[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 131 -2015, June 30, 2015 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 131 -2015, June 30, 2015 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 131 -2015, June 30, 2015 ]

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 FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR TWO (2) YEARS OF ATTY. LUIS P. RIVERA

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the dispositive portion of the Decision of the Supreme Court En Banc dated 05 August 2014 in Administrative Case No. 8000 entitled "Chamelyn A. Agot vs. Atty. Luis P. Rivera" to wit:

WHEREFORE, respondent Atty. Luis P. Rivera (respondent), is found guilty of violating Rules 1.01 of Canon 1, Rules 16.01 and 16.03 of Canon 16, and Rule 18.03 of Canon 18 of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Accordingly, he is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of two (2) years, effective upon the finality of this Decision, with a stern warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts will be dealt with more severely.

Furthermore, respondent is ORDERED to return to complainant Chamelyn A. Agot the legal fees he received from the latter in the amount of P350,000.00 within ninety (90) days from the finality of this Decision. Failure to comply with the foregoing directive will warrant the imposition of a more severe penalty.

Respondent received on 29 August 2014 the aforesaid Decision. Further, the respondent did not file his motion for reconsideration thereof.

30 June 2015

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator