[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 30-2019, February 26, 2019 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 30-2019, February 26, 2019 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 30-2019, February 26, 2019 ]

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, SHARIA CIRCUIT COURTS, THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATE PROSECUTOR, PUBLIC ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUBJECT : LIFTING OF SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW OF ATTY. GIDEON D.V. MORTEL

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 7 November 2018 of the Special Second Division in Administrative Case No. 10117, entitled "In Re: Resolution dated 14 August 2013 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 94656 vs. Atty. Gideon D.V. Mortel," to wit:

The Court resolves to NOTE and GRANT the compliance and urgent motion dated 11 October 2018 by respondent Atty. Gideon D.V. Mortel relative to the Resolution dated 29 January 2018, stating that he served and complied with the imposed penalty by desisting and not engaging in the practice of law from 15 September 2016 to 16 September 2017, and continuously up to present, and submitting the required certifications that he ceased and desisted from the practice of law and has not appeared in courts and praying that his urgent motion to lift suspension to practice law be granted and his authority to practice law be restored to enable him and his family to recover from the unfortunate effect and impact of the penalty.

Acting on the respondent's urgent manifestation and motion dated 10 November 2017, begging for the immediate lifting of his suspension, and considering that respondent, in his compliance and urgent motion dated 11 October 2018, submitted certifications from the IBP Batangas Chapter and IBP Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa Chapter, the Office of the Clerks of Court of the lower courts of Batangas City, Las Pinas City, Muntinlupa City, Pasay City, and Paranaque City, all affirming that respondent did not engage in the practice of law and appear in court from 16 September 2016 to 17 September 2017, and considering further that based on the documents submitted, respondent has substantially complied with the Resolutions dated 25 July 2016 and 29 January 2018, and has fully served the order of his suspension from 16 September 2016 to 17 September 2017, the Court further resolves to LIFT the order of suspension of Atty. Gideon D.V. Mortel and ALLOW him to RESUME his practice of law.

The Court NOTES the Report dated 17 October 2018 of the Office of the Bar Confidant.

26 February 2019

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator