SC CIRCULAR NO. 15-91, July 24, 1991

For the information and guidance of all concerned, quoted
hereunder is the pertinent, portion of the Resolution of the Third Division of
this Court dated -April 19, 1991, in Adm. Case No.. 2152 entitled “Teodoro I.
Chavez vs. .Atty. Escolastico R. Viola”, to wit:

“It is clear to the Court that respondent Viola violated his
lawyer’s oath and as well Canon 22 of the Canons of Professional Ethics which
stated that [t]he conduct of the lawyer before the court and with other lawyers
should be characterized by candor and fairness’ (now Canon 10 of the Code of
Professional Responsibility prescribing that (a) lawyer owes candor fairness and
good faith to the courts)’. he has been deplorably lacking in the candor
required of his as member of the Bar and an officer of the court. In his
apparent zeal to secure the title to the property involved for his clients, he
disregarded his overriding duty to the court and to the law itself.

“WHEREFORE, finding respondent Escolastico R, Viola guilty of
committing a falsehood in violation of his lawyer’s oath and of the Canons of
Professional Ethics (now the Code of Professional Responsibility), the Court
Resolved to SUSPEND respondent from the practice of law for a period of five (5)
months, with a WARNING that commission of the same or similar offense in the
future will result in the imposition of a more severe penalty.”

Manila, July 24, 1991.