BASIC LEGAL ETHICS

SY 2019-2020

SYLLABI

Justice Romulo V. Borja (Ret.)

Lecture I: INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL ETHICS

Agpalo, Chapter I.

Topics

 Nature of Legal Profession

 Privileges and Duties, in general
 Ways of Organizing Rules
 Sources of Ethical Rules:
 Lawyer’s Oath
 Rules of Court, Rule 138, Secs. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, 37
 Code of Professional Responsibility
 Canons of Professional Ethics

Lecture II: ADMISSION TO THE PROFESSION

Agpalo, Chapter II

Codal Provisions

• 1985 Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5 (5)

• 1973 Constitution, Article X, Section 5(5)
• Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, Sections 1 to 19.
• Rule 139-A of he¯ Rules of Court
• Lawyer’s Oath
Cases

• In re Cunanan, 94 Phil. 554

• In Authority to Continue Use of Law Firm Name, 92 SCRA 1
• Soriano v. Dizon, A.C. No. 792, January 25 2006
• Cayetano v. Monsod, 201 SCRA 210
• In re Carlos Basa, December 7 1920
• Zari v. Flores, A.M. No. (2170-MC) P-1356, November 21, 1979
• In re Integration of the Philippine Bar, 49 SCRA 22

Lecture III: DUTY TO SOCIETY

Agpalo, Chapter III.

Codal Provisions:

 Lawyer’s Oath: Maintain allegiance to the Republic, etc.

 Rule 138, Sections 20, 27, and 31
 Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR), Chapter 1, Canons 1 to 6.
 Code of Professional Ethics

Cases:

 Re: Anonymous Complaint against Atty. Crescencio Co-Untian, A.C.

No. 5900, April 10, 2019
 Lampas-Peralta v. Ramon, A.C. No. 12415, March 5, 2019
 Maleclan v. Baldo, AC 12121, 6/27/18
 Ortigas Plaza Development Corp. v. Tumulak, AC 11385, 3/14/17
 Paras v. Paras, AC 7348, 9/27/16
 Cruz v. Lim, AC11380, 8/16/16
 Aca v. Salvado, AC10952, 1/26/16
 Nulada v. Paulma, AC 8172, 4/12/16
 Bacatan v. Dadula, AC10565, 9/7/16
 Mercullo v. Ramon, AC 11078, 7/19/16
 Cobalt Resources, Inc. v. Aguado, AC 10781, 4/12/16
 Advincula v. Advincula, AC 9226, 6/14/16
Lecture IV: DUTY TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Agpalo, Chapter IV.

Codal Provisions:

• Lawyer’s Oath
• Rule 138
• Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR), Chapter II, Canons 7 to 9.
• Code of Professional Ethics

Cases:

 Gequilasao v. Fortaleza, A.C. No. 12157, February 6, 2019

 Mata v. Mirano, A.C. No. 12110 March 11, 2019
 Gubatan v. Amador, AC 8963, 7/2/18
 Fabugais v. Faundo, AC 10145, 6/11/18
 Santiago v. Santiago, AC 3921, 6/11/18
 Yap v. Buri, AC 11156, 3/19/18
 Gonzales v. Santos, AC 10178, 6/19/18
 Lim v. Rivera, AC 12156, 6/20/18
 Palencia v. Linsangan, AC 11724, 7/10/18
 Washington v. Dicen, AC 12137, 7/9/18
 Domingo v. Revilla, AC 5473, 1/23/18
 Tabuzo v. Gomos, AC 12005, 7/23/18
 Rico v. Salutan, AC 9257, 3/5/18
 Malvar v. Feir, AC 12871, 3/5/18

Lecture V: DUTY TO THE COURTS

Agpalo, Chapter V, pp. 142-181.

Codal Provisions:

• Lawyer’s Oath
• Rule 138
• Code of Professional Responsibility, Chapter III, Canons 10 to 13.
• Code of Professional Ethics

Cases:

 Sevilla v. Millo, A.C. No. 10697, March 25, 2019

 Coloma v. Ulep, A.C. No. 5961, February 13, 2019
 Zafra III v. Pagatpatan, A.C. No. 12457, April 2, 2019
 Tolentino v. So and Ancheta, AC 6387, 7/19/16
 Fajardo v. Alvarez, AC 9018, 4/20/16
 Court Administrator v. Yu, AM No. MTJ-12-1813, 11/22/16
 Pantanosas v. Pamatong, AC 7330, 6/14/16
 Pefianco against Justices Simpio-Dy, Hernando, and Manahan, IPI
14-222-CA-J, 2/23/16
 Avida Land Corp. v. Argosino, AC 7437, 8/17/16
 Pasok v. Court of Appeals, G.R. 203779, 4/26/17
 Alpajora v. Calayan, AC 8208, 1/10/18
 In re Mallari v. GSIS and Provincial Sheriff, AC 1111, 1/10/18