IN THE MATTER OF INQUIRY INTO THE ELECTIONS OF THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES

FACTS: The newly-elected officers of the IBP were set to take their oath of office on July 4, 1989 before the members of the Supreme Court en banc but it was disturbed by the widespread reports received by the members of the Court about the intensive electioneering and overspending of the candidates Atty. Nereo Paculdo, Atty. Ramon Nisce and Atty. Violeta C. Drilon. The Supreme Court resolved to suspend the oath-taking and formed a committee to conduct the inquiry regarding this matter.

At the formal investigation, the violations that were established were the prohibited campaigning and solicitation of votes, the use of PNB plane during the campaign formation of tickets and single slates, giving free transportation to the delegates, giving free hotel accommodations, food, drinks and entertainment to the delegates, campaigning by labor officials for Atty. Violeta Drilon, paying dues or other indebtedness of the other lawyers. These activities constitute violation the idea of the “strictly non-political” characteristic Integrated Bar which is enshrined in Section 4 of the IBP By-Laws.

ISSUE: WON the campaign activities of the lawyer-candidates constitute violation of the Canon 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

HELD: The candidates and many of the participants in this IBP election not only violated the By-Laws of the IBP but also the ethics of the legal profession which imposes on all lawyers as corollary of their obligation to obey and uphold the constitution and the laws, the duty to promote respect for law and legal processes and to abstain from ‘activities aimed at defiance of the law lessening confidence in the legal system (Rule 1.02, Canon 1)

With regard to the Canon 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility which says that “A LAWYER SHALL AT ALL TIMES UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTEGRATED BAR”, the lawyer candidates failed to do so when they engaged in unlawful practices and brushed aside the very rules that the Integrated Bar formulated for their observance. The spectacle of the lawyers bribing or being bribed to vote one way or another, certainly did not uphold the honor of the profession nor elevate it in public’s esteem because it was publicized by the media.