[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 77-2016, March 28, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 77-2016, March 28, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 77-2016, March 28, 2016 ]

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 : LIFTING OF SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF ATTY. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA

For your, information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution of the Second Division dated 23 July 2014 in Administrative Case No. 5151, entitled "Pedro G. Tolentino, et al. vs. Atty. Norberto M. Mendoza," to wit:

The Court resolves to NOTE the returned and unserved copy of the Resolution dated 28 August 2013 (which, among other matters required Atty. Norberto M. Mendoza to file certifications from the IBP Local Chapter where he is affiliated and the Office of the Executive Judge of the court where he usually practices) sent to counsel for respondent, Atty. Ramon P. Gutierrez of Gutierrez Nitura Zulueta Law Offices at 2203 Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas, Jr. Avenue, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City with notation, "RTS, moved out," and REQUIRE respondent to submit to the Court the new address of his counsel, within five (5) days from notice.

Considering the compliance submitted by respondent Atty. Norberto M. Mendoza for the lifting of his indefinite suspension from the practice of law per Resolution dated 19 October 2004 which found respondent guilty of immorality and suspended him from the practice of law indefinitely until he submits satisfactory proof that he is no longer cohabiting with a woman who is not his wife and has abandoned such immoral course of conduct, and that in compliance with the Resolution dated 13 August 2012 respondent submitted proof that his marriage to Felicitas V. Valeria as well as the marriage of

Marilyn dela Fuente to Ramon Marcos were already terminated and a copy of certificate of his marriage with Marilyn dela Fuente issued by the National Statistics Office; that respondent also filed a sworn manifestation and compliance that since the promulgation of the resolution, he has ceased and desisted from the practice of law and submitted certifications from the IBP Oriental Mindoro Chapter where he belongs and the Office of the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Calapan City as well as citations and affirmations from different civic, religious and private sectors of his good moral character as a person and as public servant being the Municipal Mayor of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro; that since respondent accepted the verdict with respect and humility, reformed himself and deeply remorseful for his wrong doing, his sincerity and compliance are worthy of clemency and compassion; and considering further that the primordial purpose of the penalty to erring officers of the court is actually not to punish permanently but to give them a chance to purge themselves into a better and improved persons, the Court resolves to LIFT the order of the indefinite suspension of respondent Atty. Norberto M. Mendoza, as mandated in the Resolution dated 19 October 2004 and to ALLOW him to RESUME 'his practice of law.

28 March 2016

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator