Commotion in Caloocan court as lawyer acts vs ‘fake lawyer’

A man claiming to have a 30-year experience in the law profession—and whose latest clients included a rape suspect—ended up in detention after a lawyer filed a complaint alleging that he was a fraud.

Joaquin Lorenzo Misa Jr. of Immaculate Concepcion, Cubao, Quezon City, was arrested by the Caloocan City police on Wednesday on a complaint from lawyer Roderick Manzano.

Chief Insp. Ilustre Mendoza, investigation chief of the Caloocan police, said Misa was arrested by the police officers who were on court duty at the Metropolitan Trial Court-Branch 84 at the North Caloocan Judicial Complex.

This was after Manzano presented a certification from the Office of the Bar Confidant of the Supreme Court saying Misa is not a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, among other documents supporting his complaint, Mendoza said.

Manzano asked for police assistance in entrapping Misa, the officer added.

The 64-year-old Misa, who was in court that day as a defense counsel for rape suspect Jose Norilito Fruto, had a law office in Pasig City and claimed that he had been a lawyer for the last 30 years, said PO3 Rommel Bautista, the investigator on the case.

When accosted, Misa resisted arrest and caused a commotion. “What are you doing? Are you stupid? Why are you arresting me? I will sue all of you and have you dismissed. Don’t you know I’m a lawyer?” a police report on the incident quoted him as saying.

Misa was subjected to inquest proceedings on Thursday for falsification of public documents and resisting arrest. He remained in detention at the Caloocan police headquarters at press time.