Grantin( t'at /etitioners8 /etition *or ann+21ent o* 4+d(1ent is in order, sti22 t'e sa1e is dis1issi.2e. For t'e re1ed) o* ann+21ent o* 4+d(1ent to /ros/er, eit'er one o* t'e *o22o0in( (ro+nds 1+st .e /resent7 (1) e>trinsi, *ra+d or (2) 2a,3 o* 4+risdi,tion or denia2 o* d+e /ro,ess. Petitioner ar(+es t'at t'eir ,o+nse28s ne(2i(en,e ,onstit+tes e>trinsi, *ra+d. ?e are not ,on-in,ed. E>trinsi, *ra+d ,an .e ,o11itted .) a ,o+nse2 a(ainst 'is ,2ient 0'en t'e 2atter is /re-ented *ro1 /resentin( 'is ,ase to t'e ,o+rt. T'is sit+ation is not /resent in t'is ,ase.
?e reiterate t'at in G.R. No. "&"5"#, 0e r+2ed t'at t'e Co+rt o* A//ea2s did not ,o11it re-ersi.2e error in dis1issin( /etitioners8 /etition *or ,ertiorari and /ro'i.ition assai2in( t'e tria2 ,o+rt8s order o* e>e,+tion o* its De,ision in *a-or o* res/ondent .an3.
In *ine, t'is Reso2+tion s'o+2d no0 0rite finis to t'e instant ,ase.
Petitioners *i2ed a se,ond 1otion *or re,onsideration .+t 0as denied *or .ein( /ro'i.ited. On O,to.er "5, 6$$%, /etitioner Mer,ado 0rote C'ie* J+sti,e 9i2ario G. Da-ide, Jr. statin( t'at7 On Mar,' 6%, 6$$%, t'e T'ird Di-ision, in its Reso2+tion, (ranted o+r Motion *or Re,onsideration and e-en (a-e d+e ,o+rse and reinstated o+r /etition.
+t 0'en I re,ei-ed t'e Reso2+tion dated J+ne <, 6$$% den)in( 1) Petition *or Re-ie0 on J+2) "6, 6$$%, I i11ediate2) ,a22ed 1) ,o+nse2, Att). Jose P. Bi22an+e-a, on t'e /'one. I as3ed 'i1 0') on eart' t'e ponente denied a(ain 1) /etition on t'e sa1e (ro+nd 8*or *ai2+re o* /etitioners to s'o0 t'at a re-ersi.2e error 'ad .een ,o11itted .) t'e a//e22ate ,o+rtC My counsel said, the ponente informed him that she has to deny our petition on the same ground because of the tremendous pressure from the Chief Justice to favor Security an! Corporation (SC)" ) t'e 0a), 1) ,o+nse2 and t'e ponente are -er) ,2ose and 2on( ti1e *riends to ea,' ot'er. ?'en I 'eard t'e .ad ne0s, I 0as so s'o,3ed in dis.e2ie*. #t is true, $hat you did is unthin!able, ungodly, and malicious. #t is also very suspicious that after a fe$ days after my conversation $ith %tty" &illanueva, he and his family left for 'ondon, leaving my case to the care of one of his %ssociates" 'ater on, the ponente herself left for the ("S"%" to visit her children" #s this a coincidence) %s the saying goes, *when there is smoke, there is fire" Anot'er ,oin,iden,e, .e*ore t'e re,ei/t o* t'e Reso2+tion dated J+ne <, 6$$%, den)in( o+r /etition on t'e .asis o* SC8s +ns+.stantiated 8Co11ent, SCso2d o+r /ro/ert) to M. Miranda De-e2o/1ent Cor/oration and s+,,eeded in (ettin( a /er1it to de1o2is' t'e *o+r@%A.+i2din( ere,ted in o+r /ro/ert) *ro1 t'e For.es Par3 Asso,iation, e-en i* t'e ,ase is sti22 /endin( and 0e 'a-e not e-en *i2edo+rMotion *or Re,onsideration 0it' t'e S+/re1e Co+rt, not to 1ention t'e Lis Pendens annotated on t'e tit2e o* t'e /ro/ert) in t'e na1e o* SC. T'e /erson 0'o .o+('t o+r /ro/ert) *ro1 SC *or P"6$,$$$,$$$.$$ is 3no0n to 1) ne/'e0 and +s. ?'i2e t'e .+)er is drin3in( 0it' 1) ne/'e0 and ot'ers, not 3no0in( t'at one o* t'e1 is 1) ne/'e0, 'e .ra((ed to t'e1 t'at 'e 4+st .o+('t t'e /ro/ert) o* t'e Mer,ados in For.esPar3. +he buyer said *I paid already the property because SBC told me that they already have the go-signal from the ponente to sell the property. Fe0 da)s t'erea*ter, a22 t'e i1/ro-e1ents in o+r /ro/ert) 0ere tota22) de1o2is'ed .) a ,onstr+,tion ,o1/an) o0ned .) 1) /ro-in,e1ate in Pa1/an(a .) t'e na1e o* Mr. ana, 0'o1 I /ersona22) 1et at t'e site 0'i2e t'e de1o2ition 0as .ein( ,arried o+t.
,ave you no conscience at all)%re you not bothered of the final -udgment after life) #s this the legacy you $ant to impart to your children and all the .ilipino people)/hat you did to my family and # is unforgivable not only to 0od and to humanity" 1ou have deprived us of our precious possession $ithout due process" +his is also the abode of my $ife, my children, their respective spouses, and my 12 grandchildren, not to mention the several household members and their families"
I 0o+2d 2i3e to .e2ie-e t'at t'e S+/re1e Co+rt is t'e 2ast .+20ar3 o* tr+e 4+sti,e. #f you, the Chief Justice, himself, are the first person to ma!e a moc!ery of our la$s, no $onder $hy foreign investors do not $ant to invest in our country because they said, there is no -ustice in our courts, the Supreme Court in particular" +his is in the highest degree of in-ustice" 1ou have deprived us of our basic fundamental rights in the protection of our property $ithout due process" +here is no -ustice in our courts, the Supreme Court in particular" Do )o+ t'in3 I 0i22 .rin( 1) ,ase to t'e S+/re1e Co+rt .) 1ere =+estion o* *a,tsC Fro1 o+r /etition *or Ann+21ent o* J+d(1ent *i2ed .e*ore t'e Co+rt o* A//ea2s and no0 t'e Petition *or Re-ie0 on Certiorari 0it' t'e S+/re1e Co+rt, 1) 0i*e and I as /etitioners-1o-ants 'a-e ,2ear2) in-o3ed 8LAC! OF JURISDICTION on t'e /art o* t'e tria2 ,o+rt to ad4+di,ate res/ondent SC8s 8,o+nter,2ai1 *or t'e /a)1ent o* t'e 2oan.As I +nderstand, 0'en t'e (ro+nd in-o3ed as .asis *or Ann+21ent o* J+d(1ent is 8LAC! OF JURISDICTION8, t'e Petition 1a) .e *i2ed at an) ti1e .e*ore it is .arred .) esto//e2 or 2a,'es, neit'er o* 0'i,' is o.tainin( in o+r ,ase.E-en in 2a)1an8s 2e(a2 /oint o* -ie0, t'is Petition o* o+rs ,2ear2) and +ndo+.ted2) raises a =+estion o* 2a0.
P2ease I .e( o* )o+, 'a-e a 2ast 'ard 2oo3 on o+r Petition and t'e t0o @6A Motions *or Re,onsideration and let us focus and not evade on the real issue on *'%C3 4. J(5#S6#C+#47 on the part of the trial court and not concentrate on negligence of counsel and other trivial reasons, etc" 4r better yet, please refrain from influencing the members of the +hird 6ivision"'et them deliberate regularly on our case or inhibit themselves on the case"8lease let the #nstitution serve -ustice, and not individual pecuniary interests"SC8s ,o+nse2s are e>/erts in *a.ri,ation o* *a,ts and in 1is2eadin( t'e ,o+rts.I 'a-e a *ee2in( t'at t'e) 1i('t as 0e22 'a-e 2ed )o+ to .e2ie-e so1et'in(, 0'i,' is not tr+e.8lease dont be an instrument of their $ic!ed schemes, lest the Supreme Court itself becomes their means to perpetrate in-ustice" T'is is t'e on2) an3 0'i,' is not interested in a1i,a.2e sett2e1ent in s/ite o* 1) se-era2 sin,ere o**ers o* a1i,a.2e sett2e1ent sin,e t'e ,ase 0as *i2ed in "DD& +/ to 6$$;, and t'ese are a22 in 0ritin( and d+2) re,ei-ed .) SC.Un*ort+nate2), a22 1) o**ers 0ere re4e,ted .) t'e1.
I 0rote )o+ t'is 2etter as a 2ast resort .e,a+se 1) *a1i2) and I 2oo3ed +/ at )o+ .e*ore as t'e 1ost 'onest and +/ri('t C'ie* J+sti,e.As 0e 0o+2d 2i3e to 3no0 i* )o+ rea22) 'ad inter-ened and /+t /ress+re, as t'e Ponente said to Att). Bi22an+e-a, @1) ,o+nse2A to *a-or SC .e,a+se i* )o+ did, t'en 0e rest o+r ,ase. 8lease enlighten us before $e see! another forum to see! redress the in-ustices, sleepless nights, humiliation and embarrassment $e suffered"I* 0e are 0ron( a.o+t )o+, and I 'o/e 0e rea22) are 0ron(, /2ease a,,e/t o+r a//ea2 *or *or(i-eness and a/o2o(ies.GOD is 1) 0itness, t'at 0'at I 'a-e to2d )o+ is t'e tr+t'.
Mr. C'ie* J+sti,e, t'e Fi2i/ino /eo/2e 3no0 'o0 re2i(io+s )o+ are.P2ease do 0'at a re2i(io+s 1an o+('t to do in ser-in( 4+sti,e.P2ease 2i-e +/ to o+r, as 0e22 as 9IS e>/e,tations. @E1/'asis s+//2iedA
On No-e1.er 6, 6$$%, C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide re=+ired Mer,ado8s 2a0)er, Att). Jose P. Bi22an+e-a, to ,o11ent on t'e 2etter and s'o0 ,a+se 0') 'e s'o+2d not .e 'e2d in ,onte1/t o* ,o+rt.,'anro.2es-irt+a22a02i.rar) On No-e1.er "<, 6$$%, t'e Co+rt8s T'ird Di-ision ordered Mer,ado to /ersona22) a//ear on No-e1.er 66, 6$$% and s'o0 ,a+se 0') 'e s'o+2d not .e 'e2d in ,onte1/t o* ,o+rt.,'anro.2es-irt+a22a02i.rar) On t'e s,'ed+2ed date, Mer,ado, to(et'er 0it' Att). Pa.2o G. Ma,a/a(a2, 'is ne0 ,o+nse2, a//eared .e*ore t'e T'ird Di-ision and s0ore to t'e tr+t' o* t'e 2etter 'e 0rote.9e 1ani*ested t'at 'e on2) stated t'erein 0'at Att). Bi22an+e-a to2d 'i1 8 t'at 'is /etition 0as denied *or t'e se,ond ti1e 8.e,a+se o* t'e tre1endo+s /ress+re *ro1 t'e C'ie* J+sti,e.9e *+rt'er 1ani*ested t'at d+rin( t'e 0a3e o* Att). Bi22an+e-a8s 1ot'er, 'e @Att). Bi22an+e-aA /ointed to J+sti,e An(e2ina Sando-a2-G+tierreE, .ra((in( t'at s'e is 8a very very good, close and long time friend of his.9o0e-er, 0'i2e statin( t'is, Mer,ado re*erred to Justice Conchita Carpio Morales as Justice 0utierre9.,'anro.2es-irt+a22a02i.rar) Fort'0it', t'e T'ird Di-ision iss+ed in o/en ,o+rt a Reso2+tion dire,tin( Att). Ma,a/a(a2 to s+.1it a 0ritten e>/2anation 0') Mer,ado s'o+2d not .e 'e2d in ,onte1/t o* Co+rt. For 'is /art, Att). Bi22an+e-a s+.1itted a ,o11ent, stron(2) den)in( Mer,ado8s a22e(ations in 'is 2etter.9e denied 'a-in( to2d /etitioners t'at t'eir /etition 'ad to .e denied a(ain 8 because there was a tremendous pressure from the Chief Justice in favor of Security Ban Corporation.9e a2so stressed t'at t'ere 0as no ,orre2ation .et0een t'e ponente!s tri/ to t'e United States and 'is tri/ to London.9e e>/2ained t'at 'e and 'is *a1i2) 0ent to London to attend t'e (rad+ation o* 'is da+('ter, C'errie1a)a Be2oso Bi22an+e-a.To s+.stantiate t'is, 'e s+.1itted a /'oto,o/) o* 8London S,'oo2 o* E,ono1i,s @LSEA and Po2iti,a2 S,ien,e Presentation Cere1onies8 0'ere t'e na1e o* 'is da+('ter, C'errie1a)a Be2oso Bi22an+e-a, is 2isted as one o* t'e s+,,ess*+2 (rad+ates.9e 2i3e0ise s+.1itted a /'oto,o/) o* 'is /ass/ort indi,atin( 'is de/art+re *or London on J+2) "%, 6$$% and 'is arri-a2 in t'e P'i2i//ines on J+2) 6<, 6$$%.In addition, 'e said 'e ne-er 1et an)one *ro1 res/ondent .an3, in,2+din( its 2a0)ers, and t'at t'ere is no tr+t' to Mer,ado8s state1ent re(ardin( 'is ne/'e08s a22e(ed en,o+nter 0it' t'e ne0 o0ners o* t'e s+.4e,t /ro/ert). On De,e1.er ";, 6$$%, Mer,ado s+.1itted 'is e>/2anation0') 'e s'o+2d not .e /+nis'ed *or ,onte1/t o* ,o+rt. 9e ,2ai1ed t'at t'e ,onte1/t+o+s state1ents in 'is 2etter 1ere2) reiterate t'e tenor o*Att). Bi22an+e-a8s state1ents. 9e o**ered an a/o2o(), e>/2ainin( t'at 'e 0rote t'e 2etter 0'i2e 'e 0as 8 under the impulse of personal stress as 'e 0as 2osin( 'is residentia2 'o+se. On Jan+ar) 6#, 6$$&, t'e T'ird Di-ision ordered .ot' Mer,ado and Att). Bi22an+e-a to a//ear on Fe.r+ar) 6", 6$$& to e2+,idate t'eir res/e,ti-e /ositions. Mer,ado testi*ied t'at it 0as Att). Bi22an+e-a 0'o in*or1ed 'i1 t'at t'e ponente is J+sti,e G+tierreE.Att). Bi22an+e-a e-en .ra((ed t'at s'e is 'is 8very, very close friend. For 'is /art, Att). Bi22an+e-a testi*ied t'at it 0as Mer,ado 0'o in*or1ed 'i1 t'at J+sti,e G+tierreE is t'e ponente.9e a2so ,on*ir1ed t'at s'e attended t'e 0a3e o* 'is 1ot'er.+t 'e denied Mer,ado8s ,2ai1 t'at 'e /ointed to J+sti,e G+tierreE and said t'at s'e is 'is ,2ose *riend.,'anro.2es-irt+a22a02i.rar) T'erea*ter, t'e T'ird Di-ision desi(nated Co+rt o* A//ea2s J+sti,e Renato C. Da,+dao as Co11issioner to re,ei-e e-iden,e on t'e *a,t+a2 iss+es in-o2-ed in t'e ,onte1/t in,ident. On Ma) "5, 6$$&, J+sti,e Da,+dao s+.1itted 'is In-esti(ation, Re/ort and Re,o11endation. 9e *o+nd Mer,ado 8 guilty of improper conduct tending to bring the authority and the administration of -ustice by the Court into disrespect $hen he openly belittled, degraded, and embarrassed the ,ighest Court of the land, particularly the Chief Justice:::.9o0e-er, 'e 'e2d t'at 8there $as no sho$ing that he acted $ith malice and;or in bad faith or that he $as properly motivated"T'+s, 'e re,o11ended t'at Mer,ado be fined in the sum of five thousand pesos (8<,222"22). ?e ,annot s+stain J+sti,e Da,+dao8s *indin( t'at Mer,ado did not a,t 0it' 1a2i,e or .ad *ait' in i1/+tin( t'ose dero(ator) and disres/e,t*+2re1ar3s a(ainst C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente. ad *ait' i1/+tes a dis'onest /+r/ose or so1e 1ora2 o.2i=+it) and ,ons,io+s doin( o* a 0ron(.It ,onte1/2ates a state o* 1ind a**ir1ati-e2) o/eratin( 0it' *+rti-e desi(n or so1e 1oti-e o* se2*-interest or i22-0i22 *or +2terior /+r/oses. Ma2i,e is o* t'e sa1e (enre.It ,onnotes a sinister 1oti-e. Mer,ado8s addressin( s+,' 2etter to C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide is a /er*e,t i22+stration o* .ad *ait' and 1a2i,e tendin( dire,t2) to de(rade t'e ad1inistration o* 4+sti,e. It trans(resses t'e /er1issi.2e .o+nds o* *air ,o11ent and ,riti,is1s .rin(in( into disre/+te, not on2) t'e a+t'orit) and inte(rit) o* C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente, .+t a2so o* t'e entire J+di,iar).?'i2e *ei(nin( to .e sear,'in( *or tr+t' on 0'et'er C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide indeed e>erted 8 tremendous pressure to t'e ponente, 'e re/eated2) '+1i2iated 'i1 and t'e J+di,iar) in t'e 1ost 2o+tis' and inso2ent 1anner. 9e a,,+sed 'i1 o* doin( an 8unthinable, ungodly, and malicious a,t and o* de/ri-in( 'is @Mer,ado8s A *a1i2) o* t'eir 8 basic fundamental rights in the protection of "their# property without due process.9e ,on,2+ded t'at 0'at C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide did to 'is *a1i2) 8is unforgivable not only to $od and to humanity.In an ins+2tin( and inso2ent tenor, 'e stated t'at 8 if the Chief Justice, himself, is the first person to mae a mocery of our laws, t'en t'ere is 8no wonder why foreign investors do not want to invest in our country. F+rt'er1ore, 'e a22e(ed t'at an irre(+2arit) or .ri.er) attended t'e denia2 o* 'is /etition *or re-ie0. 9e insin+ated t'at t'e tra-e2s o*Att). Bi22an+e-a and t'e ponente a.road 0ere *inan,ed .) res/ondent .an3,statin( t'at 8when there is smoe, there is fire.9e a2so re,32ess2) a,,+sed t'e ponente o* (i-in( res/ondent .an3 a 8go%signal to se22 'is /ro/ert). In t'is .a,3dro/, 'e as3ed C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide to 8refrain from influencing the members of the &hird 'ivision: 8let them deliberate regularly on the case or inhibit themselves on the case: and 8let the (nstitution serve )ustice, and not individual pecuniary interests. Fina22), 'e ,onde1ned t'e entire J+di,iar) .) sa)in( 8 there is no )ustice in our courts, the Supreme Court in particular.And 0it' i1/+den,e, 'e t'reatened C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide to en2i('ten 'i1 .e*ore 'e 8 sees another forum to see redress for the in)ustices, sleepless nights, humiliation and embarrassment 'is *a1i2) s+**ered. ?it'o+t do+.t, Mer,ado8s 2etter is 1ar3ed 0it' 1a2i,e, .ad *ait', and (ross disres/e,t.9e ,o11itted a re1ar3a.2e *eat o* ,'ara,ter assassination and 'onor -i2i*i,ation.Contrar) to 'is ,2ai1 t'at 'e is 4+st -eri*)in( t'e tr+t' o* Att). Bi22an+e-a8s state1ents, t'e 0ords in 'is 2etter are 1ore a,,+sator) t'an in=+isitoria2. ?'at is dis,on,ertin( is t'at 'is a,,+sations 'a-e no .asis in *a,t and in 2a0.O.-io+s2), t'e) ,a+sed intense /ain and '+1i2iation on t'e /art o* C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente. T'e Reso2+tion o* t'e T'ird Di-ision o* t'is Co+rt dated Se/te1.er "&, 6$$% den)in( Mer,ado8s 1otion *or re,onsideration is 0e22 e>/2ained.A /rin,i/2e a21ost re/eated to satiet) is t'at 8 an action for annulment of -udgment cannot and is not a substitute for the lost remedy of appeal.A /art) 1+st 'a-e *irst a-ai2ed o* a//ea2, a 1otion *or ne0 tria2 or a /etition *or re2ie* .e*ore an a,tion *or ann+21ent ,an /ros/er.Its o.-io+s rationa2e is to /re-ent t'e /art) *ro1 .ene*itin( *ro1 'is ina,tion or ne(2i(en,e.A2so, t'e a,tion *or ann+21ent o* 4+d(1ent 1+st .e .ased eit'er on (a) e>trinsi, *ra+d or (b) 2a,3 o* 4+risdi,tion or denia2 o* d+e /ro,ess. 9a-in( *ai2ed to a-ai2 o* t'e re1edies and t'ere .ein( a ,2ear s'o0in( t'at neit'er o* t'e (ro+nds 0as /resent, t'e /etition 1+st .e dis1issed. 4nly a disgruntled litigant $ould find such legal disposition unacceptable" Mer,ado .e0ai2s t'e denia2 .) t'e T'ird Di-ision o* 'is /etition t'ro+(' a 1ere Min+te Reso2+tion and a*ter reinstating the petition.A//arent2), 'e *inds t'e Co+rt8s 1anner o* denia2 and ,'an(e o* 'eart +n+s+a2 and ,asts sinister +ndertone to t'e1. In (n Re Laureta,0e r+2ed t'at t'e Co+rt is not 8duty=bound to render si(ned de,isions a22 t'e ti1e. It 'as a1/2e dis,retion to *or1+2ate de,isions andFor 1in+te reso2+tions, /ro-ided a 2e(a2 .asis is (i-en de/endin( on its e-a2+ation o* a ,ase.In t'e sa1e ,ase, 0e 'e2d t'at 8the recall of a due course 4rder after a revie$ of the records of the case is a common occurrence in the Court.Li3e t'e res/ondents in t'e said ,ase, Mer,ado s'o+2d not t'in3 t'at it is on2) 'is /etition 0'i,' 'as .een s+.4e,ted to s+,' re,a22. T'e T'ird Di-isioninitia22) denied Mer,ado8s /etition .e,a+se it is a//arent on its *a,e t'at t'e Co+rt o* A//ea2s ,o11itted no re-ersi.2e error in dis1issin( 'is /etition *or ann+21ent o* 4+d(1ent.Considerin( 'is 1otion *or re,onsideration a22e(in( t'at t'e A//e22ate Co+rt 1ere2) re2ied on te,'ni,a2 r+2es o* /ro,ed+re and t'at 'is *or1er ,o+nse2 ,o11itted (ross ne(2i(en,e, t'e T'ird Di-isiontoo3 t'e 1ost /r+dent ,o+rse .) reinstatin( t'e /etition.No0, a*ter ,onsiderin( t'e /etition and t'e ,o11ent t'ereon, t'e T'ird Di-ision 0as ,on-in,ed t'at, indeed, t'e A//e22ate Co+rt did not ,o11it an) re-ersi.2e error.Is t'is irre(+2arCT'e ans0er is a reso+ndin( 8no. +he reinstatement of a petition does not guarantee that it $ill be subse>uently granted" 4ther$ise, the filing of comment and subse>uent pleadings $ould be an e:ercise in futility" No0, in a .id to es,a/e 2ia.i2it) *or ,onte1/t, Mer,ado in-o3es *reedo1 o* s/ee,' and /ri-a,) o* ,o11+ni,ation. ,ra2a0?e are not /ers+aded. A /erson ,'ar(ed 0it' ,onte1/t o* ,o+rt *or 'is +tteran,es 0'i,' ,2ear2) ,onstit+te ,onte1/t 1a) not ordinari2) es,a/e 2ia.i2it) .) 1ere2) in-o3in( t'e ,onstit+tiona2 (+arant) o* *reedo1 o* s/ee,'.Li.ert) o* s/ee,' 1+st not .e ,on*+sed 0it' a.+se o* s+,' 2i.ert).?'en 'e attri.+ted t'ose ,onte1/t+o+s re1ar3s to C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente, Mer,ado a.+sed s+,' 2i.ert).9is state1ents ,ast as/ersions to t'eir re/+tation and inte(rit) and ,reate a distr+st to t'e J+di,iar). T'e *a,t t'at Mer,ado8s 2etter 0as addressed on2) to t'e C'ie* J+sti,e does not rinse it o* its ,onte1/t+o+s ,'ara,ter.In (n Re Laureta, 0e r+2ed t'at 2etters addressed to indi-id+a2 J+sti,es, in ,onne,tion 0it' t'e /er*or1an,e o* t'eir 4+di,ia2 *+n,tions .e,o1e /art o* t'e 4+di,ia2 re,ord and are a 1atter o* ,on,ern *or t'e entire ,o+rt. A,,ordin(2), 0e 'o2d Mer,ado (+i2t) o* indire,t ,onte1/t o* ,o+rt. Se,tion ;, R+2e <" o* t'e "DD< R+2es o* Ci-i2 Pro,ed+re, as a1ended, /ro-ides7 Se,tion ;. (ndirect contempt to be punished after charge and hearing. ! A*ter a ,'ar(e in 0ritin( 'as .een *i2ed, and an o//ort+nit) (i-en to t'e res/ondent to ,o11ent t'ereon 0it'in s+,' /eriod as 1a) .e *i>ed .) t'e ,o+rt and to .e 'eard .) 'i1se2* or ,o+nse2, a /erson (+i2t) o* an) o* t'e *o22o0in( a,ts 1a) .e /+nis'ed *or indire,t ,onte1/t7
>>>>>>
d" %ny improper conduct tending, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of -ustice:
>>>>>>
As *or Att). Bi22an+e-a, 0'i2e J+sti,e Da,+dao did not ,ate(ori,a22) state t'at 'e @Att). Bi22an+e-aA to2d Mer,ado t'at C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide e>erted 8tre1endo+s /ress+re on t'e ponente, t'e reason 0') t'e /etition 0as dis1issed *or t'e se,ond ti1e, 'o0e-er, 0e are in,2ined to .e2ie-e t'at Att). Bi22an+e-a (a-e s+,' in*or1ation to Mer,ado.Not on2) t'at,Att). Bi22an+e-a a2so re-ea2ed t'e na1e o* t'e ponente: t'at 'e and t'e ponente 'a-e 3no0n ea,' ot'er sin,e "D#%: and t'at t'e ponente 0o+2d .e at t'e 0a3e o* 'is 1ot'er, t'+s7
A*ter a ,are*+2 and ,ons,ientio+s e>a1ination o* t'e e-iden,e add+,ed in t'e instant ,ase, t'e +ndersi(ned in-esti(ator is *+22) ,on-in,ed t'at it 0as on2) t'ro+(' Att). Bi22an+e-a t'at /etitioner ,o+2d 'a-e 2earned or 3no0n t'e na1e o* t'e ponente in t'e ,ase. As .et0een /etitioner and Att). Bi22an+e-a, t'e +ndersi(ned in-esti(ator in in,2ined to (i-e 1ore ,reden,e to t'e testi1on) o* /etitioner. Not on2) 0as /etitioner ,onsistent, *ir1, and ,andid and detai2ed in 'is testi1on), .+t 'e 0as a2so a.2e to ,orro.orate 'is ,2ai1s, .) s+.1ittin( 'is diar) 0'i,' ,ontained -ita2 entries and .) /resentin( t'e testi1on) o* 'is ne/'e0. >>> Moreover, it $as admitted by %tty" &illanueva that he and Justice 0utierre9 have !no$n each other since 1?@A and that Justice 0utierre9 $as in the $a!e of his mother" +hese admissions tend to strengthen the allegations of petitioner that %tty" &illanueva $as the one $ho told him the name of the ponenteB that %tty" &illanueva told him that he and the ponente are very closeB and that $hen petitioner attended the $a!e of %tty" &illanueva*s mother, he $as told by %tty" &illanueva that Justice 0utierre9, the ponente, $as coming.
R+2e "&.$# o* Canon "& o* t'e Code o* Pro*essiona2 Res/onsi.i2it) states t'at 8 a la$yer shall not state or imply that he is able to influence any public official, tribunal or legislative body" .urther, 5ule 1<"2C provides that *a la$yer must impress upon his client compliance $ith the la$s and the principles of fairness" Att). Bi22an+e-a too3 t'e *or.idden ,o+rse.In in*or1in( Mer,ado t'at 'e 0as 8a very very good, close and long time friend o* t'e ponente, Att). Bi22an+e-a i1/ressed +/on t'e *or1er t'at 'e ,an o.tain a *a-ora.2e dis/osition o* 'is ,ase.9o0e-er, 0'en 'is /etition 0as dis1issed t0i,e, Mer,ado8s e>/e,tation ,r+1.2ed.T'is /ro1/ted 'i1 to '+r2 +n*o+nded, 1a2i,io+s, and disres/e,t*+2 a,,+sations a(ainst C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente.
?e 'a-e re/eated2) ad1onis'ed 2a0)ers *ro1 1a3in( .o2d ass+ran,es to t'eir ,2ients.A 2a0)er 0'o (+arantees t'e s+,,ess*+2 o+t,o1e o* a 2iti(ation 0i22 e>ert 'ea-) /ress+re and e1/2o) an) 1eans to 0in t'e ,ase at a22 ,osts.+t 0'en t'e ,ase is 2ost, 'e 0i22 .2a1e t'e ,o+rts, /2a,in( t'e1 +nder a ,2o+d o* s+s/i,ion.As 0'at 'a//ened in t'is ,ase, Att). Bi22an+e-a8s state1ents 2ed Mer,ado, not on2) to s+s/e,t .+t a2so to .e2ie-e, t'at t'e entire Co+rt, to(et'er 0it' C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente, ,o+2d .e /ress+red or in*2+en,ed,
Res/onsi.i2it) en4oins 2a0)ers to o.ser-e and 1aintain t'e res/e,t d+e to ,o+rts and t'e 4+di,ia2 o**i,ers.Att). Bi22an+e-a8s ,ond+,t, no do+.t, de(raded t'e inte(rit) and di(nit) o* C'ie* J+sti,e Da-ide and t'e ponente and t'is Co+rt as 0e22.