G.R. No. L-2532




Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila EN BANC G.R. No. L-2532 December 11, 1906 In re MACARIO ADRIATICO, Macario Adriatico in his own behalf. Office of the Solicitor-General Araneta for the Government. JOHNSON, J.: This was proceeding instituted in the Court of First Instance of the Province of Mindoro by the judge of that district against the respondent, after hearing numerous complaints against him relating to his professional conduct. During the January term for the year 1905 of the Court of First Instance of said province the judge thereof made the following order: To Mr. MACARIO ADRIATICO, Attorney at Law, Manila, P. I. (1) It appearing to the undersigned that there is cause to believe that as lawyer and administrator in the administration of the estate of Ramon Valencia, deceased, now pending in the Court of First Instance for the Province of Mindoro, you have been guilty of malpractice and have practiced deceit upon the said court in the discharge of the office of administrator of the said estate, and that you did borrow from the Felix Lopez, the sum of P3,500, as administrator of the said estate, alleging that P3,000, of the said loan was made for the reason provided in section 678 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and that having so made this loan you did deceive the said court by inducing the court believe that yourself did personally advance money to the heirs of the said deceased and did wrongfully conceal from the court the fact that you had as administrator received from the said Lopez the said sum of P3,500, and that you did moreover otherwise misconduct yourself as a lawyer in the administration of the said estate, and was otherwise guilty of deceit and malpractice as lawyer and administrator of the said estate. (2) And it moreover appearing that there is reason to believe that as lawyer of Da. Cayetana Salazar, plaintiff in two certain causes filed in the clerks office of the said Court of First Instance for the Province of Mindoro, you did exact a large number of cattle, to wit, 108 head, as a fee for your pretended services, the value of the said 108 head of cattle being grossly excessive and exorbitant as compensation for your services in the said causes, and the said Cayetana Salazar having dismissed you from her employ because of your faithfulness, you appeared in open court and through malice did try to intimidate the said Cayetana Salazar by threatening that you could prejudice the said Cayetana Salazar by disclosing professional communications which she had made to you as her lawyer, and did otherwise fail to conduct yourself with all good fidelity to her in the said causes. (3) And it further appearing that there is reason to believe that you did as attorney for one Felix Lopez prosecute a case against one Toribio Gonzalez, who, in the August sessions of 1902, was convicted by the said Court of First Instance for the Province of Mindoro of the crime of homicidio and sentenced to six years and one day prision correccional, and you did then and there cause the said case to be appealed in order to obtain larger fees, you having already received with your associate P8,000 from said Lopez, and having also received P300 from the wife of the said Gonzalez for defense of the said Gonzalez in the Supreme Court, and that you did otherwise misconduct yourself in the said cause. (4) And it also appearing that there is reason to believe that you have different times, moreover, while practicing before the Courts of First Instance in and for the Provinces of Mindoro and Tayabas, otherwise grossly misconducted yourself in your said office as lawyer, and that you have otherwise practiced deceit and failed to conduct yourself in your said office with all good fidelity as well as to the said courts as to certain of your clients, as may be hereafter more particularly set forth: Therefore, it is ordered that on Thursday, the 2d day of March, 1905, at the hour of 8 o'clock a. m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in conformance with section 25 of the Code of Procedure in Civil Actions, you appear before the undersigned in the casa tribunal of the municipality of Calapan, in said Province of Mindoro, to show cause, if any you may have, why you should not be suspended for deceit, malpractice, and other gross misconduct, from further practice of your profession as a lawyer, and failing then and there to appear and answer, the undersigned will proceed to determine the matter ex parte. (Signed) PAUL W. LINEBARGER, Judge Seventh Judicial District. A copy of this order was delivered to the defendant in the city of Manila by the sheriff thereof on the 17th day of January, 1905. On the 25th day of February, 1905, thirty-nine days after the respondent had received the foregoing order, he sent to the judge making the said order the following telegram: MANILA, Febrero 25, 1905. Hon. JUEZ LINEBARGER, Batangas. Respetuosamente ruego prorroga comparecencia Calapan por preparar apelacion Corte Suprema, sentencia Juez Sweeney. ADRIATICO. In reply to the above request of the respondent, on the 1st day of March the said judge made the following order: Visto el anterior telegrama recibido del respondente Macario Adriatico pidiendo la prorroga de su comparecencia para responder en el presente procedimiento, para preparar, segun alega dicho respondente Macario Adriatico, su aplicacion ante el Tribunal Supreme de la sentencia que contra el fue dictada por el Honorable Juez Sweeney del Juzgado de Primera Instancia de la ciudad de Manila. Se ordena la prorroga de la vista de dicho procedimiento hasta el dia sabado, cuatro de los corrientes, a las ocho en punto de su mañana. Asi se ordena. On the same day the said judge notified the respondent by the following telegram: BATANGAS, March 1, 1905. MACARIO ADRIATICO, Abogado, Calle Jolo, Binondo, Manila. Your telegram asking continuance of suspension proceedings received. Said proceedings will be continued two days from date to which rule is returnable, but if you do not appear at 8 a.m. Saturday, the 4th instant, proceedings will be heard ex parte. LINEBARGER, Judge. On the 4th day of March, 1905, the respondent not appearing, the court proceeded to a consideration of the said charges in accordance with the said order of March 1, and as a result of such investigation the court made the following finding of facts and the following order: El abogado Macario Adriatico, de un año a esta parte proximamentte, ha provocado varios reclamos y quejas contra si mismo, a causa de la mala conducta por el observada en el ejercicio de su profesion. Durante el año pasado, mientras el infrascrito se hallaba de vacaciones, el Honorable Adolph Wislizenus, Juez de Primera Instancia, con fecha 2 de Abril de 1904, dicto contra el referido abogado Macario Adriatico los autos que obran a folios 4 al 12 de este procedimiento, en las causas civiles Nos. 9 y 10 en el criminal No. 131, los cuales habiendo sido elevados al Juzgado Supremo, fueron devueltos a este tribunal con fecha 31 de Enero de 1905. En las ultimas sesiones ordinarios celebradas el año pasado en el Juzgado de Mindoro, el gobernador de dicha provincia, Capitan R. S. Offley, tuvo que intervenir en la administration de los bienes del finado Ramon Valencia, en vista de la mala conducta observado por dicho Macario Adriatico como administrador de los referidos bienes, y el juzgado, oyendo las reclamaciones producidas en pleno tribunal por la viuda y herederos de dicho finado Ramon Valencia, tuvo que ordenar la remocion del citado Macario Adriatico de su cargo de administrador de los referidos bienes, en cuyo acto, es decir, durante la vista de las reclamaciones presentadas por la viuda y herederos del mencionado difunto, Macario Adriatico, como abogado y administrador, engaño al tribunal induciendole a creer que cierta cantidad de dinero que alegaba haber adelantado a los herederos del difunto, provenia de su propio y exclusivo peculio y que lo habia adelantado personalmente y por si mismo, cuando en realidad de verdad dicha cantidad habia tomado prestada de un tal Felix Lopez en su calidad de administrador de los bienes del finado Ramon Valencia, ocultado injusta e ilegalmente al conocimiento del juzgado el hecho de que como tal administrador habia recibido, en concepto de prestamo, la dicha cantidad. El infrascrito asi engañado por el abogado Macario Adriatico, solo conocio por casualidad la realidad del hecho cuando el dia 29 de Diciembre del año 1904, el dicho Felix Lopez presto la declaracion que obra a folio 17 al 21 del presente procedimiento, presentando, ademas, cartas y documentos corroborativos de su declaracion y los cuales obran a folios 27 al 34. Habiendo recibido testimonios jurados y fidedignos de que el abogado Macario Adriatico habia ejercido malas practicas y hecho uso del engañ ante el Tribunal de Mindoro en el ejercicio de su profesion, el que suscribe llamo al referido Abogado Macario Adriatico para que compareciera mientras se hallaba en Manila en mes de Diciembre pasado, y examinandole (fols. 21 al 26, 39 al 41 y 43 al 45) encontro que habia motivos racionales para expedir contra el la orden que obra a folios 60 al 63, basandose en este procedimiento. El juzgado, con mucha anticipacion notifico a dicho respondente Macario Adriatico de los cargos que sobre el pesaban asi como de la fecha de la vista del procediiento que con motivo de dichos cargos se habia incoado contra el, habiendo sido cumplimentada en debida forma dicha orden de citacion por el sheriff de la ciudad de Manila en dieciocho de Enero de 1905, en conformidad con el articulo 25 de la Ley No. 190. A pesar de esta notificacion, el respondente no se ha dignado comparecer ni contestar al llamamiento que se le hizo, ni por escrito ni personalmente, habiendose limitado a enviar un despacho telegrafico pidiendo una prorroga de la vista de la suspension, prorroga que le fue concedida, del dia 2 de Marzo anteriormente señalado hasta la presente fecha 4 de Marzo de 1905, no habiendo tampoco comparecido dicho respondente ni contestado a los cargos en conformidad a la citacion que se le hizo, ni por escrito, ni personalmente, aunque llegaron vapores de Manila a la Provincial de Mindoro a debido tiempo para que hubiese podido presentarse oportunamente sin perdida de tiempo considerable, y contestar a los cargos en la fecha señalada, si aso lo hubiera el efectivamente deseado. Habiendose hecho constar la incomparecencia del respondente despues de haber sido citado en debida forma, el juzgado, convencido de que dicho Maracio Adriatico no se disponia a presentar defensa alguna a las citadas alegaciones, sino varios pretextos para demorar la vista del procedimiento, resolvio proceder a la resolucion del asunto ex parte, en conformidad con el articulo 25 de dicha Ley No. 190, y asi procedio, y terminada la practica de la averiguacion, el infrascrito. Considerando las declaraciones prestadas por los testigos en el presente procedimiento, las mismas admisiones del respondente hechas ante el infrascrito en la ciudad de Manila el dia 29 de Diciembre de 1904, habiendo examinado los autos en las cuasas referidad, teniendo en cuenta que dicho Macario Adriatico no presento ninguna defense a las acusaciones que se produjeron contra el, y tomando ademas en consideracion los actos de mala conducta realizados por dicho Maracio Adriatico. Encuentra que el referido Macario Adriatico, siendo abogado y administrador del abintestado del finado Ramon Valencia, ahora pendiente ante el Juzgado de Primera Instancia de la Provincia de Mindoro, se hizo culpable de haber observado malas practicas y de haber empleado el engaño en la rendicion de las cuentas de su cargo de administrador de dichos bienes, y que tomo prestado de un tal Felix Lopez la suma de tres mil quinientos pesos como administrador de los citados bienes, alegando que la parte de tres mil pesos del referido prestamo lo habia hecho bajo lo provisto en el articulo 978 del Codigo de Procedimiento Civil, y que habiendo de esta manera contraido tal prestamo, engaño al juzgado induciendole a creer que personalmente y por si mismo adelanto dichas cantidades a los herederos del finado, e injustamente oculto a dicho juzgado el hecho de que como administrador habia recibido del citado Lopez la suma de tres mil quinientos pesos, y que ademas bajo otros conceptos observo una conducta ilegal grave como abogado en la administracion de dichos bienes y se hizo por otra parte culpable de malas practicas como abogado y administrador de dichos bienes; Qe como abogado de D.a Cayetana, demandante en ciertas dos causas presentadas en la oficina del escribano de dicho Juzgado de Primera Instancia de la Provincia de Mindor, se apodero de un considerable numero de ganados, a saber: mas de cien cabezas, como honorarios por sus pretendidos servicios, siendo el valor de dichas cien cavezas de ganado sumamente excesivo, exhorbitante, exagerado y fuera de razon como recompensa por sus servicios en dichas causas, y que la referida Cayetana Salazar, habiendo retirado de dichoa Macario Adriatico sus poderes como abogado suyo, con motivo de su infidelidad, el referido Macario Adriatico comparecio en plena corte y con malicia trato de intimidar a dicha Cayetana Salazar, amenazando perjudicarla con el descubrimiento de confidencias profesionales que ella le habia hecho como abogado, y que bajo otros conceptos dejo de conducirse con la debida fidelidad para con su dicha cliente Cayetana Salazar; Y por tanto, el juzgado decreta la suspension de dicho abogado Macario Adriatico del ejercicio de su profesion, por causa de engaño y malas practicas, privandole desde esta fecha del ejercicio de su referida profesion de abogado en cualquier tribunal de estas Islas hasta nueva decision de la Corte Suprema. Elevese a la Corte Suprema copia certificada de la orden de suspension y de la presente relacion minuciosa de hechos en que se fundo la referida orden de suspension, y notifiquese de la misma a Macarcio Adriatico con copia de la presente. (Firmado) PAUL W. LINEBARGER, Juez de Primera Instancia, Septimo Distrito Judicial, Islas Filipinas. The foregoing facts are fully supported by the evidence adduced during the trial of said cause. An examination of the record shows that the court might have included in his resume of facts supported by the evidence many others equally damaging to the professional character of the respondent, among which other facts may be mentioned the following: First. That the defendant, while acting as administrator of the estate of Ramon Valencia, hypothecated with Antonio de Iribar, for the sum of P400, some of the shares of "La Compañia Electricista de Manila," which belonged to the estate of the said Ramon Valencia, without any authority from the court and, so far as the record shows, on his own account. (See record, pp. 51, 118, 133, and 134.) Second. That he induced different heirs of the said Ramon Valencia to sign receipts for certain sums of money, and after the said receipts had been delivered to him he would then turn over to the said heirs sums of money much smaller than the said receipts represented. (See record, pp. 111, 130, and 131.) Third. That as administrator of the estate of the said Ramon Valencia be furnished rice to the heirs of the said deceased and charged then to the sum of P8 per cavan, when the same rice could have been purchased at prices ranging from P5.50 to P7.25 per cavan. (See record, pp. 109, 115, 116, and 117.) Fourth. That he and his associate as lawyers received from one Feliz Lopez the sum P8,000 as fees to aid in the prosecution of one Toribio Gonzalez, who was charged with the crime of homicide, and that later after the termination of said prosecution he received from the wife of the said Toribio Gonzalez, a sum of money for the purpose of aiding in the prosecution of the appeal of said cause. By reason of the forgoing gross misconduct on the part of the respondent, Macario Adriatico, and by virtue of the provisions of section 21 of the Code of Procedure in Civil Actions, the said Macario Adriatico is hereby removed from his office as lawyer and the certificate permitting him to practice law issued to him by this court, dated May 6, 1901, is hereby canceled and annulled, and he, the said Adriatico, is to pay whatever costs have been incurred by him in the prosecution of this cause. (See sec. 24 of the Code of Procedure in Civil Actions.) The record in this case is hereby referred to the Attorney-General for the Philippine Islands with direction to investigate the facts referred to above and if he finds, upon such investigation, that the evidence is sufficient to sustain criminal charges, to institute such criminal action immediately. So ordered. Arellano, C.J., Torres, Mapa, Carson, Willard and Tracey, JJ., concur. The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation