[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 98-2009, August 13, 2009 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 98-2009, August 13, 2009 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 98-2009, August 13, 2009 ]

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 FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR TWO (2) YEARS OF ATTY. CORNELIUS M.GONZALES

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the dispositive portion of the Decision of the Court En Banc dated 12 February 2008, in Administrative Case No. 7657, entitled "Vivian Villanueva vs. Atty. Cornelius M. Gonzales", to wit:

''WHEREFORE, the Court finds respondent Atty. Cornelius M. Gonzales GUILTY of violating Canons 16, 17, and 18, and Rules 16.01, 06.03, 18.03, and 08.04 of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Accordingly, the Court SUSPENDS him from the practice of law for two years effective upon finality of this Decision. ORDERS him to RETURN the TCT and all other documents to complainant within 15 days from notice of this Decision, and WARNS him that a repetition of the same or similar offense, including the failure to return the TCT and all other documents as required herein, shall be dealt with more severely'."

Pursuant to the Resolution of the Court En Bane dated 03 June 2008 , the Court Resolved to DENY WITH FINALITY the motion for reconsideration of the Decision dated 12 February 2008 filed by respondent dated 14 March 2008 , there being no substantial matter raised to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision.

August __ 13 __, 2009

JOSE P. PEREZ

Court Administrator