[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 20-2017, January 23, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 20-2017, January 23, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 20-2017, January 23, 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. PURITA A. REYES FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR TWO (2) YEARS

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Decision dated 22 November 2011 of the Court En Banc in Administrative Case No. 4808, entitled "Teresita T. Bayonla v. Atty. Purita A. Reyes," to wit:

WHEREFORE, the Court FINDS AND PRONOUNCES ATTY. PURITA A. REYES guilty of violating Rule 16.01 and Rule 16.03 of Canon 16 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, and SUSPENDS her from the practice of law for a period of two. years effective upon receipt of this Decision, with warning that a similar offense by her will be dealt with more severely.

The Court ORDERS Atty. Reyes to pay to complainant Teresita T. Bayonla within 30 days from receipt of this Decision the amount of P 44,582.67, with interest of 12% per annum from June 22, 1997, and to render unto the complainant a complete written accounting and inventory of: - (a) the amounts she had collected from the Air Transportation Office as expropriation compensation; (b) the total amount due to the complainant; (c) the total amount she had actually remitted to the complainant; and [d) the amount she had deducted as her contingent fee-vis-a-vis the complainant.

Within the same period of compliance, Atty. Reyes shall submit to the Court, through the Office of the Bar Confidant, authentic written proof that her accounting, inventory, and payment were furnished to and received by the complainant in due course.

This Decision is without prejudice to any pending or contemplated proceedings against Atty. Reyes.

Respondent received a copy of the Decision on 18 January 2012.

23 January 2017

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator