Citing future rift with co-counsel: Defense lawyer to resign from Ellah Joy Pique case

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo is withdrawing his services as collaborating counsel for Bella Ruby Santos, one of the suspects in the kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique, to avoid future conflict with a Makati-based lawyer who is acting as lead counsel.

Villagonzalo said that lead counsel Anna Luz Cristal is insisting on her plan and strategy in handling the case. He admitted that instead of working together they appeared to have been competing against each other to prove who is more intelligent.

According to Villagonzalo, the situation is not working for the best interest of their client.

“I don’t know how to contradict a mother and she is like a mother to me and to stop the future conflict between us, then I have to withdraw myself as collaborating counsel,” Villagonzalo said.

He cited Cannon 22 of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Code of Professional Responsibility as ground.

 “Lawyer shall withdraw his services only for good cause and upon notice appropriate in the circumstances (c)-when his inability to work with co-counsel will not promote the best interest of the client,” it states.

Villagonzalo said that his purpose of withdrawing as counsel is to protect the best interest of his client.

“I worked hard for this case because I find it a challenging case to me and withdrawing as counsel would be better for my/our client to evade the future conflict that will arise sooner or later between me and Attorney Cristal,” Villagonzalo said.

Villagonzalo dismissed suspicions that his move was an offshoot of the last hearing wherein he and Cristal were allegedly scolded by Santos.

“We have no conflict with Maam Bella, but a little problem, is within me and Cristal because we have different ways in running the case,” Villagonzalo added.

Villagonzalo, however, failed to file his formal notice before the court to withdraw his appearance as one of the counsels for Santos because the latter did not consent to it.

Santos said she won’t allow Villagonzalo to withdraw as collaborating counsel.

“I will convince and plead to attorney Villagonzalo not to withdraw as collaborating counsel because I have trust in him,” Santos said.

Santos admitted she likes the tandem of Villagonzalo and Cristal because the former is aggressive while the latter has the characteristics of being feminine, which she claimed to be her personality.

Santos said she will talk to Cristal about the issue to settle whatever conflict or misunderstanding between her two lawyers. — (FREEMAN)