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De Lima faces disbarment case

November 28, 2011 | 2:29pm

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima is now facing a disbarment case following her refusal to follow a Supreme Court directive allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad.

This after lawyer Ricardo Rivera filed before the SC at 1:50 p.m. today a formal disbarment case against De Lima, citing that instead of promoting confidence in the country's justice system, the DOJ chief led in orchestrating protest against the integrity of the entire judiciary.

In his petition, Rivera pointed out that being a lawyer, De Lima is expected to maintain high standard of morality in respecting the judiciary.

He asked the SC to assign his complaints before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to conduct an investigation on De Lima's objection to heed the SC directive.

“The investigation of the present case be immediately to the IBP board of governors directing it to conduct an investigation on the matter and to submit its report to the honorable court soonest, and disbarred and removed from roll of attorneys," he said in his nine-page complaint.

Pending result of the investigation, Rivera wanted De Lima be suspended from the practice of law.

Rivera is a resident of Filinvest Subdivision in Quezon City, and holding a law office in Jollibee Plaza Condominium in Ortigas Center.

Meantime, Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jesus Mupas continue to conduct ocular inspections on various possible detention facilities for Arroyo as soon as she comes out from the hospital.

Among the facilities that Mupas inspected included a room at Southern Police District (SPD), the Veterans Memorial Hospital, and the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City.

This as the Arroyo camp sought for a house arrest for the beleaguered former chief executive as soon as she came out from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

Another court summons Arroyo

Meanwhile, a Quezon City court has summoned Arroyo to answer the P15 million civil suit filed against her by the Morong 43.

In a resolution, Judge Maria Luisa Padilla of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 226 issued summons to Mrs. Arroyo and several military and police officials.

Padilla, however, denied the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment being asked by the complainants Morong 43.

The writ means the identification of assets and properties of Mrs. Arroyo where the damages can be taken from.

"Plaintiffs in this case failed to convince this Court that defendants are about to depart from Philippines with the intent to defraud their creditors by their mere invocation that the defendants are capable of doing since they have been in power for so long," the judge maintained.

Padilla also argued that the writ of attachment is "harsh, extraordinary and summary in nature."

"It is a rigorous remedy which exposes the debtor to humiliation and annoyance. It should be resorted to only when necessary and as a last remedy," the judge said. -- Dennis Carcamo