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MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the disbarment of a lawyer for grossly immoral conduct for having extramarital affairs with multiple women.
In a statement on Wednesday, the SC said it found the lawyer guilty of four counts of grossly immoral conduct, which violates the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).
READ: SC orders lawyer disbarred for abandoning family
CPRA defines grossly immoral conduct as “a serious offense and an act that is so corrupt or false as to constitute a criminal act.”
According to the SC, the lawyer “openly engaged in extramarital relations with at least three women during his marriage, completely disregarding his marital vows.”
“Second, he entered into a bigamous marriage and fathered two illegitimate children,” it said.
“Third and fourth, he sexually harassed his house helper and law secretary by showing them pornographic materials. He also admitted to engaging in sexually charged conversations with them,” the SC added.
Upon learning these, the court said it imposed a penalty of disbarment for the first two counts and suspension for the other two.
However, the SC explained that due to the lawyer’s disbarment, the latter penalties could no longer be imposed.
“He (the lawyer) was still fined P400,001. Additionally, the penalties for the second to fourth counts of grossly immoral conduct will be seriously considered if he applies for reinstatement and judicial clemency,” it said.