2 lawyers disbarred for claiming influence over justices, prosecutors

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) recently disbarred two lawyers who claimed to be able to bribe Court of Appeals (CA) justices and secure a favorable ruling from Makati prosecutors.

In a statement issued yesterday, the SC said Carlo Marco Bautista violated the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR) and the lawyer’s oath.

Bautista’s client alleged that the lawyer, who was hired to handle a criminal case involving the client’s father before the Makati prosecutor’s office, “acted as fixer, solicited money from him to influence the decision of the prosecutors, and failed to provide an accounting thereof, among others, in gross violation of the CPR,” the SC said.

The SC also ordered the immediate removal of Bautista’s name in the roll of attorneys.

Bautista’s disbarment stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by his client before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Commission on Bar Discipline. The IBP-CPD found him guilty of violating the CPR and the lawyer’s oath for his “unlawful, dishonest and deceitful conduct, making him unfit to practice law.”

In a separate statement, the SC said it also disbarred lawyer William delos Santos for claiming that “he can bribe” the justices of the CA’s Fifth division, where the illegal drug case filed against the son of his client is pending.

The SC said Delos Santos allegedly asked money from his client, including P160,000 supposedly “to bribe” the justices. However, the CA’s Fifth Division affirmed the conviction of the son of Delos Santos’ client.

The client filed a disbarment complaint before the SC, which referred the case to the IBP for investigation.

The IBP investigating commissioner found Delos Santos liable for gross misconduct and recommended his disbarment after the lawyer failed to attend scheduled conferences and submit the required pleadings despite due notice, the SC said.

The SC said Delos Santos’ “obstinate snobbery” to comply with its order and that of the IBP “not only betrays  a recalcitrant flaw in his character, (but) also underscores his disrespect of lawful orders which is only too deserving reproof.”

The high tribunal noted that Delos Santos had a previous suspension for serious misconduct and violation of the CPR.

He was also ordered to return the P160,000 he asked from his client, with an annual interest of six percent.