Legally Yours: Bildner and Ilusorio vs. Ilusorio, et. al.

ildner and Ilusorio vs. Ilusorio, et. al.

ERLINDA I. BILDNER and MAXIMO K. ILUSORIO, Petitioners, vs. ERLINDA K. ILUSORIO, RAMON K. ILUSORIO, MARIETTA K. ILUSORIO, SHEREEN K. ILUSORIO, CECILIA A. BISUA, and ATTY. MANUEL R. SINGSON, Respondents.G.R. No. 157384

June 5, 2009

FACTS:A complaint for disbarment or disciplinary action against respondent was filed by petitioners for alleged gross misconduct, among other offenses. Said disbarment case arises from a case presided by Judge Antonio Reyes where respondent attempted to influence the outcome of the case as can be inferred from his acts evidenced by the following documents, to wit: (1) the transcript of the stenographic notes of the May 31, 2000 hearing in the sala of Judge Reyes when the judge made it of record that respondent offered Atty.Oscar Sevilla P500,000 to be given to Judge Reyes for a favorable decision; (2) the affidavit of Judge Reyes alleged that respondent, as soon as the case started, visited him about three times in his office, and made more than a dozen calls to his Manila and Baguio residences, some of which were even made late evenings; and (3) the affidavit of Atty. Sevilla confirmed that he was approached by the respondent to convince the judge, his close family friend, to rule in Atty. Singsons favor.

ISSUE: WON respondent should be administratively disciplined or disbarred from the practice of law for the alleged misconduct in attempting to bribe Judge Antonio Reyes.

RULING:The highly immoral implication of a lawyer approaching a judgeor a judge evincing a willingnessto discuss, in private, a matter related to a case pending in that judges sala cannot be over-emphasized. The fact that Atty. Singson did talk on different occasions to Judge Reyes, initially through a mutual friend, Atty. Sevilla, leads us to conclude that Atty. Singson was indeed trying to influence the judge to rule in his clients favor. This conduct is not acceptable in the legal profession. Canon 13 of the Code of Professional Responsibility enjoins it:

Canon 13. A lawyer shall rely upon the merits of his cause and refrain from any impropriety which tends to influence or gives the appearance of influencing the court.

While the alleged attempted bribery may perhaps not be supported by evidence other than Judge Reyes statements, there is nevertheless enough proof to hold Atty. Singson liable for unethical behavior of attempting to influence a judge, itself a transgression of considerable gravity.