Josephine Caranay vs. Atty. Ernesto P. Tabara.

Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT

THIRD DIVISION

A.C. No. 5647 December 15, 2005

JOSEPHINE CARANAY, Complainant, ATTY. ERNESTO P. TABARA, Respondent.

R E S O L U T I O N

GARCIA, J.:

This is a complaint for disbarment instituted by complainant Josephine R. Caranay against Atty. Ernesto P. Tabara1 for the latter’s failure to perform his duty as complainant’s counsel and for refusal thereafter to return, despite demands, the corresponding acceptance fee.

From the complaint, it appears that sometime in October 2000, complainant retained the services of respondent in connection with a suit for a sum of money she intended to file against someone. Respondent agreed and accordingly received from and was paid by complainant the sum of ₱25,000.00 by way of retainer’s fee. According to complainant, respondent, despite the lapse of a considerable length of time, failed to take the necessary legal action towards a successful collection suit. Owing to what she considered as respondent’s neglect of duty and willful infidelity, complainant asked for the return of the amount she had given to respondent, but all her repeated entreaties fell on deaf ears. Hence, this complaint.

In his answer,2 respondent admits having been retained by and having received from complainant the amount of ₱25,000.00 for the purpose of filing a case for a sum of money against a certain Onia. He explained, however, that the amount aforestated was to cover legal expenses, documentation and filing fee. According to him, he submitted the necessary complaint to complainant’s aide, a certain Tito Ochave, who informed him (respondent) that complainant, who was then about to depart for Germany, wanted it revised. And per respondent’s version of succeeding events, Ochave, who undertook to return the copy of the complaint and other supporting documents by October 14, 2000, never came around to keep his promise. Respondent further alleged that he was subsequently informed by Ochave that complainant had already secured the services of another lawyer, for which reason she is demanding the return of the ₱25,000.00. Continuing, respondent averred advising Ochave of his willingness to return the amount, provided complainant first talk to him personally, or, if this is not feasible since complainant has already departed for Germany, that he is shown by Ochave of his special authority to receive the money. Since that time on, according to respondent, he has not heard anything from complainant or Ochave, until he received a copy of the instant complaint for disbarment.

Following the referral3 of the case by the Court to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Investigating Commissioner Lydia A. Navarro submitted a Report4 stating, in gist, as follows:

1. Neither complainant nor her representative appeared in all of the four scheduled hearings;

2. In the January 14, 2003 setting, respondent submitted a photo-copy of a Motion to Terminate Proceedings dated August 12, 2002, which, on its face, appears to have been signed by complainant but is not notarized. In the motion, complainant states that respondent is innocent of any wrongdoing;

3. Respondent has not submitted verified affidavits of Tito Ochave and Atty. Zarate who were purportedly present when the return of the P25,000.00 was effected;

4. The xeroxed copy of the Motion to Terminate Proceedings that respondent submitted to the IBP Commission of Bar Discipline is nothing but a scrap without any probative value; and

5. Inasmuch as respondent was not able to extend the legal services commensurate to his agreement with the complainant, it is incumbent upon him to return the amount received from the latter.

Commissioner Navarro’s report contained the following recommendation:

Wherefore in view of the foregoing, the undersigned respectfully recommends that respondent Atty. Ernesto Tabarra be required to submit proof that he really returned to the complainant the amount of ₱25,000.00 paid to him for legal services he did not extend to the complainant within thirty (30) days from receipt hereof otherwise for failure to do so aside from returning said amount; he will be suspended from the practice of law for a period of three (3) months from the said period.

On June 21, 2003, the IBP Board of Governors promulgated Resolution No. XV-2003-374,5 adopting and approving the report and recommendation of the investigating commissioner.

In its Resolution6 dated August 27, 2003, the Court, thru its First Division, took note of IBP Resolution No. XV-2003-374 and returned the case back to the IBP for completion of the proceedings to enable respondent to submit proof of his return of the amount of ₱25,000.00 to complainant within the time frame set forth in the same IBP resolution.

In her Report7 dated August 02, 2004, designated IBP Commissioner Doroteo B. Aguila, noting that respondent, notwithstanding the opportunities afforded him, has failed to present proof that he had indeed refunded the amount in question, recommended as follows:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is recommended that Commissioner Lydia A. Navarro's earlier recommendation as contained in the Report and Recommendation dated 29 March 2003 that respondent be suspended for three (3) months from the practice of law in the event respondent fails to submit proof that he had really returned the amount of ₱25.000.00 to complainant, be implemented.

Acting thereon, the IBP Board of Governors passed Resolution No. XVI-2004-409,8 adopting and approving the report and recommendation of Commissioner Aguila.

Pending confirmation of IBP Resolution No. XVI-2004-409, the Court received a 1st Indorsement dated January 03, 2005 from the IBP Director of Bar Discipline, transmitting respondent’s Manifestation and Compliance9 dated December 13, 2004 to which is attached a handwritten receipt for ₱25,000.00 duly signed by complainant Josephine Caranay. As respondent claims, the receipt has been issued to him by complainant "who just returned from abroad".

There is no reason to doubt the genuineness and due execution of the receipt thus submitted. The signatures appearing thereat and on the complaint appear to have been signed by and one and the same person. With this handwritten receipt, respondent is deemed to have complied with the refund requirement exacted by the IBP Board of Discipline. There is thus cogent reason to write finis to this case.

ACCORDINGLY, the instant complaint against Atty. Ernesto Tabara is hereby DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED.

CANCIO C. GARCIA

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN

Associate Justice

Chairman

ANGELINA SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ Associate Justice

RENATO C. CORONA Associate Justice

CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES

Associate Justice

Footnotes

1 Complainant, in her complaint, spells respondent’s name as "Tabarra" which led the IBP to commit the same error.

2 Rollo, pp. 11-14.

3 Per Resolution of September 25, 2002.

4 Rollo, pp. 38-41.

5 Rollo, p. 37.

6 Rollo, p. 42.

7 Rollo, pp. 55-56.

8 Id., at p. 51.

9 Rollo, p. 59.