106 SCRA 591 - Legal Ethics - Gross Immoral Conduct: ISSUE: Whether or Not Maniwang
106 SCRA 591 - Legal Ethics - Gross Immoral Conduct: ISSUE: Whether or Not Maniwang
Immoral Conduct
In 1970, when Maniwang was still a law
student, he had a relationship with
Arciga, then a medical technology
student. They started having a sexual
relationship in 1971. In 1973, Arciga got
pregnant. The two then went to Arcigas
hometown to tell the latters parent
about the pregnancy. They also made
Arcigas parents believe that they were
already married but they would have to
have the church wedding in abeyance
until Maniwang passes the bar exams.
Maniwang secured a copy of his birth
certificate in preparation of securing a
marriage license.
In 1975, Maniwang passed the bar. But
after his oath taking, he stopped
communicating with Arciga. Arciga
located his whereabouts and there she
found out that Maniwang married
another woman. Arciga confronted
Maniwangs wife and this irked
Maniwang so he inflicted physical
injuries against Arciga.
Arciga then filed a disbarment case
against Maniwang grounded on gross
immoral conduct. Maniwang admitted
that he is the father of Arcigas child; that
he did promise to marry Arciga many
times; that he broke those promises
because of Arcigas shady past because
apparently Arciga had an illegitimate
child even before her son with
Maniwang was born.
ISSUE: Whether or
should be disbarred.
not
Maniwang