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RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila

ENBANC

A.C.No.3694June17,1993

ALBERTOFERNANDEZ,ISABELOONGTENGCO,ACHILLESBARTOLOME,ANDST.LUKESMEDICAL
CENTER,complainants,
vs.
ATTORNEYBENJAMINM.GRECIA,respondent.

NorbertoGonzalesforFernandez.

BuCastroforOngtengco&Bartolome.

Quasha,Asperilla,Ancheta,Pea&NolascoforSt.Luke'sHospital.

JoaquinP.YusecoforrespondentBenjaminGrecia.

PERCURIAM:

ThisdisbarmentcomplaintagainstAttorneyBenjaminM.GreciawasfiledonAugust20,1991byDoctorsAlberto
Fernandez,IsabeloOngtengcoandAchillesBartolomeandtheSt.Luke'sMedicalCenter(hereafter"St.Luke's"for
brevity) where they are accredited medical practitioners. The respondent is charged with dishonesty and grave
misconduct in connection with the theft of some pages from a medical chart which was material evidence in a
damagesuitfiledbyhisclientsagainsttheaforenameddoctorsandSt.Luke's.

Disciplinaryproceedingslikethisoneareinaclassbythemselves.AsweobservedinInReAlmacen, 31 SCRA
562,600, they are neither purely civil nor purely criminal. "Public interests is the primary objective, and the real
questionfordeterminationiswhetherornottheattorneyisstillafitpersontobeallowedtheprivilegesassuch."
Thepurposeis"toprotectthecourtandthepublicfromthemisconductofofficersofthecourt"(InReMontagne&
Dominguez,3Phil.577,588),ortoremovefromtheprofessionapersonwhosemisconducthasprovedhimunfitto
be entrusted with the duties and responsibilities belonging to the office of an attorney (Ledesma vs. Climaco, 57
SCRA473Atienzavs.Evangelista,80SCRA338).

Disbarment is nothing new to respondent Grecia. On November 12, 1987, he was disbarred for his immoral
complicityor"unholyalliance"withajudgeinQuezonCitytoripoffbanksandChinesebusinessfirmswhichhad
the misfortune to be sued in the latter's court (Prudential Bank vs. Judge Jose P. Castro and Atty. Benjamin M.
Grecia[Adm.CaseNo.2756],155SCRA604).

Threeyearslater,onDecember18,1990,theCourt,heedinghispleasforcompassionsandhispromisetomend
hisways,reinstatedhimintheprofession.Onlyeight(8)monthslater,onAugust20,1991,hewasbackbeforethe
courtfacinganotherchargeofdishonestyandunethicalpractice.Apparently,theearlierdisciplinaryactionthatthe
Courttookagainsthimdidnoteffectivelyreformhim.

The complaint of St. Luke's against Attorney Grecia was referred by the Court to Deputy Court of Administrator
JuanitoA.Bernadforinvestigation,reportandrecommendation.ThefollowingareJudgeBernad'sfindings:

ThelateFeLindaAveswasseven(7)monthspregnantwhenshewasadmittedasapatientatSt.Luke'sHospital
onDecember20,1990.Shecomplainedofdizziness,hypertension,andabdominalpainswithvaginalbleeding.Dr.
Fernandez,headoftheOBGYNEDepartmentofSt.Luke's,Dr.Ongtengco,Jr.,acardiologist,andDr.Bartolome,a
urologist,examinedMrs.Avesanddiagnosedherproblemasmildpreeclampsia(p.63,Rollo).Five(5)dayslater,
onChristmasday,December25,1990,Mrs.Aveswasdischargedfromthehospital,tocelebrateChristmaswithher
family.
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However,shewasrushedbacktothehospitalthenextday,December26,1990.OnDecember27,1990,shedied
togetherwithherunbornchild.

Blaming the doctors of St. Luke's for his wife's demise, Attorney Damaso B. Aves, along with his three (3) minor
children,broughtanactionfordamagesagainstthehospitalandtheattendingphysiciansofhiswife.Theircounsel,
respondent Attorney Benjamin Grecia, filed a complaint entitled: "Attorney Damaso B. Aves, et al. vs. St. Luke's
MedicalCenter,Drs.AlbertoFernandez,IsabeloOngtengco,Jr.andAchillesBartolome"intheRegionalTrialCourt
ofValenzuela,Bulacan,whereitwasdocketedasCivilCaseNo.3548VandassignedtoBranch172,presidedover
byJudgeTeresitaDizonCapulong.

On July 4, 1991, the medical records of Fe Linda Aves were produced in court by St. Luke's, as requested by
AttorneyGrecia.TherecordswereentrustedtotheActingBranchClerkofCourt,AvelinaRobles.

