in the co$$unit% an# societ%.

9a% before the petitioner 7as e&en a#$itte# to the bar, he ha# alrea#% $anifeste# his intense #esire to ren#er publicser&ice as e&i#ence# b% his acti&e in&ol&e$ent an# participation in se&eral social an# ci&ic pro4ects an# acti&ities.

Li?e7ise, e&en #urin2 an# after his #isbar$ent, 7hich coul# be percei&e# b% so$e as a #ebilitatin2 circu$stance,

 petitioner still $ana2e# to continue exten#in2 his assistance to others in 7hate&er $eans possible. his onl% pro&es

 petitioner3s stren2th of character an# positi&e $oral fiber.

/o7e&er, still, it is of no 1uestion that petitioner3s act in cop%in2 the exa$ination 1uestions fro$ Att%. Bal2os3 co$puter

7ithout the latter3s ?no7le#2e an# consent, an# 7hich 1uestions later turne# out to be the bar exa$inations 1uestions in

Mercantile La7 in the )((@ Bar Exa$inations, is not at all co$$en#able. 9hile 7e #o belie&e that petitioner sincerel%

#i# not inten# to cause the #a$a2e that his action ensue#, still, he $ust be sanctione# for un#ul% co$pro$isin2 the

inte2rit% of the bar exa$inations as 7ell as of this Court.

9e are con&ince#, ho7e&er, that petitioner has since refor$e# an# has sincerel% reflecte# on his trans2ressions. hus, in

&ie7 of the circu$stances an# li?e7ise for hu$anitarian consi#erations, the penalt% of #isbar$ent $a% no7 be co$$ute#

to suspension. Consi#erin2 the fact, ho7e&er, that petitioner ha# alrea#% been #isbarre# for $ore than fi&e ;F< %ears, thesa$e $a% be consi#ere# as proper ser&ice of sai# co$$ute# penalt% an# thus, $a% no7 be allo7e# to resu$e practice of 

la7.

9/ERE5ORE, PREM!SES CONS!+ERE+, it is respectfull% reco$$en#e# that the instant Petition for "u#icia

Cle$enc% an# Co$passion #ate# '( No&e$ber )((* of petitioner +AN!LO . +E U=MAN be RANE+

8/9/2019 In Re 2003 Bar Exams

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/in-re-2003-bar-exams 5/6

Petitioner3s #isbar$ent is no7 co$$ute# to suspension, 7hich suspension is consi#ere# as ser&e# in &ie7 of the

 petitioner3s fi&e ;F< %ear #isbar$ent. /ence, petitioner $a% no7 be allo7e# to resu$e practice of la7.

he reco$$en#ation of the Office of the Bar Confi#ant is 7ell-ta?en in part.1avvphi1.zw+ 9e #ee$ petitioner 7orth% of

cle$enc% to the extent of co$$utin2 his penalt% to se&en ;G< %ears suspension fro$ the practice of la7, inclusi&e of the

fi&e ;F< %ears he has alrea#% ser&e# his #isbar$ent.

Penalties, such as #isbar$ent, are i$pose# not to punish but to correct offen#ers.) 9hile the Court is e&er $in#ful of its

#ut% to #iscipline its errin2 officers, it also ?no7s ho7 to sho7 co$passion 7hen the penalt% i$pose# has alrea#% ser&e#

its purpose.@

!n cases 7here 7e ha&e #ei2ne# to lift or co$$ute the supre$e penalt% of #isbar$ent i$pose# on the la7%er, 7e ha&e

ta?en into account the re$orse of the #isbarre# la7%er 6 an# the con#uct of his public life #urin2 his %ears outsi#e of the

 bar .F 5or exa$ple, in Halencia &. Antini7, 7e hel#8

/o7e&er, the recor# sho7s that the lon2 perio# of respon#ents #isbar$ent 2a&e hi$ the chance to pur2e hi$self of his

$iscon#uct, to sho7 his re$orse an# repentance, an# to #e$onstrate his 7illin2ness an# capacit% to li&e up once a2ain to

the exactin2 stan#ar#s of con#uct #e$an#e# of e&er% $e$ber of the bar an# officer of the court. +urin2 respon#ents

#isbar$ent for $ore than fifteen ;'F< %ears to #ate for his professional infraction, he has been persistent in reiteratin2 his

apolo2ies an# pleas for reinstate$ent to the practice of la7 an# unrelentin2 in his efforts to sho7 that he has re2aine# his

7orthiness to practice la7, b% his ci&ic an# hu$anitarian acti&ities an# unble$ishe# recor# as an electe# public ser&ant, asatteste# to b% nu$erous ci&ic an# professional or2aniations, 2o&ern$ent institutions, public officials an# $e$bers of the

 4u#iciar%.

