SC fines UST law dean over gifts to IBP officials

Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has found University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina guilty of simple misconduct when he paid for the trips of officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Central Luzon.

In a 25-page decision promulgated on July 30 but made public only on Monday, the high tribunal en banc found that Divina, a member of the IBP-Tarlac chapter, “crossed the borders on excessive and overstepped the line of propriety” when he sponsored the officers’ trips to Balesin Island Club in 2022 and Bali, Indonesia, in 2023.

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It fined Divina P100,000 for violating Canon II, Sections 1 and 2 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.

Lawyers Peter Paul Maglalang, Winston Ginez, Jocelyn Clemente, Jade Paulo Molo, Enrique dela Cruz Jr., and Jose Dela Rama Jr. were also found guilty of simple misconduct for receiving Divina’s gifts and fined P100,000 each.

“The Court observes that the receipt of these gifts, which are nothing short of exorbitant, reflects on their ability to act with propriety and maintain the appearance of propriety in personal and professional dealings,” the court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan.

The case stemmed from an anonymous letter alleging that Divina was engaged in illegal campaigning as part of a plan to be elected IBP-Central Luzon governor.

In a statement, Divina said he would file a motion for reconsideration as he expressed “full trust in the wisdom of the Honorable Supreme Court, the legal process and in the rule of law.”

“I sincerely hope that by providing additional context, the Supreme Court will appreciate my perspective,” he added, saying that he remained committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct.