Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
A.C. No. 7027 January 30, 2009
TANU REDDI, Complainant,
vs.
ATTY. DIOSDADO C. SEBRIO, JR., Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PER CURIAM:
Tanu Reddi (complainant), an American citizen of Indian descent and a practicing endodontist in New York, seeks the disbarment of Atty. Diosdado C. Sebrio, Jr. (respondent) for allegedly deceiving her into giving him a total of US$ 3,000,000 for the purpose of, among other things, purchasing several real estate properties for resale.
From the records of the case, the following facts are gathered:
Taking after her parents who had been involved in various charitable activities in India, complainant nurtured philanthropic desires of her own consisting primarily in opening a hospital with modern facilities in an underdeveloped part of Asia.1
Together with Immaculada Luistro (Immaculada), a Filipino citizen,2 who was her assistant of over 10 years, complainant visited the Philippines for the first time in 2000. Noting the level of poverty in the country and the lack of medical services for the poor,3 she decided to put up a hospital.4
Immaculada suggested to complainant to consider engaging in the real estate business in the Philippines in order to speed up the generation of funds.5 Heeding the suggestion, complainant returned to the Philippines in 2003 to explore opportunities in the real estate business.6
Complainant was introduced to respondent who would help her acquire real properties for development and/or resale. Since she could not acquire ownership of lands in the Philippines, respondent advised her to use corporate vehicles to effect the purchases. Three corporations were thus formed – Tagaytay Twins, Inc., Manila Chic Twins, Inc., and Tanu, Inc.7
By complainant’s account, respondent cajoled her into buying several parcels of land located at Tagaytay City, Las Piñas City, Makati City, Quezon City, and Pasay City. She related the details surrounding the intended acquisition of property as follows:
Re the Tagaytay City Property
Respondent represented to complainant that his client Teresita Monzon (Teresita) owned an untitled 27-hectare property located at Tagaytay City. Through the Tagaytay Twins, Inc., complainant and Teresita executed a Memorandum of Agreement dated March 21, 2003 (Tagaytay MOA)8 prepared by respondent under which she agreed to finance the titling of the property in the total amount of ₱20,000,000, and that once titled, the property would be offered for sale, the proceeds of which would be divided equally between her and Teresita. Complainant thereupon made staggered payments of US$1,000, ₱2,000,000, and US$36,360 to Teresita.9
Complainant was later to discover that 996 square meters of the 27-hectare property had been purchased by Aldio Properties, Inc. in an extrajudicial foreclosure sale, which sale Teresita challenged in an action for annulment before the Regional Trial Court of Tagaytay City. In said action, respondent was Teresita’s counsel of record.10
Re the Las Piñas City Property
Respondent offered to complainant the option to purchase a house and lot located at Las Piñas City, which were encumbered by a mortgage, and which respondent represented as owned and being sold by one Francisca Parales (Francisca)11 to finance an urgently needed heart surgery of her daughter.12
On respondent’s advice, complainant obtained a franchise to operate a Jollibee food outlet, with the agreement that out of the profits that its operation would generate, she would get 50% while respondent and Immaculada would share the remaining 50%.13 Complainant thus sent respondent sums of money for the acquisition of both the Las Piñas property and a franchise to operate a Jollibee outlet.14
Re the Makati City Property
Respondent introduced complainant to a certain Mario C. Mangco (Mangco), alleged legal officer of the intestate estate of one Faustino Ramos (Ramos), which estate was alleged to be the owner of a real property located at the consular area adjacent to Forbes Park in Makati City.15 Complainant having been interested in acquiring the property, respondent prepared a Memorandum of Agreement (Makati MOA) which she, together with Mangco, forged on March 20, 2004.16
Under the Makati MOA, complainant agreed to, as she did, release ₱10,000,000 representing the cost of development and titling of the property, and payment of back taxes; and an additional ₱2,000,000 for the execution of the Makati MOA.
Complainant was later to learn that the property was neither owned by the intestate estate of Ramos nor for sale.
Re the Quezon City Property
Respondent broached to complainant the idea of buying the land on which SM North Mall in Quezon City stands, he representing that it belongs to his client, purportedly a retired US Navy employee who resides in Mindanao.17 Complainant assented and transmitted large sums of money to respondent for the purpose of, among other things, filing a petition for injunction against SM North Mall, paying back taxes, and titling of the land.18
Re the Pasay City Property
Complainant sent respondent hefty amounts of money for the purchase of a vacant lot located along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, alleged to belong to Florenda Estrada (Florenda) and Alma Mallari (Alma), but which was mortgaged to one Atty. Go to secure a loan of ₱5,000,000.19 She also defrayed expenses, on the strength of respondent’s representations, to secure title to the lot, settle the mortgage obligation, relocate squatters on the lot, and bribe a judge to "close the transaction."20
Complainant subsequently discovered that there was no such vacant lot along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City; instead, she found out that the "vacant lot" referred to was titled in the names of Philippine Bank of Communications (PBC) and Banco De Oro Universal Bank (BDO).21
In light of the foregoing developments, complainant’s counsel, by letter dated December 19, 2005,22 demanded from respondent the return of the amount of US$3,000,000, claimed to be part of the total sum of money she had sent to him for all the transactions that did not come about. No amount has been returned to complainant.
Hence, spawned the filing on January 27, 200623 of the present complaint for disbarment against respondent.
By his Comment, respondent admits receiving a total of US$544,828 from complainant24 which amount he claims was used not only for the purchase of the Las Piñas property and discharge of the mortgage thereon, but also for the setting up of the earlier mentioned corporations, as well as for the downpayment on the Makati property and related expenses.25
Respondent likewise admits having represented to complainant that the Las Piñas City property belonged to one Francisca,26 certificate of title to which and the corresponding deed of sale signed by Francisca, by his claim, are in his possession; but the title has not been transferred to Tanu, Inc., as agreed, in view of complainant’s failure to provide the money needed therefor, he adding that he is also exercising his retaining lien over the Las Piñas documents.27
Specifically with respect to the Makati property, respondent claims having paid ₱500,000 to Mangco representing initial payment28 thereof.
Regarding the Tagaytay City property, respondent admits that the Tagaytay MOA exists, and avers that it is complainant who wants to get out of a perfected sale in order to recover her partial payment amounting to approximately ₱4,000,000.29
With respect to the Quezon City property, respondent states that he is willing to surrender all the documents pertaining thereto, but would do so only if complainant is first ordered to pay him his professional fees.30
As for the Pasay City property, respondent denies complainant’s claims thereon as mere "preposterous allegations."
Following the filing by complainant of her Reply, the Court referred the case to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for investigation, report and recommendation/decision by Resolution of January 22, 2007.31
At the mandatory conference scheduled by the IBP Commission on Bar Discipline on September 13, 2007 before Commissioner Lolita A. Quisumbing (the Commissioner),32 respondent failed to appear despite notice. He instead sent a representative who sought a resetting as, allegedly, respondent was in Ilocos attending to an important family matter.33 The Commissioner, finding respondent’s absence inexcusable, given that he had ample time to file a motion for resetting but he did not, considered respondent to have waived his right to participate in the proceedings.34 Complainant thereupon presented evidence ex-parte and submitted her position paper.35
In her Report and Recommendation36 submitted to the IBP Board of Governors on December 14, 2007, the Commissioner found respondent to have committed fraudulent acts which constitute violations of the lawyer’s oath and numerous provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR), viz:
1. Respondent violated CANON 1 which states: "A lawyer shall uphold the Constitution, obey the laws of the land and promote respect for the law and for legal processes."
Respondent committed estafa punishable under Art. 315 of the Revised Penal Code. With unfaithfulness and abuse of confidence, he misappropriated millions of pesos which was [sic] given to him on his misrepresentation that such were needed for the acquisition of the aforementioned properties.
Respondent also committed an unlawful act (i.e., falsification as part of his fraudulent scheme) when he tampered with the Articles of Incorporation of Tanu, Inc.. A perusal of the Articles of Incorporation given by respondent to complainant shows that the incorporators are Tanu Reddi, Michael Lee, Prasuna Reddy, Ahalya Devi, and Robert Juntilla. When complainant obtained a copy of the same in September 2005, she discovered that other names were inserted. The names of respondent, Clarito D. Cardozo, Brian Pellazar, and Michael Angelo Lopez were intercalated. (Exhibit "W")
2. He likewise violated Rule 1.01 of the CPR which provides: "A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct."
He engaged in unlawful, dishonest and deceitful conduct when he offered properties for sale to complainant on the misrepresentation that complainant was dealing with the true owners thereof. This is very clear from the documents he asked complainant to sign; namely, the Memorandum of Agreement (Exhibit "D") for the Tagaytay property, Deed of Conditional Sale (Exhibit "U") for the Pasay City property, and Memorandum of Agreement (Exhibit "M") for the Makati City property. The certificates of title, tax declaration and other documents obtained by complainant from the various government agencies reveal that all these properties aforementioned were either fictitious, not susceptible to sale, simulated, or inexistent.
3. Respondent violated Canon 16 and Rule 16.01 of the CPR which state:
"CANON 16 – A lawyer shall hold in trust all moneys and properties of his client that may come into his possession.
Rule 16.01 – A lawyer shall account for all money or property collected or received for or from the client."
He failed to account for the sums of money he received from complainant and failed to return the same upon demand. (Copy of demand letter dated 19 December 2005, Exhibit "T")
4. Respondent violated Rule 15.06 of the CPR which provides:
"A lawyer shall not state or imply that he is able to influence any public official, tribunal or legislative body."
He convinced complainant to pay bribe money to our judges since, he claims, that it is a common practice in the Philippines.37 (Underscoring supplied)
The Commissioner thus recommended that respondent be disbarred; that his name be ordered stricken from the roll of attorneys; and that he be ordered to return the total amount of US$3,000,000 to complainant.
By Resolution of January 17, 2008,38 the IBP Board of Governors adopted and approved the Report and Recommendation of the Commissioner, with the modification that respondent was ordered to return only the admitted amount he received from complainant (US$544,828), without prejudice to complainant’s recovery of the other amounts claimed in the appropriate forum.
The Court sustains the IBP Board of Governors, except its findings/conclusion that respondent committed estafa and falsification. This is not the proper forum to determine whether he committed these offenses.
The Court finds, however, that respondent’s dishonest and deceitful conduct with respect to the intended transactions, real property acquisitions which turned out to be bogus, is sufficiently established.
It bears emphasis that respondent admits having received from complainant at least US$544,828. He claims, however, that the amount was used for the purchase of the Las Piñas property and the discharge of the mortgage thereon, the setting up of the corporations earlier mentioned, and the downpayment on the Makati property and related representation expenses therefor. The Court finds that the claim does not lie.
All that respondent presented to account for the money is a handwritten acknowledgment of a supposed partial payment of ₱500,000 for the Makati property, purportedly executed by one Mangco.39 By any standard, this document is a mere piece of paper, Mangco not having been presented, if he exists at all, to confirm that he indeed issued the receipt. Since respondent failed to credibly account, upon demand, for the money held by him in trust – an element of misappropriation40 – complainant’s claim that respondent employed deceit on her is established.
Respondent’s culpability is further highlighted by his utter lack of regard for the seriousness of the charges against him. His defenses raised in his Comment consist mainly in bare denials. When the integrity of a member of the bar is challenged, it is not enough that he denies the charges against him; he must meet the issue and overcome the evidence against him.41 He must show proof that he still maintains that degree of morality and integrity which at all times is expected of him.42 This, respondent miserably failed to do.
Respondent’s justification for his non-presentation of any documents to substantiate the so-called property acquisitions – that he is exercising his retaining lien over them as, allegedly, his professional fees have not been paid – is incredible.
If those documents actually exist, and considering that his license to practice law is on the line, respondent could have readily attached even photocopies thereof to his Comment in order to lend a semblance of credibility to his claim. His "retaining lien" claim remains just that. Worse, it only amounts to an admission that he acted as counsel for complainant; yet, he completely failed to show that in his dealings on her behalf, he put her interests before his.
As to the recommended penalty of disbarment, the Court finds the same to be in order.
Section 27, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court provides:
A member of the bar may be disbarred or suspended from his office as attorney by the Supreme Court for any deceit, malpractice, or other gross misconduct in such office, grossly immoral conduct, or by reason of his conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or for any violation of the oath which he is required to take before admission to practice, or for a willful disobedience of any lawful order of a superior court, or for corruptly or willfully appearing as an attorney for a party to a case without authority to do so. x x x.
