WHO MAY PRACTICE LAW
Philippine Republic Day (Tagalog: Araw ng
Republikang Pilipino), also known as Philippine–
American Friendship Day,[1] is a commemoration in
the Philippines held annually on July 4. It was formerly
an official holiday designated as Independence Day,
celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Manila, which
granted Philippine independence from the United
States of America in 1946
Complainant- Atty. Fernando Collantes, house counsel
for V& G Better Homes Subdivision, Inc. (complaint for
disbarment)
Respondent- Atty. Viente Renomeron, Register of Deeds
of Tacloban City
Facts:
1. V & G- requested the respondent to register 163
deed of sale with assignment of lots of the V & G
mortgaged to GSIS by the lot buyers.
- NO ACTION FROM RESPONDENT
2. Another request, to approve or deny registration of
the uniform deeds of absolute sale with assignment.
- NO ACTION, except to require V & G to
submit proof of real estate tax payment and
to clarify details about the transaction
3. Although V & G complied with the requirements.
Respondent suspended the registration of the
documents pending compliance of “special
arrangement”
- V & G should provide a weekly round trip
ticket from Tacloban to Manila, 2k as pocket
money per trip or the sale of respondent’s
Quezon City house and lot by V & G or GSIS
representatives
Beltran v. Abad
Successful bar examinee. (Elmo Abad)
His subsequent practice of law was questioned and
complained by the President of Philippine Trial Lawyers’
Association, Inc (Atty. Procorpio Beltran)
Explanation:
He had already paid for the Bar Admission Fee;
–      He was notified of the oath-taking by the Supreme
Court and signed the Lawyer’s Oath by one clerk in the
Office of the Bar Confidante;
–      He participated Annual General Meeting of IBP
Quezon City, and paid his statement dues and was
included as a voting member for officers and directors –
also conferred to him a certificate of Membership in
Good Standing from IBP QC Chapter;
–      The Supreme Court never issued any order in the
striking of his name in the roll of attorneys, and paid his
dues and PTR
ISSUE: Whether or not Abad can engage in
practice of law
RULNG: NO
Only those licensed by the Supreme Court
may practice law in this country. The right to
practice law is not a natural or constitutional
right but is a privilege. It is limited to
persons of good moral character
with special qualifications duly ascertained
and certified. The exercise of this privilege
presupposes possession of integrity, legal
knowledge, educational attainment and even
public trust, since a lawyer is an officer of
the court.
A bar candidate does not acquire the right to
practice law simply by passing the bar
examinations. The practice of law is a
privilege that can be withheld even from one
who has passed the bar examinations, if the
person seeking admission had practiced law
without license.
Respondent Abad should know that the
circumstances which he has narrated do not
constitute his admission to the Philippine Bar
and the right to practice law thereafter.
He should know that two essential requisites
for becoming a lawyer still had to be
performed, namely: his lawyer's oath to
be administered by this Court and his
signature in the Roll of Attorneys. (Rule 138,
Secs. 17 and 19, Rules of Court.) The
regulation of the practice of law is
unquestionably strict. Under Section 3 (e) of
Rule 71 of the Rules of Court, a person who
engages in the unauthorized practice of law
is liable for indirect contempt of court. Mr.
Elmo S. Abad is hereby fined Five Hundred
(P500.00) pesos payable to this Court within
ten (10) days from notice failing which he
shall serve twenty-five (25) days
imprisonment.