An# in Bernar#o &. Att%. Me4ia,G 7e note#8

Althou2h the Court #oes not li2htl% ta?e the bases for Me4ia3s #isbar$ent, it also cannot close its e%es to the fact that

Me4ia is alrea#% of a#&ance# %ears. 9hile the a2e of the petitioner an# the len2th of ti$e #urin2 7hich he has en#ure# the

i2no$in% of #isbar$ent are not the sole $easure in allo7in2 a petition for reinstate$ent, the Court ta?es co2niance of

the rehabilitation of Me4ia. Since his #isbar$ent in '), no other trans2ression has been attribute# to hi$, an# he has

sho7n re$orse. Ob&iousl%, he has learne# his lesson fro$ this experience, an# his punish$ent has laste# lon2 enou2h. x x

x

Petitioner has sufficientl% #e$onstrate# the re$orse expecte# of hi$ consi#erin2 the 2ra&it% of his trans2ressions. E&en

$ore to his fa&or, petitioner has re#irecte# focus since his #isbar$ent to7ar#s public ser&ice, particularl% 7ith the

People3s La7 Enforce$ent Boar#. he attestations sub$itte# b% his peers in the co$$unit% an# other estee$e# $e$bers

of the le2al profession, such as retire# Court of Appeals Associate "ustice Oscar /errera, "u#2e /ilario La1ui, Professor

E#7in San#o&al an# Att%. Loreno Ata, an# the ecclesiastical co$$unit% such as Re&. 5r. Paul Bala2tas testif% to his

 positi&e i$pact on societ% at lar2e since the unfortunate e&ents of )((@.

Petitioner3s subse1uent trac? recor# in public ser&ice affor#s the Court so$e hope that if he 7ere to reac1uire $e$bership

in the Philippine bar, his achie&e$ents as a la7%er 7oul# re#oun# to the 2eneral 2oo# an# $ore than $iti2ate the stain on

his recor#. Co$passion to the petitioner is 7arrante#. Nonetheless, 7e 7ish to i$part to hi$ the follo7in2 stern 7arnin28

0Of all classes an# professions, the la7%er is $ost sacre#l% boun# to uphol# the la7s. /e is their s7orn ser&ant> an# for hi$, of all $en in the 7orl#, to repu#iate an# o&erri#e the la7s, to tra$ple the$ un#erfoot an# to i2nore the &er% ban#s of

societ%, ar2ues recreanc% to his position an# office an# sets a pernicious exa$ple to the insubor#inate an# #an2erous

ele$ents of the bo#% politic.0*

$%ERE&ORE, in &ie7 of the fore2oin2, the Petition for "u#icial Cle$enc% an# Co$passion is hereb% RANE+ !N

PAR. he #isbar$ent of +AN!LO . +E U=MAN fro$ the practice of la7 is hereb% COMMUTED to SE'EN ()*

YEARS SUSPENSION &ROM T%E PRACTICE O& A$, rec?one# fro$ 5ebruar% 6, )((6.

SO OR+ERE+.

8/9/2019 In Re 2003 Bar Exams

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/in-re-2003-bar-exams 6/6

CONSUEO YNARES#SANTIA!O

Associate "ustice

9E CONCUR8

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief "ustice

EONARDO A. +UISUMBIN!Associate "ustice

ANTONIO T. CARPIOAssociate "ustice

MA. AICIA AUSTRIA#MARTINE"

Associate "ustice

RENATO C. CORONA

Associate "ustice

CONC%ITA CARPIO MORAES

Associate "ustice

DANTE O. TIN!A

Associate "ustice

MINITA '. C%ICO#NA"ARIO

Associate "ustice

PRESBITERO . 'EASCO, R.

Associate "ustice

ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NAC%URA

Associate "ustice

TERESITA . EONARDO#DE CASTRO

Associate "ustice

ARTURO D. BRION

Associate "ustice

DIOSDADO M. PERATA

Associate "ustice

UCAS P. BERSAMIN

Associate "ustice