[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 157-2018, July 20, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 157-2018, July 20, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 157-2018, July 20, 2018 ]

TO: THE COURT OF APPEALS, SANDIGANBAYAN, COURT OF TAX APPEALS, REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, SHARI'A DISTRICT COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS, SHARI'A CIRCUIT COURTS, THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATE PROSECUTOR, PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF ATTY. ERWIN V. BELLEZA FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR SIX (6) MONTHS

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Decision dated 21 February 2018 of the Second Division in Administrative Case No. 10756, entitled "Junielito R. Espanto v. Atty. Erwin V. Belleza,' to wit:

WHEREFORE, the Court finds Atty. Erwin V. Belleza GUILTY of violations of Canons 1 and 19 of the Code of Professional Responsibility for which he is SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of six (6) months, effective immediately upon receipt of this Decision, with a STERN WARNING that a commission of the same or similar offense in the future will result in the imposition of a more severe penalty.

Let a copy of this Decision be furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant to be appended to Atty. Erwin V. Belleza's personal record as a member of the Bar. Likewise, let copies of the same be served on the IBP, and the OCA, which is directed to circulate them to all courts in the country for their information and guidance.

Atty. Erwin V. Belleza is DIRECTED to inform the Court of the date of his receipt of this Decision so that the Court can determine the reckoning point when his suspension shall take effect.

Per Registry Return Receipt No. 30748, Respondent received a copy of the aforesaid Decision on 17 April 2018.

20 July 2018

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator