[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 208-2016, September 30, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 208-2016, September 30, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 208-2016, September 30, 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. FRANCIS T. OCA FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR ONE (1) YEAR

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 1 July 2015 of the Second Division in Administrative Case No. 10463, entitled "Catherine S. Santiago and Lyka Christine R. Fernandez v. Atty. Francis T. Oca," to wit:

WHEREFORE, the Court finds Atty. Francis T. Oca GUILTY of gross misconduct.'He is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for one (1) year. He is also STERNLY WARNED that a repetition of the same or a similar offense will be dealt with more severely.

Atty. Oca is further DIRECTED to submit a manifestation informing the Court of the date when he received a copy of this Resolution, with copies furnished to the Office of the Bar Confidant, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Office of the Court Administrator.

This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its receipt by respondent.

The Resolution dated 1 July 2015 was received by respondent on 13 September 2015. Further, in the Resolution dated 1 February 2016, the Court treated the respondent's Answer dated 22 September 2015 as a motion for reconsideration and DENIED the same for lack of merit.

30 September 2016

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator