Lawyer disbarred for fabricating court order

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has disbarred a lawyer for fabricating a court order granting a petition for the presumptive death of a client’s husband.

In a case briefer, the SC said it disbarred Ariel Maglalang in an en banc session on Aug. 22 for violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) for lawyers, making him one of the first lawyers to lose their license under the new code.

Based on court records, Maglalang was hired in 2006 to initiate a petition for a declaration of nullity of marriage, for which he was paid P100,000. He guaranteed a favorable outcome within three months, but despite several follow-ups, he never gave an update to his client.

Months later, he gave his client what was later found to be a forged order that declared his client’s husband presumptively dead.

“He also made it appear that the petition was heard and granted by Judge Ray Alan Drilon of the Regional Trial Court Branch 41, Bacolod City,” the briefer read.

Drilon learned of the forgery in 2008, which led to the filing of administrative charges against Maglalang.

In disbarring Maglalang, the SC said the evidence pointing to his authorship and use of the forged order violated two canons of the CPRA.

“His acts evince his disrespect for the rule of law and the courts. Further, his use of the forged order reflects poorly on his fitness to practice law and brings discredit upon the entire legal profession,” the SC said.