To reiterate, by his own admission, respondent received a total of US$544,828 from complainant, which he could not properly account for. The orchestrated manner in which he carried out his fraudulent scheme, in connivance with other persons, and by taking advantage of complainant’s naivete in the workings of the real estate business in the Philippines, depict a man whose character falls way, way short of the exacting standards required of him as a member of the bar and an officer of the court. Thus, respondent is no longer fit to remain as such.
The Court is mindful that disbarment is the most severe form of disciplinary sanction and, as such, the power to disbar must always be exercised with great caution, and only for the most imperative reasons and in clear cases of misconduct affecting the standing and moral character of the lawyer as an officer of the court and a member of the bar.43 If the practice of law, however, is to remain an honorable profession and attain its basic ideals, those enrolled in its ranks should not only master its tenets and principles but should also, in their lives, accord continuing fidelity to them.44 The requirement of good moral character is, in fact, of much greater import, as far as the general public is concerned, than the possession of legal learning.45
The Court also sustains the order of the IBP for respondent to return only the amount of US$544,828. While complainant submitted documents showing her bank remittances involving different sums of money, some of these remittances were not made in the name of respondent.46 And as complainant herself declares, the amount of US$3,000,000 is a mere estimate of her total claim.47 Thus, only the return of the admitted amount of US$544,828 is in order. As reflected above, complainant is not precluded from litigating her claim for any balance due her in the proper forum.
WHEREFORE, respondent Diosdado C. Sebrio, Jr. is DISBARRED, and his name is ORDERED STRICKEN from the Roll of Attorneys. He is ORDERED TO RETURN to complainant the amount of US$544,828. Let a copy of this Decision be entered in his record as a member of the Bar; and let notice of the same be served on the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and on the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts in the country.
SO ORDERED.
(ON OFFICIAL LEAVE)
REYNATO S. PUNO*
Chief Justice
LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING**
Acting Chief Justice |
(ON OFFICIAL LEAVE)
CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO*
Associate Justice |
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice |
MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ
Associate Justice |
RENATO C. CORONA
Associate Justice |
CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
Associate Justice |
(ON OFFICIAL LEAVE)
ADOLFO S. AZCUNA*
Associate Justice |
DANTE O. TINGA
Associate Justice |
MINITA V. CHICO-NAZARIO
Associate Justice |
(ON OFFICIAL LEAVE)
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.*
Associate Justice |
ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA
Associate Justice |
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Associate Justice |
ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice |
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate Justice |
Footnotes
* On Official Leave.
** Acting Chief Justice.
1 Rollo, p. 1.
2 Id. at 1-2.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Id. at 708-709.
6 Id. at 709.
7 Id. at 14-43.
8 Id. at 44-46.
9 Id. at 47-49.
10 Id. at 51-58.
11 Id. at 5, 112.
12 Ibid.
13 Id. at 112, 2, 126.
14 Id. at 5, 112.
15 Id. at 7, 67.
16 Id. at 67-69.
17 Id. at 6.
18 Ibid.
19 Id. at 5.
20 Id. at 5-6.
21 Id. at 6.
22 Id. at 171-172.
23 Id. at 1.
24 Id. at 112.
25 Ibid.
26 Id. at 111-112.
27 Ibid.
28 Id. at 113, 116.
29 Id. at 110-111.
30 Id. at 112-113.
31 Id. at 188.
32 Id. at 193.
33 Id. at 205-206.
34 Id. at 206-207.
35 Id. at 222.
36 Id. at 708-714.
37 Id. at 712-713.
38 Id. at 706-707.
39 Id. at 116 .
40 Vide Diaz v. People, G.R. No. 171121, 26 August 2008; Lee v. People, G.R. No. 157781, April 11, 2005, 455 SCRA 256.
41 Yu v. Palaña, A.C. No. 7747, July 14, 2008.
42 Sps. Amador and Rosita Tejada v. Palaña, A.C. No. 7434, August 23, 2007, 530 SCRA 771, 772.
43 Soriano v. Reyes, A.C. No. 4676, May 4, 2006, 489 SCRA 328, 330; Barrios v. Martinez, A.C. No. 4585, November 12, 2004, 442 SCRA 324, 325.
44 Dantes v. Dantes, A.C. No. 6486, September 22, 2004, 438 SCRA 582.
45 Ibid.
46 Rollo, pp. 71-96.
47 Id. at 7.
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