velez-de vera vs de vera

8/20/2019 Velez-De Vera vs de Vera

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Velez v. De Vera: Velez v. De Vera:

The Facts In AC No. 6697, Complainant Zoilo Antonio Velez so!ht the sspension

or "is#arment o$ %espon"ent Att&. 'eonar" "e Vera ()* $or misrepresentation

thro!h his concealment o$ the sspension or"er ren"ere" a!ainst him #& the +tate

ar o$ Cali$ornia- an" (* $or violation o$ the /rotation rle0 ennciate" in

A"ministrative 1atter No. 29). The 3rst !ron" concerne" an a"ministrative case3le" a!ainst Att&. "e Vera #e$ore the +tate ar o$ Cali$ornia. The action arose $rom

an insrance case he ha" han"le" involvin! 4lis 5ills III, ho ha" 3!re" in an

atomo#ile acci"ent in )96. To settle the case amica#l&, Att&. "e Vera receive" 88

on his clients #ehal$ 88 a ),;;; chec<, hich he then "eposite" in his personal

accont. ecase o$ his irre!lar "eposit o$ his client=s $n"s, respon"ent as

sspen"e" $rom the practice o$ la $or three &ears, pon the recommen"ation o$

the hearin! re$eree. The case as not "eci"e" on the merits, #ecase Att&. "e Vera

resi!ne" $rom the Cali$ornia ar. 'ater, his resi!nation as accepte" #& the

+preme Cort o$ Cali$ornia. >n the secon" !ron", complainant averre" that

respon"ents trans$er o$ mem#ership $rom the ?asa&, ?ara@ae, 'as ?i@as an"

1ntinlpa (??'1* I? Chapter to the A!san "el +r I? Chapter as acircmvention o$ the rotation rle. Alle!e"l&, Att&. "e Vera ma"e the trans$er $or the

sole prpose o$ #ecomin! I? national presi"ent. Complainant stresse" that

respon"ent neither resi"e" in A!san "el +r nor hel" oBce there. A companion

case, ar 1atter No. )7, re$erre" to the letter8reest o$ respon"ent, as<in! the

+preme Cort to sche"le his oath8ta<in! as I? national presi"ent. >n the other

han", A1 No. ;88)8+C re$erre" to the letter8report o$ I? National ?resi"ent 4ose

Anselmo I. Ca"iz, $rnishin! the Cort ith the 1a& ), ;;, I? %esoltion

removin! Att&. "e Vera $rom the latters positions as I? #oar" mem#er an"

eEective vice8presi"ent, $or committin! acts inimical to the #oar" an" the I? in

!eneral. The controvers& in these to consoli"ate" cases starte" hen the I?

#oar")G approve" the ith"raal o$ a ?etitionG "oc<ete" at the +preme Cort as/Inte!rate" ar o$ the ?hilippines et al v. +enate o$ the ?hilippines et al. 8 +C8

%)6);. +#seentl&, "rin! the plenar& session hel" at the );th National I?

Convention,G respon"ent alle!e"l& ma"e some ntrth$l statements, innen"os,

an" #latant lies in connection ith the I? #oar"=s %esoltion to ith"ra the

?etition >n 1a& ), ;;, I? Hovernor %omlo A. %ivera rote to I? National

?resi"ent Ca"iz, pra&in! $or the removal o$ the I? #oar" mem#ership o$ Att&. "e

Vera, ho ha" alle!e"l& committe" acts inimical to the #oar" an" the I? in

!eneral. The $olloin! "a&,2G "rin! its ;th re!lar meetin!, the I? #oar"

resolve" #& a tothir"s vote to remove respon"ent $rom his positions as a mem#er

o$ the #oar" o$ !overnors an" as the eEective vice8presi"ent (V?* o$ the I?. >n

4ne ), ;;, the I? #oar" too< note o$ the vacanc& in the V? position, #ro!hta#ot #& the removal o$ Att&. "e Vera. In his stea", I? Hovernor ?ra An!elica J.

+antia!o as $ormall& electe" an" "eclare" as V?. >n 4ne ;, ;;, Att&.

+antia!o volntaril& relinishe" that position. Ths, on 4ne , ;;, "rin! its

last re!lar meetin!, the I? #oar" electe" a ne V? in

the person o$ I? Hovernor 4ose Vicente . +alazar. >n 4ne , ;;, I? National

?resi"ent Ca"iz reeste" the +preme Cort=s approval o$ Att&. +alazar=s election



an" assmption o$ oBce as national presi"ent, in the event that Att&. "e Vera ol"

#e "is#arre" or sspen"e" $rom the practice o$ la- or shol" his removal $rom his

positions as mem#er o$ the ;;8;; #oar" o$ !overnors an" as V? o$ the I? #e

approve" #& the Cort. ?rotestin! the election o$ #oth Att&. +antia!o an" Att&.

+alazar, respon"ent also "enie" havin! committe" acts inimical to the I? an" its

#oar". Ke maintaine" that his removal $rom his to positions ha" #een "oneithot "e notice an" "e process. The Isses The isses ere as $ollos: ).

