TodayisTuesday,January17,2017

RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila

ENBANC

G.R.No.L1582October10,1947

TEOFILOPAAR,petitioner,
vs.
FORTUNATOV.BORROMEOETAL.,respondents.

Thepetitionerinhisownbehalf.
FirstAssistantSolicitorGeneralRobertoA.GianzonandSolicitorFranciscoCarreonforrespondents.

MORAN,C.J.:

Teofilo Paar is charge in Manila with treason before the People's Court, and prayed that he be assisted in his
defensebyAndresR.Camasurawhoisnotamemberofthebar.ThePeople'sCourtdeniedthepetition,hence,
thisactionformandamus.

Section3and4Rule112areasfollows:

SEC.3.Dutyofcourttoinformdefendantofhisrighttohaveattorney.Ifthedefendantappearswithouta
attorney, he must be informed by the court that it is his right to have attorney before being arraigned, and
mustbeaskedifhedesirestheaidofattorney.Ifhedesiresandisunabletoemployattorney,thecourtmust
assignattorneydeoficiotodefendhim.Areasonabletimemustbeallowedforprocuringattorney.

SEC.4.Whomaybeappointedattorney`deoficio'.Theattorneysoemployedorassignedmustbeaduty
authorizedmemberoftheBar.Butinprovinceswheredulyauthorizedmembersofthebararenotavailable,
the court may, in its discretion, admit or assign a person, resident in the province and of good repute for
probityandability,toaidthedefendantinhisdefense,althoughthepersonsoadmittedorassignedbenota
dulyauthorizedmemberoftheBar.

Section29and31ofRule127read:

SEC.29.Attorneyfordestitutelitigants. "A superior court may assign an attorney to render professional

aidfreeofchargetoanypartyinacase,ifuponinvestigationitappearsthatthepartyisdestituteandunable
to employ an attorney, and that the services of counsel are necessary to secure the ends of justice and to
protecttherightsoftheparty.Itshallbethedutyoftheattorneysoassignedtorendertherequiredservice,
unlessheisexcusedtherefrombythecourtforsufficientcauseshown."

SEC. 31. By whom litigation conducted. In the court of a justice of the peace a party may conduct his
litigationinperson,withtheaidofanagentorfriendappointedbyhimforthatpurpose,orwiththeaidofan
attorney. In any other court a party may conduct his litigation personally or by aid of an attorney, and his
appearancemustbeeitherpersonalorbyadulyauthorizedmemberofthebar. lawphil.net

ItisclearformtheseprovisionsthatinManilawheretherearemanymembersofthebar,defendantsinthePeople's
Courtmaybeassistedonlybymembersofthebar.

Petitiondenied,withoutcosts.

Paras,Feria,Perfecto,Hilado,Bengzon,Briones,Padilla,andTuason,JJ.,concur.

MORAN,C.J.:

IcertifythatMr.JusticePabloconcursinthisdecision.
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