Ex-press secretary Trixie Angeles suspended for ‘grossly abusive’ language in pleading

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has suspended former press secretary and presidential spokesperson Trixie Cruz Angeles from practicing law for six months for using “grossly abusive” language in a pleading she filed on behalf of a client.

Aside from Trixie Angeles, also found guilty of violating Rule 8.01 Canon 8 of the Code of Professional Responsibility is Atty. Ahmed G. Paglinawan, co-counsels in an unlawful detainer case.

Rule 8.01 states that “a lawyer shall not, in his professional dealings, use language which is abusive, offensive or otherwise improper.”

The SC, in adopting the recommendation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Board of Governors, suspended Angeles from the practice of law for six months, while Paglinawan was only reprimanded given that the case was his first infraction.

Both were “sternly warned” that a repetition of the same or similar act would be dealt with more severely.

The complaint against the two was filed by a fellow lawyer stating that the two used offensive language in a pleading filed for a case of unlawful detainer.

The two lawyers, in the unlawful detainer document which was submitted before a lower court, said the witness “is lying through her teeth,” and called her a “patsy” and “pawn” of her religion. The pleading also said the plaintiff “is an incorrigible liar.”

“By no stretch of the imagination could these statements be considered as pertinent to the unlawful detainer case. Rather, and as found by the IBP-CBD (Commission on Integrity and Bar Discipline), these statements were made for the purpose of insulting, dishonoring, and humiliating the complainants in the unlawful detainer case… Hence the imposition of disciplinary liability is warranted,” the SC said.

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