[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 249-2018, November 28, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 249-2018, November 28, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 249-2018, November 28, 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. RAMON Y. GARGANTOS, SR. FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR SIX (6) MONTHS

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Decision dated 27 June 2018 of the Second Division in Administrative Case No. 11326, entitled "Pelagio., Vicencio Sorongon, Jr. vs. Atty. Ramon Y. Gargantos, Sr.,' to wit:

WHEREFORE, respondent Atty. Ramon Y. Gargantos, Sr., is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for six (6) months effective immediately upon receipt of this Decision and warned that a repetition of the same or similar acts will be dealt with more severely. Respondent Atty. Gargantos, Sr. is ordered to RETURN to complainant Pelagio Vicencio Sorongon, Jr. the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) within ninety (90) days from the receipt of this Decision, including the documents in respondent's possession which pertain to the case of the complainant. Failure to comply with the foregoing directive will warrant the imposition of a more severe penalty.

Let copies of this Decision be furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant, to be appended to respondent's personal record as attorney. Further, let copies of this Decision be furnished the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the Court Administrator, which is directed to circulate them to all courts in the country for their information and guidance.

As per tracking No. 1267 8701 0618 of the LBC, respondent thru authorized agent Rose Bisablo, received on 1 October 2018 a copy of the aforesaid Decision.

28 November 2018

(SGD.) RAUL BAUSTISTA VILLANUEVA Deputy Court Administrator and Officer-in-Charge Office of the Court Administrator (Per Office Order No. 13-2018 dated 23 November 2018)