2/13/2017 B.M. No.

1222

ENBANC


RE:2003BAREXAMINATIONSB.M.No.1222

xx

ATTY.DANILODEGUZMAN,
Petitioner,Present:

Puno,C.J.,
Quisumbing, *
YnaresSantiago,
Carpio,
AustriaMartinez,
Corona,
CarpioMorales,
Tinga,
ChicoNazario,
Velasco,Jr.,
Nachura,
LeonardoDeCastro,
Brion,
Peralta,and
Bersamin,JJ.

Promulgated:

April24,2009
xx

RESOLUTION

YNARESSANTIAGO,J.:


ThistreatsthePetitionforJudicialClemencyandCompassiondatedNovember10,2008filedbypetitioner
Danilo de Guzman. He prays that this Honorable Court in the exercise of equity and compassion, grant
petitionerspleaforjudicialclemency,andthereupon,orderhisreinstatementasamemberingoodstanding
[1]
ofthePhilippineBar.

To recall, on February 4, 2004, the Court promulgated a Resolution, in B.M. No. 1222, the dispositive
portionofwhichreadsinpart:
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/april2009/1222.htm 1/8
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WHEREFORE, the Court, acting on the recommendations of the Investigating Committee, hereby
resolvesto

(1)DISBARAtty.DANILODEGUZMANfromthepracticeoflaweffectiveuponhisreceiptofthis
RESOLUTION

xxxx

The subject of the Resolution is the leakage of questions in Mercantile Law during the 2003 Bar
Examinations.PetitioneratthattimewasemployedasanassistantlawyerinthelawfirmofBalgos&Perez,
one of whose partners, Marcial Balgos, was the examiner for Mercantile Law during the said bar
examinations. The Court had adopted the findings of the Investigating Committee, which identified
petitionerasthepersonwhohaddownloadedthetestquestionsfromthecomputerofBalgosandfaxedthem
tootherpersons.

TheOfficeoftheBarConfidant(OBC)hasfavorablyrecommendedthereinstatementofpetitionerin
thePhilippineBar.InaReportdatedJanuary6,2009,theOBCrendereditsassessmentofthepetition,the
relevantportionsofwhichwequotehereunder:

Petitioner narrated that he had labored to become a lawyer to fulfill his fathers childhood dream to
becomeone.This task was not particularly easy for him and his family but he willed to endure the same in
ordertopaytributetohisparents.

Petitioneraddedthatevenataveryyoungage,healreadyimposeduponhimselfthedutyofrendering
servicetohisfellowmen.At19years,hestartedhisexposuretopublicservicewhenhewaselectedChairman
oftheSangguniangKabataan(SK)ofBarangayTuktukan,TaguigCity.Duringthistime,heinitiatedseveral
projectsbenefitingtheyouthintheirbarangay.

Thereafter, petitioner focused on his studies, taking up Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and
eventuallypursuingBachelorofLaws.Inhissecondyearinlawschool,hewaselectedasthePresidentofthe
Student Council of the Institute of Law of the Far Eastern University (FEU). Here, he spearheaded various
activities including the conduct of seminars for law students as well as the holding of bar operations for bar
examinees.

Despite his many extracurricular activities as a youth and student leader, petitioner still managed to
excelinhisstudies.Thus,hewasconferredanAcademicExcellenceAwarduponhisgraduationinBachelorof
Laws.

UponadmissiontothebarinApril1999,petitionerimmediatelyenteredgovernmentserviceasaLegal
OfficerassignedattheSangguniangBayanofTaguig.Simultaneously,healsorenderedfreelegalservicesto
lessfortunateresidentsofTaguigCitywhoweretheninneedoflegalassistance.

In March 2000, petitioner was hired as one of the Associate Lawyers at the Balgos and Perez Law
Offices.Itwasduringhisstaywiththisfirmwhenhiscraftasalawyerwaspolishedanddeveloped.Despite
havingenteredprivatepractice,hecontinuedtorenderfreelegalservicestohisfellowTaguigeos.

TheninFebruary2004,byasuddentwistoffate,petitionersflourishingcareerwascutshortashewas
strippedofhislicensetopracticelawforhisallegedinvolvementintheleakageinthe2003BarExaminations.

Devastated,petitionerthenpracticallylockedhimselfinsidehishousetoavoidtheratherunavoidable
consequencesofhisdisbarment.

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OnMarch2004,however,petitionerwasgivenanewleaseinlifewhenhewastakenasaconsultantby
theCityGovernmentofTaguig.Later,hewasdesignatedasamemberoftheSecretariatofthePeoplesLaw
Enforcement Board (PLEB). For the next five (5) years, petitioner concentrated mainly on rendering public
service.

Petitionerhumblyacknowledgedthedamagingimpactofhisactwhichunfortunately,compromisedthe
integrityofthebarexaminations.Ascouldbebornefromtherecordsoftheinvestigation,hecooperatedfullyin
theinvestigationconductedandtookpersonalresponsibilityforhisactions.Also,hehasofferedhissincerest
apologies to Atty. Balgos, to the Court as well as to all the 2003 bar examinees for the unforeseen and
unintendedeffectsofhisactions.

Petitioner averred that he has since learned from his mistakes and has taken the said humbling
experiencetomakehimabetterperson.

Meanwhile,aspartofhisPetition,petitionersubmittedthefollowingtestimonialsandendorsementsof
variousindividualsandentitiesallattestingtohisgoodmoralcharacter:

1) ResolutionNo.101,Seriesof2007,ResolutionExpressingFullSupporttoDaniloG.De
GuzmaninhisApplicationforJudicialClemency,EndorsinghisCompetenceandFitnesstobe
ReinstatedasaMemberofthePhilippineBarandforOtherPurposesdated4June2007ofthe
SangguniangPanlungsod,CityofTaguig

2) IsangBukasnaLihamnaNaglalayongIparatingsaKataasTaasangHukumanangBuong
Suporta ng Pamunuan at mga Kasapi ng Southeast Peoples Village Homeowners Association,
Inc. (SEPHVOA) kay Danilo G. De Guzman sa Kanyang Petisyong Magawaran ng
Kapatawaran at ang Boluntaryong Pagsusulong sa Kanyang Kakayahan Upang Maibalik sa
Kanya ang mga Pribilehiyo ng Isang Abogado dated 1 June 2007 of the Southeast Peoples
VillageHomeownersAssociation,Inc.(SEPHVOA),IbayoTipas,CityofTaguig

3) IsangBukasnaLihamnaNaglalayongIparatingsaKataasTaasangHukumanangBuong
Suporta ng Pamunuan at mga Kasapi ng Samahang Residente ng Mauling Creek, Inc.
(SAREMAC)kayG.DaniloG.DeGuzmansaKanyangPetisyongMagawaranngKapatawaran
atangBoluntaryongPagsusulongsaKanyangKakayahanUpangMaibaliksaKanyaangmga
PribilehiyongIsangAbogadodated1June2007oftheSamahangResidentengMaulingCreek,
Inc.(SAREMAC),LowerBicutan,CityofTaguig

4) IsangBukasnaLihamnaNaglalayongIparatingsaKataasTaasangHukumanangBuong
Suporta ng Pamunuan at mga Kasapi ng Samahan ng mga Maralita (PULONG KENDI)
Neighborhood Association, Inc. (SAMANA) kay G. Danilo G. De Guzman sa Kanyang
Petisyong Magawaran ng Kapatawaran at ang Boluntaryong Pagsusulong sa Kanyang
KakayahanUpangMaibaliksaKanyaangmgaPribilehiyongIsangAbogadodated1June2007
of the Samahan ng mga Maralita (PULONG KENDI) Neighborhood Association, Inc.
(SAMANA),Sta.Ana,CityofTaguig

5)AnOpenLetterAttestingPersonallytotheCompetenceandFitnessofDaniloG.DeGuzman
astoWarranttheGrantofJudicialClemencyandhisReinstatementasMemberofthePhilippine
Bardated8June2007ofMiguelitoNazarenoV.Llantino,Laogan,TrespesesandLlantinoLaw
Offices

6) TestimonialtotheMoralandSpiritualCompetenceofDaniloG.DeGuzmantobeTruly
DeservingofJudicialClemencyandCompassiondated5July2007ofRev.Fr.PaulG.Balagtas,
ParishPriest,ArchdiocesanShrineofSt.Anne

7) TestimonialLetterdated18February2008ofAtty.LoretoC.Ata,President,FarEastern
UniversityLawAlumniAssociation(FEULAA),FarEasternUniversity(FEU)

8) IsangBukasnaLihamnaNaglalayongIparatingsaKataasTaasangHukumanangBuong
SuportangPamunuanatmgaKasapingSamahangBisigKamaysaKaunlaran,Inc.(SABISKA)
kay G. Danilo G. De Guzman sa Kanyang Petisyong Magawaran ng Kapatawaran at ang
Boluntaryong Pagsusulong sa Kanyang Kakayahan Upang Maibalik sa Kanya ang mga

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PribilehiyongIsangAbogadodated8July2008oftheSamahangBisigKamaysaKaunlaran,
Inc.(SABISKA)

9) BoardResolutionNo.02,Seriesof2008,AResolutionRecognizingtheContributionsof
DaniloG.DeGuzmantothePeoplesLawEnforcementBoard(PLEB)TaguigCity,Attestingto
his Utmost Dedication and Commitment to the Call of Civic and Social Duty and for Other
Purposesdated11July2008ofthePeoplesLawEnforcementBoard(PLEB)

10)APersonalAppealfortheGrantofJudicialForgivenessandCompassioninFavorofDaniloG.
De Guzman dated 14 July 2008 of Atty. Edwin R. Sandoval, Professor, College of Law, San
SebastianCollegeRecoletos

11) AnOpenLetterPersonallyAttestingtotheMoralcompetenceandFitnessofDaniloG.De
Guzmandated5September2008ofMr.NixonF.Faderog,DeputyGrand[Kn]ight,Knightsof
Columbus and President, General ParentTeacher Association, Taguig National High School,
LowerBicutan,TaguigCity

12) Testimonial Letter dated 5September2008 of Atty. Primitivo C. Cruz, President, Taguig
LawyersLeague,Inc.,Tuktukan,TaguigCity

13)TestimonialLetterdated21October2008ofJudgeHilarioL.Laqui,PresidingJudge,Regional
TrailCourt(RTC),Branch218,QuezonCityand

14)TestimonialLetterdated28October2008ofJusticeOscarM.Herrera,formerJustice,Courtof
AppealsandformerDean,InstituteofLaw,FarEasternUniversity(FEU).

CitingthecaseofInRe:CarlosS.Basa,petitionerpleadedthathebeaffordedthesamekindnessand
compassioninorderthat,likeAtty.Basa,hispromisingfuturemaynotbeperpetuallyforeclosed.Inthesaid
case,theCourthadtheoccasiontosay:

Carlos S. Basa is a young man about 29 years of age, admitted to the bars of California and the
PhilippineIslands.Recently,hewaschargedintheCourtofFirstInstanceoftheCityofManilawiththe
crime of abduction with consent, was found guilty in a decision rendered by the Honorable M.V. De
Rosario,JudgeofFirstInstance,andwassentencedtobeimprisonedforaperiodoftwoyears,eleven
months and eleven days of prision correccional. On appeal, this decision was affirmed in a judgment
handeddownbytheseconddivisionoftheSupremeCourt.

xxxx

Whencomenext,aswemust,todeterminetheexactactionwhichshouldbetakenbythecourt,wedo
so regretfully and reluctantly. On the one hand, the violation of the criminal law by the respondent
attorney cannot be lightly passed over. On the other hand, we are willing to strain the limits of our
compassiontotheuttermostinorderthatsopromisingacareermaynotbeutterlyruined.

Petitionerpromisedtocommithimselftobemorecircumspectinhisactionsandsolemnlypledgedto
exertalleffortstoatoneforhismisdeeds.

TheremaybeareasonablegroundtoconsiderthehereinPetition.

InthecaseofRe:PetitionofAlArgosinotoTaketheLawyersOath(BarMatter712),whichmay
beappliedintheinstantcase,theCourtsaid:

Afteraverycarefulevaluationofthiscase,weresolvetoallowpetitionerAlCaparrosArgosino
totakethelawyer'soath,signtheRollofAttorneysandpracticethelegalprofessionwiththefollowing
admonition:

InallowingMr.Argosinototakethelawyersoath,theCourtrecognizesthatMr.Argosinoisnot
inherently of bad moral fiber. On the contrary, the various certifications show that he is a devout
Catholicwithagenuineconcernforcivicdutiesandpublicservice.

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TheCourtispersuadedthatMr.Argosinohasexertedallefforts,toatoneforthedeathofRaul
Camaligan.Wearepreparedtogivehimthebenefitofthedoubt,takingjudicialnoticeofthegeneral
tendencyofyouthtoberash,temerariousanduncalculating.

xxxx

Meanwhile,inthecaseofRodolfoM.Bernardovs.Atty.IsmaelF.Mejia(AdministrativeCaseNo.2984),
theCourt[in]decidingwhetherornottoreinstateAtty.Mejiatothepracticeoflawstated:

The Court will take into consideration the applicants character and standing prior to the
disbarment,thenatureandcharacterofthecharge/sforwhichhewasdisbarred,hisconductsubsequent
to the disbarment and the time that has elapsed in between the disbarment and the application for
reinstatement.

Petitionerwasbarelythirty(30)yearsoldandhadonlybeeninthepracticeoflawforfive(5)yearswhenhe
wasdisbarred from the practice of law.It is of nodoubt that petitioner had a promising future ahead of him
whereitnotforthedecisionoftheCourtstrippingoffhislicense.

Petitioner is also of good moral repute, not only before but likewise, after his disbarment, as attested to
overwhelmingly by his constituents, colleagues as well as people of known probity in the community and
society.

Waybeforethepetitionerwasevenadmittedtothebar,hehadalreadymanifestedhisintensedesiretorender
publicserviceasevidencedbyhisactiveinvolvementandparticipationinseveralsocialandcivicprojectsand
activities.Likewise,evenduringandafterhisdisbarment,whichcouldbeperceivedbysomeasadebilitating
circumstance, petitioner still managed to continue extending his assistance to others in whatever means
possible.Thisonlyprovespetitionersstrengthofcharacterandpositivemoralfiber.

However,still,itisofnoquestionthatpetitionersactincopyingtheexaminationquestionsfromAtty.Balgos
computer without the latters knowledge and consent, and which questions later turned out to be the bar
examinationsquestionsinMercantileLawinthe2003BarExaminations,isnotatallcommendable.Whilewe
dobelievethatpetitionersincerelydidnotintendtocausethedamagethathisactionensued,still,hemustbe
sanctionedforundulycompromisingtheintegrityofthebarexaminationsaswellasofthisCourt.

Weareconvinced,however,thatpetitionerhassincereformedandhassincerelyreflectedonhistransgressions.
Thus,inviewofthecircumstancesandlikewiseforhumanitarianconsiderations,thepenaltyofdisbarmentmay
nowbecommutedtosuspension.Consideringthefact,however,thatpetitionerhadalreadybeendisbarredfor
morethanfive(5)years,thesamemaybeconsideredasproperserviceofsaidcommutedpenaltyandthus,may
nowbeallowedtoresumepracticeoflaw.

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, it is respectfully recommended that the instant Petition for
Judicial Clemency and Compassion dated 10 November 2008 of petitioner DANILO G. DE GUZMAN be
GRANTED.Petitionersdisbarmentisnowcommutedtosuspension,whichsuspensionisconsideredasserved
inviewofthepetitionersfive(5)yeardisbarment.Hence,petitionermaynowbeallowedtoresumepracticeof
law.

The recommendation of the Office of the Bar Confidant is welltaken in part. We deem petitioner
worthyofclemencytotheextentofcommutinghispenaltytoseven(7)yearssuspensionfromthepractice
oflaw,inclusiveofthefive(5)yearshehasalreadyservedhisdisbarment.

[2]
Penalties, such as disbarment, are imposed not to punish but to correct offenders. While the
Courtisevermindfulofitsdutytodisciplineitserringofficers,italsoknowshowtoshowcompassion
[3]
whenthepenaltyimposedhasalreadyserveditspurpose.

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Incaseswherewehavedeignedtoliftorcommutethesupremepenaltyofdisbarmentimposedon
[4]
the lawyer, we have taken into account the remorse of the disbarred lawyer and the conduct of his
[5]
publiclifeduringhisyearsoutsideofthebar. Forexample,inValenciav.Antiniw,weheld:

However, the record shows that the long period of respondent's disbarment gave him the chance to
purgehimselfofhismisconduct,toshowhisremorseandrepentance,andtodemonstratehiswillingnessand
capacitytoliveuponceagaintotheexactingstandardsofconductdemandedofeverymemberofthebarand
officerofthecourt.Duringrespondent'sdisbarmentformorethanfifteen(15)yearstodateforhisprofessional
infraction,hehasbeenpersistentinreiteratinghisapologiesandpleasforreinstatementtothepracticeoflaw
and unrelenting in his efforts to show that he has regained his worthiness to practice law, by his civic and
humanitarianactivitiesandunblemishedrecordasanelectedpublicservant,asattestedtobynumerouscivic
[6]
andprofessionalorganizations,governmentinstitutions,publicofficialsandmembersofthejudiciary.


[7]
AndinBernardov.Atty.Mejia, wenoted:


AlthoughtheCourtdoesnotlightlytakethebasesforMejiasdisbarment,italsocannotcloseitseyestothefact
thatMejiaisalreadyofadvancedyears.Whiletheageofthepetitionerandthelengthoftimeduringwhichhe
hasenduredtheignominyofdisbarmentarenotthesolemeasureinallowingapetitionforreinstatement,the
CourttakescognizanceoftherehabilitationofMejia.Sincehisdisbarmentin1992,noothertransgressionhas
beenattributedtohim,andhehasshownremorse.Obviously,hehaslearnedhislessonfromthisexperience,
andhispunishmenthaslastedlongenough.xxx


Petitioner has sufficiently demonstrated the remorse expected of him considering the gravity of his
transgressions.Evenmoretohisfavor,petitionerhasredirectedfocussincehisdisbarmenttowardspublic
service,particularlywiththePeoplesLawEnforcementBoard.Theattestationssubmittedbyhispeersinthe
communityandotheresteemedmembersofthelegalprofession,suchasretiredCourtofAppealsAssociate
Justice Oscar Herrera, Judge Hilario Laqui, Professor Edwin Sandoval and Atty. Lorenzo Ata, and the
ecclesiastical community such as Rev. Fr. Paul Balagtas testify to his positive impact on society at large
sincetheunfortunateeventsof2003.

PetitionerssubsequenttrackrecordinpublicserviceaffordstheCourtsomehopethatifheweretoreacquire
membershipinthePhilippinebar,hisachievementsasalawyerwouldredoundtothegeneralgoodandmore
than mitigate the stain on his record. Compassion to the petitioner is warranted. Nonetheless, we wish to
imparttohimthefollowingsternwarning:

Ofallclassesandprofessions,thelawyerismostsacredlyboundtoupholdthelaws.Heistheirswornservant
andforhim,ofallmenintheworld,torepudiateandoverridethelaws,totramplethemunderfootandtoignore
the very bands of society, argues recreancy to his position and office and sets a pernicious example to the
[8]
insubordinateanddangerouselementsofthebodypolitic.

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WHEREFORE,inviewoftheforegoing,thePetitionforJudicialClemencyandCompassionishereby
GRANTEDINPART. ThedisbarmentofDANILOG.DEGUZMANfromthepracticeoflawishereby
COMMUTED to SEVEN (7) YEARS SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW, reckoned
fromFebruary4,2004.

SOORDERED.



CONSUELOYNARESSANTIAGO
AssociateJustice

WECONCUR:



REYNATOS.PUNO
ChiefJustice




LEONARDOA.QUISUMBINGANTONIOT.CARPIO
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice




MA.ALICIAAUSTRIAMARTINEZRENATOC.CORONA
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice



CONCHITACARPIOMORALESDANTEO.TINGA
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice




MINITAV.CHICONAZARIOPRESBITEROJ.VELASCO,JR.
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice




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ANTONIOEDUARDOB.NACHURATERESITAJ.LEONARDODECASTRO
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice




ARTUROD.BRIONDIOSDADOM.PERALTA
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice




LUCASP.BERSAMIN
AssociateJustice

*Onofficialleave.
[1]
PetitionforJudicialClemencyandCompassion(hereinafter,Petition),p.26.
[2]
Bernardov.Mejia,A.C.No.2984,August31,2007,531SCRA639.
[3]
Id.
[4]
SeeAdezRealty,Incorporatedv.CourtofAppeals,G.R.No.100643,December12,1995,251SCRA201.
[5]
A.C.No.1302,1391,1543,June30,2008,556SCRA503.
[6]
Id.at515.
[7]
Supranote2at643.
[8]
Barriosv.Martinez,A.C.No.4585,November12,2004,442SCRA324,341.

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