[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 182-2018, August 30, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 182-2018, August 30, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 182-2018, August 30, 2018 ]

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. KARINA GAY M. BALAJADIA-LIGGAYU FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR ONE (1) YEAR

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 2 April 2018 of the First Division in Administrative Case No. 11977, entitled "Jose Sioco Carino v. Atty. Karina Gay M. Balajadia-Liggayu," to wit:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Resolution No. XXI-2015-264 dated April 18, 2015 and Resolution No. XXII-2017-965 dated April 19, 2017 of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Board of Governors are hereby AFFIRMED. Accordingly, respondent Atty. Karina Gay M. Balajadia-Liggayu is found guilty of violating CANON 18, Rule 18.04, CANON 16, and Rule 16.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Section 24, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, and thereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for one (1) year from notice with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar acts shall be dealt with more severely. Further, respondent is ordered to return the amount of Eight Hundred Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Two Pesos (P 814,662) to complainant Jose Sioco Carino.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished the Office of the bar Confidant to be entered in the personal record of respondent as a member of the Philippine Bar; the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for distribution to all its chapters; and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts throughout the country.

As per Registry Return Receipt No. 67082, respondent received a copy of the aforesaid Resolution on 24 July 2018.

30 August 2018

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator