[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 174-2016, July 28, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 174-2016, July 28, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 174-2016, July 28, 2016 ]

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. BERLIN R. DELA CRUZ FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR THREE (3) YEARS

For your information and guidance; quoted hereunder is the Decision dated 19 January 2016 of the Court En Banc in Administrative Case No. 10912, entitled "Paulina T. Yu vs. Atty. Berlin R. Dela Cruz," to wit:

WHEREFORE, finding respondent Atty. Berlin R. Dela Cruz GUILTY of violating Canons 1, 16, 17, and Rules 1.01 and 16.04 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Court hereby SUSPENDS him from the practice of law for THREE YEARS with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar act would be dealt with more severely.

In a Resolution dated 7 June 2016, the Court further DENIED with FINALITY respondent's motion for reconsideration of the decision.

28 July 2016

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator