Disbarment case filed vs Engaño

Officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), led by Pasay City Jail Superintendent Augusto Retumban, have filed a disbarment case before the Supreme Court against Senior Superintendent Josue Engaño.

Retumban, with city jail wardens Teofilo Labating of Caloocan and Rome Elisan of Valenzuela, as well as mess officer Danilo Abuda of the Quezon City Jail, asserted that Engaño’s act of defying the courts and his alleged extortion activities were conduct unbecoming of a court official/lawyer.

They added that Engaño "did not live up to the standards of the legal profession and he even brought dishonor to it when he refused to obey the decision of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 216, Quezon City," which deemed him unfit for the position of chief BJMP for failure to meet the minimum qualification for the said post.

They said Engaño’s alleged extortion and refusal to vacate his office despite a court order "make him unfit to be a member of the legal profession and therefore, it now becomes imperative that he be disbarred and his name stricken out of the roll of attorneys."

Meanwhile, BJMP personnel director Senior Superintendent Jose Esmeralda lauded President Arroyo for showing humility in recognizing the wisdom of the court in resolving the BJMP leadership issue.

"The President, in all her humility, listened to the little voices in the bureau which opposed Engaño’s appointment for lack of qualification," he said.

Malacañang issued a memorandum last month holding in abeyance the appointment of Engaño as BJMP head when Bureau personnel and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina expressed opposition citing qualification violations.

A week later, Malacañang issued another memorandum allowing the lower court to decide on the matter.