[ SC CIRCULAR NO. 15-91, July 24, 1991 ]

[ SC CIRCULAR NO. 15-91, July 24, 1991 ]

[ SC CIRCULAR NO. 15-91, July 24, 1991 ]

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 AND THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF ATTY,. ESCOLASTICO R. THE VIOLA FROM PRACTICE OF LAW

For the information and guidance of all concerned, quoted hereunder is the pertinent, portion of the Resolution of the Third Division of this Court dated -April 19, 1991, in Adm. Case No.. 2152 entitled "Teodoro I. Chavez vs. .Atty. Escolastico R. Viola", to wit:

"It is clear to the Court that respondent Viola violated his lawyer's oath and as well Canon 22 of the Canons of Professional Ethics which stated that [t]he conduct of the lawyer before the court and with other lawyers should be characterized by candor and fairness' (now Canon 10 of the Code of Professional Responsibility prescribing that (a) lawyer owes candor fairness and good faith to the courts)'. he has been deplorably lacking in the candor required of his as member of the Bar and an officer of the court. In his apparent zeal to secure the title to the property involved for his clients, he disregarded his overriding duty to the court and to the law itself.

"WHEREFORE, finding respondent Escolastico R, Viola guilty of committing a falsehood in violation of his lawyer's oath and of the Canons of Professional Ethics (now the Code of Professional Responsibility), the Court Resolved to SUSPEND respondent from the practice of law for a period of five (5) months, with a WARNING that commission of the same or similar offense in the future will result in the imposition of a more severe penalty."

Manila, July 24, 1991.

(SGD.) REYNALDO L. SUAREZ

Officer-in-Charge

Office of the Court Administrator