Disbarment case filed vs Camilo Sabio
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:41:00 08/25/2008
Filed Under: Judiciary (system of justice), Government offices & agencies, Graft & Corruption
MANILA, Philippines—Before he could explain his actions to a panel created by the Supreme Court, Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Camilo Sabio has been slapped with a disbarment complaint for allegedly trying to influence his brother in a case between the Government Service Insurance System and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
Filing the complaint on Aug. 21 before the high court’s Office of the Bar Confidant, lawyer Fernando Perito invoked the Code of Professional Responsibility that requires lawyers to refrain from influencing the courts, cultivating familiarity with judges or inviting interference by another branch of government in the normal course of judicial proceedings.
Perito asked that Sabio be investigated and be permanently barred from the legal profession if he is found liable for unethical conduct.
Perito cited Sabio’s reported call to his younger brother, Court of Appeals Justice Jose Sabio Jr., during which he reportedly tried to persuade the latter not to issue the temporary restraining order being sought by Meralco in the case it filed against the GSIS and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Jose Sabio, in his affidavit submitted to the panel investigating alleged improprieties in relation to the case, said Camilo had talked to him and apparently knew facts about the case he did not know about.
“What business indeed did [Camilo] Sabio have in arguing his case in which Malacańang had an interest—to the point of endangering his brother’s career?” Perito said.
He said Sabio breached legal ethics when he tried to sway his brother to favor the government.
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