5hether the L"!ment in AC No. 6; constitte" a #ar to the 3lin! o$ AC 6697 .

5hether, in the corse o$ his practice o$ la, %espon"ent Att&. "e Vera committe"

malpractice amontin! to moral trpit"e in the +tate ar o$ Cali$ornia an" in the

?hilippines . 5hether on 1a& ), ;;, the #oar" o$ !overnors vali"l& remove"

respon"ent $rom his positions as !overnor an" V? o$ the I? 2. 5hether Hovernor

+alazar as vali"l& electe" as V? on 4ne , ;;, an" hether he col"

conseentl& assme the presi"enc& o$ the I? $or the term ;;8;;7 The Cort=s

%lin!

First Isse: %es 4"icata %es 4"icata The Cort nanimosl& hel" in a per criam

Decision that AC No. 6; "i" not constitte a #ar to the 3lin! o$ AC No. 6697. Theto a"ministrative cases involve" "iMerent s#Lect matters an" cases o$ action. In

AC No. 6;, the s#Lect matter as the ali3cation o$ Att&. "e Vera to rn $or the

position o$ I? !overnor $or astern 1in"anao. In the present A"ministrative

Complaint, the s#Lect matter as his privile!e to practice la. The to

a$orementione" cases "i" not see< the same relie$. In the 3rst case, the

complainants so!ht to prevent respon"ent $rom assmin! his post as I? !overnor

$or astern 1in"anao- the case o$ action re$erre" to his alle!e" violation o$ I?

#&las. In the secon" case, hat as principall& so!ht as his sspension or

"is#arment- the primar& case o$ action as his alle!e" violation o$ the 'a&er=s

>ath an" the Co"e o$ ?ro$essional %esponsi#ilit&. +econ" Isse: 1oral Trpit"e

1oral Trpit"e In resolvin! the secon" isse, the Cort cite" 1aera, Gaccor"in! to hich a L"!ment o$ sspension a!ainst a Filipino la&er in a $orei!n

Lris"iction ma& transmte into a similar L"!ment o$ sspension in the ?hilippines,

onl& i$ the #asis o$ the $orei!n corts action incl"e" an& o$ the !ron"s $or

"is#arment or sspension in or Lris"iction. The Cort opine" that #& insistin! that

he as athorize" #& his clients $ather an" attorne&8in8$act to se the $n"s, Att&.

"e Vera as implie"l& a"mittin! his se o$

the 5illis $n"s $or his on personal se. n"o#te"l&, his nathorize" se o$ his

clients $n"s as hi!hl& nethical. Canon )6 o$ the Co"e o$ ?ro$essional

%esponsi#ilit& is emphatic a#ot this matter. The con"ct o$ Att&. "e Vera 88 hol"in!

on to the mone& o$ his client ithot the latters aciescence 88 as in"icative o$

lac< o$ inte!rit& an" propriet&. It as clear that #& "epositin! the ),;;; chec< in

his on #an< accont an" sin! it $or his on #ene3t, respon"ent as !ilt& o$

malpractice, !ross miscon"ct, an" nethical #ehavior. Ke violate" his oath to

con"ct himsel$ ith all !oo" 3"elit& to his client. Nevertheless, the Cort "ecree"

that, here an& lesser penalt& col" accomplish the en" "esire", "is#arment shol"

not #e "ecree". Consi"erin! the amont involve" in this case, the Cort consi"ere"

the penalt& o$ sspension $or to &ears appropriate. The Cort $on" that the



trans$er #& Att&. "e Vera o$ his mem#ership to the A!san "el +r I? Chapter as

ithin his ri!hts. Ke col" not #e "eeme" to #e !ilt& o$ nethical con"ct or

#ehavior. Neither the Co"e o$ ?ro$essional %esponsi#ilit& nor the 'a&ers >ath

pnishe" la&ers $or aspirin! to #e the I? national presi"ent or prohi#ite" them

$rom "oin! per$ectl& le!al acts in accomplishin! that !oal. Thir" Isse: Vali"it& o$ the

%emoval Vali"it& o$ the %emoval The Cort rle" that the constittional provisionon "e process sa$e!ar"e" li$e, li#ert& an" propert&. The position o$ V? o$ the I?,

hoever, as not a propert& ithin the constittional sense. Frther, there as no

ri!ht to secrit& o$ tenre over that position, as all that as reire" to remove an&

mem#er o$ the #oar" o$ !overnors $or case as a resoltion a"opte" #& to thir"s

o$ the remainin! #oar" mem#ers. Frthermore, in a"ministrative procee"in!s, the

essence o$ "e process as simpl& the opportnit& to eEplain ones si"e. The cross8

eEamination o$ itnesses as not in"ispensa#le to "e process. Neither as an

actal hearin! ala&s essential, especiall& n"er the $actal milie o$ this case.

