[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 39-2014, March 14, 2014 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 39-2014, March 14, 2014 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 39-2014, March 14, 2014 ]

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 ONE (1) YEAR AND FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE (1) YEAR OF ATTY. PABLO S. BERNARDO

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the dispositive portion of the Decision of the Second Division dated 13 June 2012, in Administrative Case No. 6368, entitled "Fidela Bengco and Teresita Bengco v. Atty. Pablo S. Bernardo," to wit:

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, respondent Atty. Pablo S. Bernardo is found guilty of violating the Code of Professional Responsibility. Accordingly, he is SUSPENDED from the practice of law for ONE (1) YEAR effective upon notice hereof.

Further the Court ORDERS Atty. Pablo S. Bernardo (1) to RETURN the amount of £ 200.000.00 to Fidela Bengco and Teresita Bengco within TEN (10) DAYS from receipt of this Decision and (2) to SUBMIT his proof of compliance thereof to the Court, through the Office of the Bar Confidant within TEN (10) DAYS therefrom; with a STERN WARNING that failure to do so shall merit him the additional penalty of suspension from the practice of law for one (1) year.

Furthermore, the Special Second Division in its Resolution dated 19 June 2014 imposed additional penalty of suspension for a period of one (1) year pursuant to the abovementioned Decision, with the following dispositive portion, to wit: Pursuant to this Court's Decision dated June 13, 2012, the additional penalty of SUSPENSION for a period of ONE (1) YEAR is hereby IMPOSED upon ATTY. PABLO S. BERNARDO, effective immediately upon receipt of notice hereof, for failure to comply with the directive of this Court.

Further, Atty. Pablo S, Bernardo is ORDERED to RETURN the amount of £ 200.000.00 to Fidela Bengco and Teresita Bengco IMMEDIATELY on pain of contempt; and to REPORT his compliance to the Court within five (5) days therefrom.

14 March 2014

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator