DAVAO City, Philippines — The Supreme Court has found Atty. Nilo T. Divina guilty of Simple Misconduct under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) for sponsoring trips for officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – Central Luzon.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, the Court imposed a fine of PHP 100,000 on Atty. Divina, a member of the IBP-Tarlac Chapter. The ruling found that Divina’s actions violated Canon II, Sections 1 and 2 of the CPRA by exhibiting impropriety.
The case stemmed from an anonymous letter alleging that Divina engaged in illegal campaigning to secure his election as IBP-Central Luzon Governor.
The letter claimed that Divina funded trips for current IBP-Central Luzon officers to Balesin Island Club in 2022 and Bali, Indonesia, in 2023. Additionally, it alleged that he provided them with cash and gift checks totaling hundreds of thousands of pesos.
The Supreme Court found that these sponsored trips and gifts created a sense of obligation among the recipients to reciprocate Divina’s generosity, which raised concerns about the integrity, fairness, and independence of the IBP.
Although the Court concluded that Divina’s actions were inappropriate, it determined that he did not violate specific provisions related to IBP election conduct under Section 14 of the Revised IBP By-Laws.
The following individuals were also found guilty of Simple Misconduct for accepting the gifts: Atty. Peter Paul S. Maglalang (Governor of IBP-Central Luzon, 2021-2023), Atty. Winston M. Ginez (President of IBP-Zambales Chapter, 2021-2023), Atty. Jocelyn M. Clemente (Auditor of IBP-Tarlac Chapter, 2021-2023), and Attys. Jade Paulo T. Molo, Enrique V. Dela Cruz, Jr., and Jose I. Dela Rama, Jr.
The Court emphasized that the acceptance of such lavish gifts undermines the ability of these officials to act with propriety and maintain the appearance of fairness in their professional dealings. The sense of obligation created by these gifts could potentially affect their future judgment.
Each of the lawyers involved was fined PHP 100,000. The Court also lifted its suspension of the IBP-Central Luzon officers’ election and ordered that the election for IBP-Central Luzon Governor for the 2023-2025 term proceed as planned.
The post SC Finds Lawyer Guilty of Misconduct for Sponsoring Trips of IBP Officers appeared first on NewsLine Philippines.
SC Finds Lawyer Guilty of Misconduct for Sponsoring Trips of IBP Officers
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