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Collantes v.

Renomeron

FACTS:

Disbarment against Atty. Renomeron, Register of Deeds of Tacloban City.

 Atty. Collantes, counsel for V& G Better Homes Subdivision, Inc. (V&G), filed an
administrative case against Atty. Renomeron, for the latter’s irregular actuations with
regard to the application of V&G for registration of 163 pro forma Deed of Absolute
Sale with Assignment (in favor of GSIS) of lots in its subdivision.

 V&G complied with the desired requirements, however, Renomeron suspended the
registration of the documents pending the compliance of the former with their
“special conditions”, which was that V&G should provide him with weekly round trip
ticket from Tacloban to Manila plus P2,000.00 as pocket money per trip, or, in lieu
thereof, the sale of respondent’s Quezon City house and lot by V&G or GSIS
representatives.

 Renomeron formally denied the registration of the documents. He himself elevated


the question on the registrability of the said documents to Administrator Bonifacio
(of the National Land Titles and Deeds Registration Administration-NLTDRA). The
Administrator then resolved in favor of the registrability of the documents.

 Despite the resolution of the Administrator, Renomeron still refused the registration
thereof but demanded from the parties interested the submission of additional
requirements not adverted in his previous denial.

 Exasperated by respondent’s conduct, the complainant filed with the NLTDRA on


June 4, 1987 administrative charges against respondent Register of Deeds.

 LRA Administrator Teodoro G. Bonifacio on February 22, 1988, recommended to


Secretary of Justice Sedfrey A. Ordoñez that the respondent:

 (1) be found guilty of simple neglect of duty:


 (2) be reprimanded to act with dispatch on documents presented to him for
registration; and
 (3) be warned that a repetition of similar infraction will be dealt with more
severely.
 After due investigation of the charges, Secretary Ordoñez found respondent guilty of
grave misconduct, recommended to President Corazon C. Aquino that Renomeron be
dismissed from the service, with forfeiture of leave credits and retirement benefits,
and with prejudice to re-employment in the government service, effective
immediately.
 Less than two weeks after filing his complaint against Renomeron in the NLTDRA,
Attorney Collantes also filed in this Court on June 16, 1987, a disbarment complaint
against said respondent.

ISSUE:

Whether or not the respondent register of deeds, as a lawyer, may also be disciplined by
the Court for his malfeasance as a public official?

Held:

 Yes, a lawyer’s misconduct as a public official also constitutes a violation of his


oath as a lawyer. The lawyer’s oath imposes upon every lawyer the duty to delay
no man for money or malice. The lawyer’s oath is a source of obligations and its
violation is a ground for his suspension, disbarment or other disciplinary action.
 The Code of Professional Responsibility applies to government service in the
discharge of their official tasks (Canon 6). The Code forbids a lawyer to engage
in unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceitful conduct (Rule 1.01, Code of
Professional Responsibility), or delay any man’s cause “for any corrupt motive or
interest” (Rule 1.03).

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