OnJuly16,1991,between8:309:00o'clockinthemorning,uponarrivingincourtforanotherhearingofthecase,
AttorneyGreciaborrowedfromMrs.RoblesthefoldercontainingthemedicalrecordsofMrs.Aves.

While leafing through the folder, Grecia surreptitiously tore off two (2) pages of the medical records. The
respondent's act was notified by Mrs. Robles and Maria Arnet Sandico, a clerk. They saw Grecia crumple the
papersandplacetheminsidetherightpocketofhiscoat.HeimmediatelyreturnedthefoldertoMrs.Roblesa(who
wasmomentarilyrenderedspeechlessbyhisaudaciousact)andlefttheoffice.

Mrs.Roblesexaminedthemedicalchartandfoundpages"72"and"73"missing.SheorderedSandicotofollowthe
respondent.SandicosawGrecianearthecanteenattheendofthebuilding,callingaman(presumablyhisdriver)
whowasleaningagainstaparkedcar(presumablyGrecia'scar).Whenthemanapproached,Greciagavehimthe
crumpledpaperswhichhetookfromhiscoatpocket.Sandicoreturnedtotheofficeandreportedwhatshehadseen
toMrs.Robles.ThelatterinturnreportedittoJudgeCapulong.Thethreeof
them Judge Capulong, Mrs. Robles and Ms. Sandico went downstairs. Ms. Sandico pointed to Judge
CapulongthemantowhomGreciahadgiventhepaperswhichhehadfilchedfrommedicalfolderofLindaAves.
JudgeCapulongtoldSandicotobringthemantoherchamber.Onthewaybacktochamber,JudgeCapulongsaw
theplaintiff,AttorneyDamasoAves,andSt.Luke'scounsel,AttorneyMelanieLimson.Sherequestedthemtocome
toheroffice.

InthepresenceofAttorneysAvesandLimson,Mrs.Robles,Ms.Sandico,andavisitor,JudgeCapulongconfronted
themanandorderedhimtogiveherthepaperswhichGreciahadpassedontohim.Themanatfirstdeniedthathe
hadthepapersinhispossession.However,whenSandicodeclaredthatshesawGreciahandoverthepapersto
him,themansheepishlytookthemfromhispantspocketandgavethemtoJudgeCapulong.Whenthecrumpled
pages"72"and"73"ofthemedicalfolderwereshowntoSandico,sheidentifiedthemasthesamepapersthatshe
sawGreciahandovertotheman.

Aftertheconfrontation,SandicioandRobleswentbacktotheiroffice.Mrs.Roblescollapsedinadeadfaintandwas
rushedtotheFatimaHospitalwhereshelaterregainedconsciousness.

Intheensuingexcitementandconfusionofrecoveringthestolenexhibits,noonethoughtofascertainingtheidentity
ofthemanfromwhomtheywererecovered.JudgeCapulongbelatedlyrealizedthis,soshedirectedtheValenzuela
Policetofindoutwhohewas.ShealsoorderedSandicotosubmitaformalreportofthetheftoftheexhibitstothe
police.

Apoliceinvestigator,PO3ArnoldAlabastro,triedtoascertainthenameofGrecia'sdriverwhowasknownonlyas
"SID."HelocatedGrecia'shouseinQuezonCity.Althoughhewasnotallowedtoenterthepremises,hewasableto
talkwithahousemaid.Hepretendedtobeacousinof"SID"andaskedforthelatter.Thehousemaidinformedhim
that"SID"wassenthometohisprovincebyGrecia.

HetalkedwithGreciahimselfbutthelatterdeniedthathehadadrivernamed"SID."

PO3 Alabastro also talked wit one of Grecia's neighbors across the street. The neighbor confirmed that Grecia's
driverwasafellownamed"SID".

The incident caused enormous emotional strain to the personnel of Judge Capulong's court, so much so that the
ActingBranchClerkofCourt,AvelinaRobles,washospitalized.Becauseoftheincident,JudgeCapulonginhibited
herselffromconductingthetrialofCivilCaseNo.3548V.

OnAugust20,1991,St.Luke'sfailedthisdisbarmentcaseagainstGrecia.

AttheinvestigationofthecasebyJudgeBernad,AttorneyDamasoAves,thesurvivingspouseofthelateFeLinda
AvesandplaintiffinCivilcaseNo.3548V,testifiedthatitwasAttorneyBuCastro,counselofthedefendantsinsaid
CivilCaseNo.3548V,wholiftedtwopagesfromthemedicalfolderwhichlayamongsomepapersontopofthe
tableofActingBranchClerkofCourtRobles.WhenheallegedlywentoutsidethecourthousetowaitforAttorney

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Greciatoarrive,henoticedAttorneyCastrocomeoutofthebuildingandwalktowardamanintheparkinglotto
whomhehandedapieceofpaper.Afterward,AttorneyCastroreenteredthecourthouse.

RespondentGreciadeniedanyknowledgeofthetheftoftheexhibitsintheAvescase.Heallegedthattheperson
who was caught in possession of the detached pages of the medical record was actually "planted" by his
adversariestodiscredithimanddestroyhisreputation.

Hedeniedthathehadadriver.HeallegedthathiscarwasoutoforderonJuly16,1991,sohewasfetchedbythe
driverofAttorneyAvesinthelatter's"Maxima"car.Hearrivedinthecourthouseatexactly9:15inthemorningand
went straight to the courtroom on the second floor of the building. He did not leave the place until his case was
calledat9:40.Sinceitwasallegedlyaverywarmday,heworeadarkbluebarongtagalog,notabusinesssuit.He
brandedthetestimonyofMs.Sandicoasanabsolutefalsehood.Heallegedthathewouldnothavedonetheact
imputedtohim,becausethemedicalchartwastheveryfoundationofthecivilcasewhichhefiledagainstSt.Luke's
and its doctors. He wondered why the man, alleged to be his driver, to whom he supposedly gave the detached
pagesofthemedicalchart,wasneitherheldnorarrested.Hisidentitywasnotevenestablished.

He likewise branded the testimony of Police Investigator Alabastro as a fabrication for he had never seen him
before.

Heunderscoredthefactthatnoneofthelawyersinthecourthouse,noranyofthecourtpersonnel,accostedhim
aboutthepurloinedpagesofthemedicalrecordandheallegedthattheunidentifiedmanremainedinthecourtroom
evenaftertheconfrontationintheJudge'schamber.

Inevaluatingthetestimoniesofthewitnesses,JudgeBernadfoundthecourtemployee,MariaArnieSandico,and
Acting branch Clerk of Court Avelina Robles entirely credible and "without any noticeable guile nor attempt at
fabrication,remainingconstantevenunderpressureofcrossexamination"(p.11,JudgeBernad'sReport).

ThattheActingBranchClerkofCourt,Mrs.Robles,whoisnotevenalawyer,andherlowlyclerk,Ms.Sandico,did
notpromptlyraiseahueandcryonseeingGreciatearofftwopagesofthemedicalrecord,wasunderstandablefor
theyhesitatedtoconfrontamanofhisstature.Nevertheless,theyhadthepresenceofmindtoimmediatelyreport
the matter to their Judge who forthwith took appropriate steps to recover the exhibits. Robles, Sandico and PO3
Alabastrohadabsolutelynomotivetotestifyfalselyagainsttherespondent.

While Judge Capulong took the blame for failing to ascertain the identity of Attorney Grecia's "driver," her swift
actioninsummoningandconfrontinghimledtotherecoveryofthestolenpagesofthemedicalchart.

Unfortunately,theinquirymadebyPoliceInvestigationArnoldAlabastrointoidentityofthemanwasfruitlessforhe
wasneverseenagain.

AttorneyAves'allegationthatitwasSt.Luke'scounsel,AttorneyCastro,notGrecia,whostolethepagesfromthe
medical folder and slipped them to an unidentified man, is an incredible fabrication. Not only is it directly
contradicted by Mrs. Robles and Ms. Sandico, but, significantly, Attorney Aves failed to mention it during the
confrontationwiththemaninsideJudgeCapulong'schamberwherehe(AttorneyAves)waspresent.

Hisotherallegationthathesawthemaninsidethecourtroomafterwards,isnotcredibleforhewouldhavecalled
theattentionofJudgeCapulongwho,heknew,hadbeenlookingforthemantoascertainhisidentity.

In view of his obvious bias for his counsel, Aves' testimony was properly disregarded by the investigator, Judge
Bernad. Likewise wanting in truth and candor was Grecia's testimony. Judge Bernad noted that while Grecia was
punctiliouswhentestifyingonthehourofhisarrivalincourt(9:15A.M.)onJuly16,1991,andheevenremembered
thatonthatdayheworeadarkbluebarongtagalog(anapparelthathasnopockets),hismemorywasnotsharp
when he was crossexamined regarding more recent events. For instance, he insisted that Judge Bernad was
absentonAugust4,1992,butthetruthisthatahearingwasheldonthatdateasshownbythetranscript.

Whenhewasconfrontedwithexhibits"A"and"B,"Greciatriedtomakeanissueoftheabsenceofacourtorderto
depositLindaAves'medicalchartincourt.Heforgotthatitwashewhoaskedthatthechartbeleftwiththeclerkof
court.

His allegation that he would be the last person to remove pages 72 and 73 of the medical chart for the entries
thereinarefavorabletohisclient'scauseisspecious.Asamatteroffact,theentriesshowthatafterMrs.Aveswas
readmitted to the hospital on December 26, 1990, the doctors were able to stabilize her blood pressure with a
normalreadingof120/80.

On the basis of the evidence presented before Judge Bernad, the Court is convinced that the charge against
AttorneyBenjaminM.Greciaistrue.BystealingtwopagesfromLindaAves'medicalchartandpassingthemonto
his driver, he violated Rule 1.01, canon 1 of the Rules of Professional Responsibility as well as canon 7 thereof
whichprovidethat:

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Canon1....

Rule1.01Alawyershallnotengageinunlawful,dishonest,immoralanddeceitfulconduct.

Canon7.Alawyershallatalltimesupholdtheintegrityanddignityofthelegalprofessionandsupport
theactivitiesoftheIntegratedBar.

A lawyer is an officer of the courts he is "like the court itself, an instrument or agency to advance the ends of
justice"(PeopleexrelKarlinvs.Culkin,60A.L.R.851,855).Anincorrigiblepractitionerof"dirtytricks,"likeGrecia
wouldbeillsuitedtodischargetheroleof"aninstrumenttoadvancetheendsofjustice."

The importance of integrity and good moral character as part of a lawyer's equipment in the practice of his
professionhasbeenstressedbythisCourtrepeatedly.

...Thebarshouldmaintainahighstandardoflegalproficiencyaswellasofhonestyandfairdealing.
Generallyspeaking,alawyercandohonortothelegalprofessionbyfaithfullyperforminghisdutiesto
society,tothebar,tothecourtsandtohisclients.Tothisend,nothingshouldbedonebyanymember
of the legal fraternity which might tend to lessen in any degree the confidence of the public in the
fidelity,honestyandintegrityoftheprofession.(Marcelovs.Javier,Sr.,A.C.No.3248,September18,
1992,pp.1314.)

. . . . The nature of the office of an attorney at law requires that he shall be a person of good moral
character. This qualification is not only a condition precedent to admission to the practice of law its
continuedpossessionisalsoessentialforremaininginthepracticeoflaw,intheexerciseofprivileges
ofmembersoftheBar.Grossmisconductonthepartofalawyer,althoughnotrelatedtothedischarge
ofprofessionaldutiesasamemberofthebar,whichputshismoralcharacterinseriousdoubt,renders
himunfittocontinueinthepracticeoflaw.(Melendrezvs.Decena,176SCRA662,676.)

...publicpolicydemandsthatlegalworkinrepresentationofpartieslitigantshouldbeentrustedonly
tothosepossessingtestedqualificationsandwhoaresworntoobservetherulesandtheethicsofthe
profession,aswellasbeingsubjectforjudicialdisciplinarycontrolfortheprotectionofcourt,clients
and the public. (Phil. Association of Free Labor Unions [PAFLU] vs. Binalbagan Isabela Sugar
Company,42SCRA302,305.)

Bydescendingtothelevelofacommonthief,respondentGreciahasdemeanedanddisgracedthelegalprofession.
Hehasdemonstratedhismoralunfitnesstocontinueasamemberofthehonorablefraternityoflawyers.Hehas
forfeitedhismembershipintheBAR.

Generally,alawyermaybedisbarredorsuspendedforanymisconduct,whetherinhisprofessionalor
private capacity, which shows him to be wanting in moral character, in honesty, probity and good
demeanororunworthytocontinueasanofficerofthecourt,oranunfitorunsafepersontoenjoythe
privileges and to manage the business of others in the capacity of an attorney, or for conduct which
tends to bring reproach on the legal profession or to injure it in the favorable opinion of the public.
(Marcelovs.Javier,Sr.,A.C.No.3248,September18,1992,p.15.)

WHEREFORE, the Court finds Attorney Benjamin Grecia guilty of grave misconduct, dishonesty, and grossly
unethicalbehaviorasalawyer.Consideringthatthisishissecondoffenseagainstthecanonsoftheprofession,the
CourtresolvedtoimposeuponhimoncemorethesupremepenaltyofDISBARMENT.Hislicensetopracticelawin
the Philippines is hereby CANCELLED and the Bar Confidant is ordered to strike out his name from the Roll of
Attorneys.

SOORDERED.

Cruz, Feliciano, Bidin, GrioAquino, Regalado, Davide, Jr., Romero, Nocon, Bellosillo, Melo and Quiason, JJ.,
concur.

Narvasa,C.J.,tooknopart.

Padilla,J.,isonleave.

TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

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