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S08C05 - CI - Sebastian vs. Bajar
S08C05 - CI - Sebastian vs. Bajar
MANUEL S. SEBASTIAN, complainant,
vs.
ATTY. EMILY A. BAJAR, respondent.
Facts:
In 1991, Manuel S. Sebastian (complainant) filed a disbarment complaint against Atty.
Emily A. Bajar (respondent) for "obstructing, disobeying, resisting, rebelling, and impeding final
decisions of Regional Trial Courts, the Court of Appeals and of the Honorable Supreme Court,
and also for submitting those final decisions for the review and reversal of the DARAB, an
administrative body, and for contemptuous acts and dilatory tactics."
Respondent Bajar submitted her comment alleging that the complainant is not the real
party-in-interest. He is also not authorized to prosecute the disbarment suit. The Court required
Bajar to submit a Rejoinder but failed, and was later ordered to show cause why she should not
be subjected to disciplinary action for such failure. The IBP ruled that Bajar be suspended
indefinitely from the practice of law for unethical practice which amounted to an obstruction of
justice as well as her abuse of her right of recourse to the courts.
Issue:
Whether or not respondent violated Canons 12 and 19 of the Code of Professional
Responsibility?
Ruling:
YES. The Court finds the evidence on record sufficient to support the IBP’s findings.
However, the Court disagrees with the penalty imposed on respondent.
Administrative proceedings against lawyers are sui generis and they belong to a class of
their own. They are neither civil nor criminal actions but rather investigations by the Court into
the conduct of its officer. Lawyers must at all times faithfully perform their duties to society, to
the bar, to the courts, and to their clients. Their conduct must always reflect the values and norms
of the legal profession as embodied in the Code of Professional Responsibility. In addition,
respondent’s act of filing cases with identical issues in other venues despite the final ruling
which was affirmed by the CA and the SC is beyond the bounds of law, which is also a clear
violation of Canon 12 of the Code of Professional Responsibility against forum shopping.
Respondent’s acts constitute gross misconduct and willful disobedience of lawful orders of a
superior court. Respondent also violated Canon 19 of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Her suspension is consequently warranted.
Hence, respondent Atty. Emily A. Bajar is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law
for a period of THREE YEARS effective from notice, with a STERN WARNING that a
repetition of the same or similar acts will be dealt with more severely.