[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 172-2018, August 17, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 172-2018, August 17, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 172-2018, August 17, 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. EDGARDO O. ERA FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR THREE (3) YEARS AND SUSPENSION OF ATTY. DIANE KAREN B. BRAGAS FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR ONE (1) MONTH

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Decision dated 3 October 2017 of the Court En Banc in Administrative Case No. 11754, entitled "Joaquin G. Bonifacio v. Atty. Edgardo O. Era and Atty. Diane Karen B. Bragas," to wit:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Atty. Edgardo O. Era is found GUILTY of willfully disobeying this Court's lawful order and is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for a period of three (3) years, while Atty. Diane Karen B. Bragas is likewise found GUILTY of violating CANON 9 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for one (1) month, effective immediately from receipt of this Decision. Also, both Attys. Era and Bragas are WARNED that a repetition of the same or similar offense, or a commission of another offense will warrant a more severe penalty.

Let a copy of this Decision be entered in the personal records of respondents as member of the Bar, and copies furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts in the country.

As stated in her Motion dated 9 March 2018, respondent Atty. Bragas received a copy of the aforesaid Decision on 8 December 2017. As shown in the proof of personal service, respondent Atty. Era also received a copy of the aforesaid Decision on 8 December 2017.

17 August 2018

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator