20 - Catalan vs. Silvosa

Catalan vs. Silvosa  A.C. No. 7360 7360 | July 24, 2012 2012 Facts:  Atty.  Atty. Catalan Catalan filed a complaint against esponden espondentt Atty. Atty. !il"osa alleging alleging t#at$ t#at$ %a& espondent espondent appeaed as counsel fo t#e accused in t#e same case %'speon Case& fo (#ic# #e pe"iously appeaed a posecuto) %*& t#e espondent *i*ed +osecuto oi*io fo +30,000.00 to econside t#e do(ngaded c#age of -less seious p#ysical inuies/ *ac to t#e c#age of -fustated mude/ against complainants *ot#e) and %c& t#e !andigan*ayan con"icted espondent !il"osa fo -diect *i*ey./ + Commissione una found t#at espondent is only guilty of t#e fist c#age and ecommended fo a epimand. As to t#e second c#age, una said t#at t#ee can *e no cetainty as to t#e *i*ey fo it allegedly occued se"en yeas ago. As to t#e t#id c#age, una up#eld espondents "ie( t#at Atty. Catalan #as no pesonal no(ledge of t#e e5totion case and said t#at findings in ciminal poceedings ae not *inding in dis*ament poceedings. Issue:  Ae findings findings in ciminal ciminal poceedings poceedings *inding *inding in dis*ament dis*ament poceedings poceedings es. es. Ruling:  Yes.  Yes. ist,  ist, dis*ament poceedings may *e instituted *y any inteested peson. t is of no moment t#at Atty. Catalan is not t#e complainant in t#e e5totion case against !il"osa. !econd, conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude is a ground for disbarment . n a dis*ament case, t#e Cout (ill no longe e"ie( a final udgment of con"iction. #id, t#e cime fo direct bribery  is  is a cime in"ol"ing moal tupitude. !il"osas epesentation of conflicting inteest and #is failed attempt to *i*e +os. oi*io meit at least t#e penalty of suspension. 8is*ament follo(s as a conse9uence of !il"osas con"iction of t#e cime. :is e5cuse t#at #is con"iction (as not in #is capacity as a la(ye, *ut as a pu*lic office, is unaccepta*le and *etays t#e unmistaa*le lac of integity in #is c#aacte. :ence, !il"osa (as dis*aed.