SC asked: Disbar PCGG chief over ethics issue

MANILA, Philippines – A lawyer has asked the Supreme Court to disbar Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Camilo Sabio for allegedly violating the canon of legal ethics for lawyers.

In his petition, lawyer Fernando Perito, a lifetime member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, said Sabio allegedly tried to influence the decision of his younger brother, Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio Jr., in the case Manila Electric Co. vs. Government Service Insurance System.

Perito said membership in the bar is a “privilege burdened with conditions,” and a lawyer is an officer of the court subject to its disciplinary authority.

“As an officer of the court, an attorney is subject to the disciplinary authority of the court and to its orders and directives with respect to his relation to the court as well as to his client,” read the petition. “He is continually accountable to the court for the manner in which he exercises the privilege which has been granted him.”

It added: “Whenever it is made to appear to the Supreme Court that an attorney is no longer worthy of the trust and confidence of the people, it becomes not only the right but the duty of the court which made him one of its officers and gave him the privilege of ministering within its bar to withdraw the privilege.”

As evidence against Chairman Sabio, Perito quoted the 10-page affidavit of Justice Sabio submitted to the SC investigating panel of retired justices looking into alleged improprieties in the CA’s handling of the Meralco-GSIS case.

In an affidavit, Justice Sabio said that at about 8 a.m. last May 30, while he was in his chambers, he received a call from his brother informing him that he was the third member of the division that would handle the Meralco case.

Justice Sabio said he was surprised by what his brother said as he had yet to receive official notice.

“At this point, he (Justice Sabio) then tried to convince me of the rightness of the stand of the GSIS and the SEC,” read the affidavit.

“I then told him that I will vote according to my conscience, and that the most I can do is to have the issuance of the TRO and the injunctive relief scheduled for oral arguments.

“I also told him that during said hearing, respondents must be able to convince me that the TRO did not have a legal basis.”

His brother had informed him that he had heard that a temporary restraining order had already been prepared, Justice Sabio added.

Perito said Chairman Sabio had been “too doggedly faithful” to whoever he is beholden that he wanted to impress that he can control Justice Sabio.

“Very unfortunately, Atty. Camilo Sabio has embarrassed himself, his dignity and profession, and even put his brother’s career at stake and the Court of Appeals for making it appear that it is an easy institution that can be easily intruded into with proper ‘connect,’” Perito said.

“For his judicial interference, Atty. Camilo Sabio must be investigated, and if found to have been liable under our ethics, he must be perpetually disbarred from the rolls of attorney and from the practice of law,” he added.

Chairman Sabio is expected to take the witness stand tomorrow, when the SC panel will resume its hearing.

The panel was given until Sept. 4 to wrap up its probe and submit its findings and recommendations to Chief Justice Reynato Puno.