CA upholds prison term for celebrity doctor

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld with finality the conviction and seven-year prison term of celebrity dermatologist Joel Mendez over his failure to remit to the Social Security System (SSS) more than P1.8 million in monthly contributions of his employees.

In an eight-page resolution promulgated last April 16, the former special eighth division of the appellate court affirmed its ruling in August last year that upheld the verdict of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) finding Mendez guilty of violating Republic Act 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997.

The CA also agreed with the prison term imposed on Mendez, which is a minimum of six years and one day to a maximum of seven years.

The CA also affirmed the trial court’s order that directed Mendez to pay the SSS a total of P1,865,657.50, representing unpaid contributions from October 2011 to January 2013 with an interest of three percent per month from July 2015 until fully paid.

Mendez argued that the failure of his former lawyer to attend hearings and inform him that his presence was required during the proceedings warrants the reversal of the court’s decision.

The CA, however, said it is the client’s duty “to be in contact with his lawyer… to be informed of the progress and development of his case.”

Last year, Mendez pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape after allegedly molesting a 17-year-old girl in 2016.

In 2016, Mendez was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to a prison term of up to three years and fined P10,000.