3/19/2017 RulesofCourt

TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation
Rule139
DISBARMENTORSUSPENSIONOFATTORNEYS

RULE139

DisbarmentorSuspensionofAttorneys

Section1.Motionorcomplaint.ProceedingsfortheremovalorsuspensionofattorneysmaybetakenbytheSupremeCourtonits
ownmotionoruponthecomplaintunderoathofanotherinwriting.Thecomplaintshallsetoutdistinctly,clearly,andconciselythe
factscomplainedof,supportedbyaffidavits,ifany,ofpersonshavingpersonalknowledgeofthefactsthereinallegedandshallbe
accompaniedwithcopiesofsuchdocumentsasmaysubstantiatesaidfacts.

Section2.Serviceordismissal. If the complaint appears to merit action, a copy thereof shall be served upon the respondent,
requiringhimtoanswerthesamewithinten(10)daysfromthedateofservice.Ifthecomplaintdoesnotmeritaction,oriftheanswer
showstothesatisfactionoftheSupremeCourtthatthecomplaintisnotmeritorious,thesameshallbedismissed.

Section 3. Investigation b y Solicitor General. Upon the issues raised by the complaint and answer, or upon failure of the
respondenttoanswer,thecaseshallbereferredtotheSolicitorGeneralforinvestigationtodetermineifthereissufficientgroundto
proceedwiththeprosecutionoftherespondent.IntheinvestigationconductedbytheSolicitorGeneral,therespondentshallbegiven
fullopportunitytodefendhimself,toproducewitnessesinhisownbehalf,andtobeheardbyhimselfandcounsel.However,ifupon
reasonablenotice,therespondentfailstoappear,theinvestigationshallproceedexparte.

Section4.Report of the Solicitor General. Based upon the evidence adduced at the hearing, if the Solicitor General finds no
sufficientgroundtoproceedagainsttherespondent,heshallsubmitareporttotheSupremeCourtcontaininghisfindingsoffact
andconclusion,whereupontherespondentshallbeexoneratedunlessthecourtordersdifferently.

Section5.Complaint of the Solicitor General. Answer of respondent. If the Solicitor General finds sufficient ground to proceed
againsttherespondent,heshallfilethecorrespondingcomplaint,accompaniedwithalltheevidenceintroducedinhisinvestigation,
withtheSupremeCourt,andtherespondentshallbeservedbytheclerkoftheSupremeCourtwithacopyofthecomplaintwith
directiontoanswerthesamewithinfifteen(15)days.

Section 6. Evidence produced b efore Solicitor General availab le. The evidence produced before the Solicitor General in his
investigationmaybeconsideredbytheSupremeCourtinthefinaldecisionofthecase,iftherespondenthadanopportunitytoobject
andcrossexamine.Ifintherespondent'sanswernostatementismadeastoanyintentionofintroducingadditionalevidence,the
caseshallbesetdownforhearing,uponthefilingofsuchanswerorupontheexpirationofthetimetofilethesame.

Section7.Commissionertoinvestigateandrecommend.Rulesofevidence.Uponreceiptoftherespondent'sanswer,whereina
statement is made as to his desire to introduce additional evidence, the case shall be referred to a commissioner who, in the
discretionofthecourt,maybetheclerkoftheSupremeCourt,ajudgeoffirstinstance,oranattorneyatlawforinvestigation,report,
andrecommendation.TheSolicitorGeneralorhisrepresentativeshallappearbeforethecommissionertoconducttheprosecution.
Therespondentshallbegivenfullopportunitytodefendhimself,toproduceadditionalevidenceinhisownbehalf,andtobeheardby
himselfandcounsel.However,ifuponreasonablenoticetherespondentfailstoappear,theinvestigationshallproceedexparte.The
rulesofevidenceshallbeapplicabletoproceedingsofthisnature.

Section 8. Report of commissioner and hearing. Upon receipt of the report of the commissioner, copies of which shall be
furnishedtheSolicitorGeneralandtherespondent,thecaseshallbesetdownforhearingbeforethecourt,followingwhichthecase
shallbeconsideredsubmittedtothecourtforitsfinaldetermination.

Section9.ProcedureinCourtofAppealsorCourtsofFirstInstance.Asfarasmaybeapplicable,theprocedureaboveoutlined
shalllikewisegovernthefilingandinvestigationofcomplaintsagainstattorneysintheCourtofAppealsorinCourtsofFirstInstance.
Incaseofsuspensionoftherespondent,thejudgeofthe court of first instance or Justice of the Court of Appeals shall forthwith
transmit to the Supreme Court a certified copy of the order of suspension and a full statement of the facts upon which same is
based.

Section10.Confidential.Proceedingsagainstattorneysshallbeprivateandconfidential,exceptthatthefinalorderofthecourt
shallbemadepublicasinothercasescomingbeforethecourt.

http://www.lawphil.net/courts/rules/rc_139_legal.html 1/1