Republic of the Philippines On September 18, 2009, a criminal case4 for qualified theft was filed against

SUPREME COURT complainant and his wife by FEVE Farms Agricultural Corporation (FEVE Farms)
Manila acting through a certain Michael Villacorta (Villacorta). Villacorta, however, was
represented by the law firm, the same law office which handled complainants labor
FIRST DIVISION cases. Aggrieved, complainant filed this disbarment case against respondents, alleging
that they violated Rule 15.03, Canon 15 and Canon 21 of the CPR,5 to wit:
A.C. No. 10567 February 25, 2015
CANON 15 A LAWYER SHALL OBSERVE CANDOR, FAIRNESS AND
WILFREDO ANGLO, Complainant, LOYALTY IN ALL HIS DEALINGS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH HIS
vs. CLIENTS.
ATTY. JOSE MA. V. VALENCIA, ATTY. JOSE MA. J. CIOCON, ATTY. PHILIP Z.
DABAO, ATTY. LILY UYV ALENCIA, ATTY. JOEY P. DE LA PAZ, ATTY. CRIS xxxx
G. DIONELA, ATTY. RAYMUNDO T. PANDAN, JR.,* ATTY. RODNEY K.
RUBICA,** and ATTY. WILFRED RAMON M. PENALOSA, Respondents. RULE 15.03 A lawyer shall not represent conflicting interests except by written
consent of all concerned given after a full disclosure of the facts.
DECISION
xxxx
PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:
CANON 21 A LAWYER SHALL PRESERVE THE CONFIDENCES AND
This is an administrative case stemming from a complaint-affidavit1 dated December SECRETS OF HIS CLIENT EVEN AFTER THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATION
4, 2009 filed by complainant Wilfredo Anglo (complainant) charging respondents IS TERMINATED.
Attys. Jose Ma. V. Valencia (Atty. Valencia), Jose Ma. J. Ciocon (Atty. Ciocon ),
Philip Z. Dabao (Atty. Dabao ), Lily Uy-Valencia (Atty. Uy-Valencia), Joey P. De La In their defense,6 respondents admitted that they indeed operated under the name
Paz (Atty. De La Paz), Cris G. Dionela (Atty. Dionela), Raymundo T. Pandan, Jr. Valencia Ciocon Dabao Valencia De La Paz Dionela Pandan Rubica Law Office, but
(Atty. Pandan, Jr.), Rodney K. Rubica (Atty. Rubica), and Wilfred Ramon M. explained that their association is not a formal partnership, but one that is subject to
Penalosa (Atty. Penalosa; collectively, respondents) of violating the Code of certain "arrangements." According to them, each lawyer contributes a fixed amount
Professional Responsibility (CPR), specifica1ly the rule against conflict of interest. every month for the maintenance of the entire office; and expenses for cases, such as
transportation, copying, printing, mailing, and the like are shouldered by each lawyer
The Facts separately, allowing each lawyer to fix and receive his own professional fees
exclusively.7 As such, the lawyers do not discuss their clientele with the other
In his complaint-affidavit, complainant alleged that he availed the services of the law lawyers and associates, unless they agree that a case be handled collaboratively.
firm Valencia Ciocon Dabao Valencia De La Paz Dionela Pandan Rubica Law Respondents claim that this has been the practice of the law firm since its inception.
Office(law firm), of which Attys. Valencia, Ciocon, Dabao, Uy-Valencia, De La Paz, They averred that complainants labor cases were solely and exclusively handled by
Dionela, Pandan, Jr., and Rubica were partners, for two (2) consolidated labor cases2 Atty. Dionela and not by the entire law firm. Moreover, respondents asserted that the
where he was impleaded as respondent. Atty. Dionela, a partner of the law firm, was qualified theft case filed by FEVE Farms was handled by Atty. Pealosa, a new
assigned to represent complainant. The labor cases were terminated on June 5, 2008 associate who had no knowledge of complainants labor cases, as he started working
upon the agreement of both parties.3 for the firm after the termination thereof.8 Meanwhile, Atty. Dionela confirmed that
he indeed handled complainants labor cases but averred that it was terminated on
June 13, 2008,9 and that complainant did not have any monthly retainer contract.10
He likewise explained that he did not see the need to discuss complainants labor
cases with the other lawyers as the issue involved was very simple,11 and that the Rule 15.03, Canon 15 and Canon 21 of the CPR provide:
latter did not confide any secret during the time the labor cases were pending that
would have been used in the criminal case with FEVE Farms. He also claimed that CANON 15 A LAWYER SHALL OBSERVE CANDOR, FAIRNESS AND
the other lawyers were not aware of the details of complainants labor cases nor did LOYALTY IN ALL HIS DEALINGS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH HIS
they know that he was the handling counsel for complainant even after the said cases CLIENTS.
were closed and terminated.12 The IBPs Report and Recommendation
xxxx
In a Report and Recommendation13 dated September 26, 2011, the IBP
Commissioner found respondents to have violated the rule on conflict of interest and RULE 15.03 A lawyer shall not represent conflicting interests except by written
recommended that they be reprimandedtherefor, with the exception of Atty. Dabao, consent of all concerned given after a full disclosure of the facts.
who had died on January 17, 2010.14 The IBP found that complainant was indeed
represented in the labor cases by the respondents acting together as a law firm and not xxxx
solely by Atty. Dionela. Consequently, there was a conflict of interest in this case, as
respondents, through Atty. Pealosa, having been retained by FEVE Farms, created a CANON 21 A LAWYER SHALL PRESERVE THE CONFIDENCES AND
connection that would injure complainant in the qualified theft case. Moreover, the SECRETS OF HIS CLIENT EVEN AFTER THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT
termination of attorney-client relation provides no justification for a lawyer to RELATIONSHIP IS TERMINATED.
represent an interest adverse to or in conflict with that of the former client.15
In Hornilla v. Atty. Salunat,19 the Court explained the concept of conflict of interest
In a Resolution16 dated February 12, 2013, the IBP Board of Governors adopted and in this wise:
approved the IBP Commissioners Report and Recommendation with modification.
Instead of the penalty of reprimand, the IBP Board of Governors dismissed the case There is conflict of interest when a lawyer represents inconsistent interests of two or
with warning that a repetition of the same or similar act shall be dealt with more more opposing parties.1wphi1 The test is "whether or not in behalf of one client, it is
severely. the lawyers duty to fight for an issue or claim, but it is his duty to oppose it for the
other client. In brief, if he argues for one client, this argument will be opposed by him
Complainant filed a motion for reconsideration17 thereof, which the IBP Board of when he argues for the other client." This rule covers not only cases in which
Governors granted in its Resolution18 dated March 23, 2014 and thereby (a) set aside confidential communications have been confided, but also those in which no
its February 12, 2013 Resolution and (b) adopted and approved the IBP confidence has been bestowed or will be used. Also, there is conflict of interests if the
Commissioners Report and Recommendation, with modification, (1) reprimanding acceptance of the new retainer will require the attorney to perform an act which will
the respondents for violation of the rule on conflict of interest; (2) dismissing the case injuriously affect his first client in any matter in which he represents him and also
against Atty. Dabao in view of his death; and (3) suspending Atty. Dionela from the whether he will be called upon in his new relation to use against his first client any
practice of law for one year, being the handling counsel of complainants labor cases. knowledge acquired through their connection. Another test of the inconsistency of
interests is whether the acceptance of a new relation will prevent an attorney from the
The Issue Before the Court full discharge of his duty of undivided fidelity and loyalty to his client or invite
suspicion of unfaithfulness or double dealing in the performance thereof.20
The essential issue in this case is whether or not respondents are guilty of
representing conflicting interests in violation of the pertinent provisions of the CPR. As such, a lawyer is prohibited from representing new clients whose interests oppose
those of a former client in any manner, whether or not they are parties in the same
The Courts Ruling action or on totally unrelated cases. The prohibition is founded on the principles of
public policy and good taste.21 In this case, the Court concurs with the IBPs with a STERN WARNING that a repetition of the same or similar infraction would be
conclusions that respondents represented conflicting interests and must therefore be dealt with more severely. Meanwhile, the case against Atty. Philip Dabao is
held liable. As the records bear out, respondents law firm was engaged and, thus, DISMISSED in view of his death.
represented complainant in the labor cases instituted against him. However, after the
termination thereof, the law firm agreed to represent a new client, FEVE Farms, in Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant, to be
the filing of a criminal case for qualified theft against complainant, its former client, appended to respondents' personal records as attorneys. Further, let copies of this
and his wife. As the Court observes, the law firms unethical acceptance of the Resolution be furnished the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the
criminal case arose from its failure to organize and implement a system by which it Court Administrator, which is directed to circulate them to all courts in the country
would have been able to keep track of all cases assigned to its handling lawyers to the for their information and guidance.
end of, among others, ensuring that every engagement it accepts stands clear of any
potential conflict of interest. As an organization of individual lawyers which, albeit SO ORDERED.
engaged as a collective, assigns legal work to a corresponding handling lawyer, it
behooves the law firm to value coordination in deference to the conflict of interest ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
rule. This lack of coordination, as respondents law firm exhibited in this case, Associate Justice
intolerably renders its clients secrets vulnerable to undue and even adverse exposure,
eroding in the balance the lawyer-client relationships primordial ideal of unimpaired WE CONCUR:
trust and confidence. Had such system been institutionalized, all of its members, Atty.
Dionela included, would have been wary of the above-mentioned conflict, thereby MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO
impelling the firm to decline FEVE Farms subsequent engagement. Thus, for this Chief Justice
shortcoming, herein respondents, as the charged members of the law firm, ought to be Chairperson
administratively sanctioned. Note that the Court finds no sufficient reason as to why
Atty. Dionela should suffer the greater penalty of suspension. As the Court sees it, all TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
respondents stand in equal fault for the law firms deficient organization for which Associate Justice LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Rule 15.03, Canon 15 and Canon 21 of the CPR had been violated. As such, all of Associate Justice
them are meted with the same penalty of reprimand, with a stern warning that a JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ
repetition of the same or similar infraction would be dealt with more severely. Associate Justice

As a final point, the Court clarifies that respondents' pronounced liability is not
altered by the fact that the labor cases against complainant had long been terminated. Footnotes
Verily, the termination of attorney-client relation provides no justification for a lawyer
to represent an interest adverse to or in conflict with that of the former client. The * "Raymund T. Pandan, Jr." in some parts of the records.
client's confidence once reposed should not be divested by mere expiration of
professional employment.22 ** "Rubrica" in some parts of the records.

WHEREFORE, respondents Attys. Jose Ma. V. Valencia, Jose Ma. J. Ciocon, Lily 1 Rollo, Vol. I, pp. 1-9.
Uy-Valencia, Joey P. De La Paz, Cris G. Dionela, Raymundo T. Pandan, Jr., Rodney
K. Rubica, and Wilfred Ramon M. Penalosa are found GUILTY of representing 2 Docketed as RAB Case No. 06-05-10385-03 and RAB Case No. 06-04-10302-03;
conflicting interests in violation of Rule 15.03, Canon 15 and Canon 21 of the Code id. at 1.
of Professional Responsibility and are therefore REPRIMANDED for said violations,