Att&. "e Veras actations "rin! the I? National Convention in estion ha" #een

itnesse" #& all the mem#ers o$ the #oar", pon hose shol"ers the

"etermination o$ the case $or removal o$ an I? !overnor as place", s#Lect to

the approval o$ the +preme Cort. Att&. "e Vera receive" a cop& o$ the Complaint

a!ainst him- in"ee", he as present in the meetin! hen the matter as ta<en p.

From the transcript o$ steno!raphic notes o$ the meetin! on 1a& ), ;;, in hich

he as remove", it as patent that he ha" #een !iven a $air opportnit& to "e$en"

himsel$ a!ainst the accsations o$ Att&. %ivera. n"er the I? rles, the eEplsion o$

an I? !overnor as "one via a %esoltion a"opte" #& to thir"s o$ the remainin!

mem#ers. The phrase /remainin! mem#ers0 eEcl"e" the complainant an" the

respon"ent. >$ the 7 remainin! mem#ers ali3e" to vote, vote" $or eEplsion,

hile vote" a!ainst it. The 3ve votes still a""e" p to the to thir"s vote reire"

$or eEplsion. %emoval $or Case %emoval $or Case ConOicts an" "isa!reements o$

var&in! "e!rees o$ intensit& are inherent in the internal li$e o$ an or!anization. 'i<e

that o$ an& other or!anization, hoever, the eMectiveness o$ the I? ol" #e

"ilte" i$ the conOicts are #ro!ht otsi"e its !overnin! #o"&. The impression ol"

#e that the I?, hich spea<s thro!h its

#oar" o$ !overnors, "oes not an" cannot athoritativel& spea< $or its mem#ers. Its

presti!e an" reptation ith la&ers, as ell as ith the !eneral p#lic, ol"

"iminish accor"in!l&. ecase o$ the importance o$ retainin! !rop cohesiveness

an" nit&, no $alt as attri#te" to the eEplsion $rom the #oar" o$ Att&. "e Vera,

ho ha" insiste" on #rin!in! to the p#lic his "isa!reement ith a polic&Presoltion

approve" #& the maLorit& a$ter "e "iscssion. The case $or eEplsion as le!al,

#ecase the eMectiveness o$ the #oar" as a !overnin! #o"& as #ein! lessene".

Forth Isse: Vali"it& o$ Hovernor +alazar=s Vali"it& o$ Hovernor +alazar=s lection asV? lection as V? The removal o$ Att&. "e Vera $rom his mem#ership in the #oar"

o$ !overnors ipso $acto meant also his removal as V?. The I? #oar" ha" shon no

!rave a#se o$ "iscretion- ths, the Cort $on" no reason to inter$ere in the

resoltion to remove him. The #oar" ha" speci3c an" sBcient !i"elines in its

rles an" #&las on ho to 3ll the vacancies le$t #& the removal o$ Att&. "e Vera.

The ;;8;; I? #oar" o$ !overnors election o$ a ne V?, ho ol" assme

the presi"enc& $or the term ;;8;;7, as ell ithin the athorit& an"



prero!ative !rante" to the #oar" #& the I? #&las. Accor"in! to Article VII,

speci3call& +ection 27, /tGhe V? shall atomaticall& #ecome presi"ent $or the neEt

sccee"in! term.0 The phrase /$or the neEt sccee"in! term0 necessaril& implie"

that the V? ho shol" sccee" Att&. Ca"iz as I? presi"ent $or the neEt

sccee"in! term (;;8;;7* shol" come $rom the mem#ers o$ the ;;8;; I?

#oar" o$ !overnors. Accor"in!l&, the election o$ Hovernor +antia!o, an" later o$Hovernor +alazar pon the $ormers relinishment o$ her V? position, as vali".

In ar 1atter 29), the Cort sai" that it as the position o$ V? that as actall&

rotate" amon! the nine re!ional !overnors. The rotation ith respect to the

presi"enc& as merel& the reslt o$ the atomatic sccession rle o$ the I?. Ths,

the rotation rle pertaine" in particlar to the position o$ V?- the atomatic

sccession rle, to the presi"enc&. Intrinsic to the I? #&las as the principle that

one ho as to assme the hi!hest position in its hierarch& mst have #een

eEpose" to the "eman"s an" responsi#ilities o$ national lea"ership. & electin! the

replacement V? $rom amon! the mem#ers o$ the ;;8;; #oar" o$ !overnors,

the I? stoo" to #ene3t $rom the eEperience o$ the ;;8;; V?, ho ol" have

serve" in a national capacit& prior to the latters assmption o$ the hi!hest position.

There$ore, in electin! Att&. +alazar as V? an" ths ensrin! a sccession in the

lea"ership o$ the I?, its #oar" o$ !overnors acte" in accor"ance ith its #&las

IN %: DI''>N (AC )9 )P)9P)9;* FACT+: The respon"ent 1arcial A. "illon is a

"l& license" practicin! Attorne& in the ?hilip

velez-de vera vs de vera

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