[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 39-2017, February 27, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 39-2017, February 27, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 39-2017, February 27, 2017 ]

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. CONSTANTINO S. DELA CRUZ FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR SIX (6) MONTHS

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 17 August 2016 of the First Division in Administrative Case No. 10959, entitled " Amelia B.'Cruz v. Atty. Constantino S. Dela Cruz ," to wit:

The Court resolves to NOTE the Notice of Resolution No. XXI-2014-825 dated October 11, 2014 of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' Board of Governors which approved the report and recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner dated April 24, 2014 with the modification that respondent Atty. Constantino S. Dela Cruz be suspended from the practice of law for six (6) months for violating the rule against conflict of interest, transmitted by letter dated September 18, 2015 of Director Ramon S. Esguerra, Commission on Bar Discipline, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, together with the records and compact disc containing the PDF file of the case.

The Court further resolves to ADOPT and APPROVE the recommendation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' Board of Governors in its Notice of Resolution No. XXI-2014- 825 dated October 11, 2014 (Annex "A") which approved with modification the report and recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner dated April 24, 2014. Accordingly, respondent Atty. Constantino S. Dela Cruz is SUSPENDED from the practice of law for six (6) months from notice hereof, for violating the rule against conflict of interest.

Respondent, thru counsel, received the aforesaid Resolution on 19 September 2016.

27 February 2017

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator