Ethical Issues involved in

A.M. No. 10-7-17-SC

I. Venuya Case
Petitioners Isabelita C. Vinuya and about 70 other elderly women, all members o the
Malaya !olas "r#ani$ation.
Petitioners %laimed that in destroyin# &illa#es in the Phili''ines durin# (orld (ar II, the
)a'anese army systemati%ally ra'ed them and a number o other women, sei$in# them
and holdin# them in houses or %ells where soldiers re'eatedly ra&ished and abused them.

Petitioners alle#ed that they ha&e sin%e 1**+ been a''roa%hin# the ,-e%uti&e
.e'artment, re'resented by the res'ondent 'ubli% oi%ials, re/uestin# assistan%e in ilin#
%laims a#ainst the )a'anese military oi%ers who established the %omort women
stations. 0ut that .e'artment de%lined, sayin# that 'etitioners1 indi&idual %laims had
already been ully satisied under the Pea%e 2reaty between the Phili''ines and )a'an.
Petitioners wanted the Court to render 3ud#ment, %om'ellin# the ,-e%uti&e .e'artment to
es'ouse their %laims or oi%ial a'olo#y and other orms o re'arations a#ainst )a'an
beore the International Court o )usti%e and other international tribunals.

"n A'ril 4+, 4010, the Court rendered 3ud#ment dismissin# 'etitioners1 a%tion. )usti%e
Mariano C. del Castillo wrote the de%ision or the Court. 2he Court essentially #a&e two
reasons or its de%ision5 it %annot #rant the 'etition be%ause, first, the ,-e%uti&e
.e'artment has the e-%lusi&e 'rero#ati&e under the Constitution and the law to determine
whether to es'ouse 'etitioners1 %laim a#ainst )a'an6 and, second, the Phili''ines is not
under any obli#ation in international law to es'ouse their %laims.
II. In Matter of the Charges of Plagiarism against Associate Justice Mariano del
Castillo
(hen the de%ision in the Venuya %ase %ame out, Atty. 7erminio 7arry 8o/ue, )r.,
announ%ed in his online blo# that his %lients would ile a su''lemental 'etition 9detailin#
'la#iarism %ommitted by the %ourt: under the second reason it #a&e or dismissin# the
'etition and that 9these stolen 'assa#es were also twisted to su''ort the %ourt1s erroneous
%on%lusions that the ;ili'ino %omort women o (orld (ar 2wo ha&e no urther le#al
remedies.:
2hey %har#ed )usti%e .el Castillo o %o'yin# without a%<nowled#ement %ertain 'assa#es
rom three orei#n arti%les5

a. A Fiduciary Theory of Jus Cogens by ,&an ). Criddle and
,&an ;o--.es%ent, =ale )ournal o International !aw >400*?6
b. Breaking the Silence: Rape as an International Crime by
Mar< ,llis, Case (estern 8eser&e )ournal o International !aw >400@?6
and
%. Enforcing Erga mnes !ligations by Christian ). 2ams,
Cambrid#e Ani&ersity Press >400B?.
)usti%e .el Castillo %ir%ulated a letter to his %ollea#ues, subse/uently &eriied, statin# that
when he wrote the de%ision or the Court he had the intent to attribute all sour%es used in
it. 7e said in the 'ertinent 'art5

It must be emphasized that there as every intention to attribute
all sources! henever due. At no point as there ever any malicious
intent to appropriate another"s or# as our on. $e recall that
this ponencia as thrice included in the Agenda of the Court en
banc. It as deliberated upon during the %aguio session on April &'!
()&)! April ()! ()&) and in Manila on April (*! ()&). Each time!
suggestions ere made hich necessitated ma+or revisions in the draft.
,ources ere re-studied! discussions modified! passages added or
deleted. .he resulting decision comprises '/ pages ith *0 footnotes.

1 1 1 1

As regards the claim of the petitioners that the concepts as
contained in the above foreign materials ere 2tisted!3 the same
remains their opinion hich e do not necessarily share.
CDE

III. Violated Canons by the Associate Justice
4&5 $67 such as violated regarding the process done by the +ustice in drafting the
decision. 48ecisions are drafted by a layer because the +udge himself cannot
accommodate every cases considering the number of total cases.5
CA767 & - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 =P<698 .<E C67,.I.=.I67! 6%E: .<E
9A$, 6> .<E 9A78 A78 P;6M6.E ;E,PEC. >6; 9A$ A78 9E?A9
P;6CE,,E,.
8ule 1.01 - A lawyer shall not en#a#e in unlawul, dishonest, immoral or de%eitul
%ondu%t.
8ule 1.04 - A lawyer shall not %ounsel or abet a%ti&ities aimed at deian%e o the law or at
lessenin# %oniden%e in the le#al system.
8ule 1.0F - A lawyer shall not, or any %orru't moti&e or interest, en%oura#e any suit or
'ro%eedin# or delay any man1s %ause.
8ule 1.0D - A lawyer shall en%oura#e his %lients to a&oid, end or settle a %ontro&ersy i it
will admit o a air settlement.
4(5 $67 the associate +ustice as efficient in his process in drafting decisions
CA767 ( - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 MA@E <I, 9E?A9 ,E;VICE, AVAI9A%9E
I7 A7 E>>ICIE7. A78 C67VE7IE7. MA77E; C6MPA.I%9E $I.< .<E
I78EPE78E7CE! I7.E?;I.: A78 E>>EC.IVE-7E,, 6> .<E
P;6>E,,I67.
8ule 4.01 - A lawyer shall not re3e%t, e-%e't or &alid reasons, the %ause o the
deenseless or the o''ressed.
8ule 4.04 - In su%h %ases, e&en i the lawyer does not a%%e't a %ase, he shall not reuse to
render le#al ad&i%e to the 'erson %on%erned i only to the e-tent ne%essary to sae#uard
the latter1s ri#hts.
8ule 4.0F - A lawyer shall not do or 'ermit to be done any a%t desi#ned 'rimarily to
soli%it le#al business.
8ule 4.0D - A lawyer shall not %har#e rates lower than those %ustomarily 'res%ribed
unless the %ir%umstan%es so warrant.
4'5 .he associate +ustice should have changed the legal system considering that he
himself #no the problems inside.
CA767 / - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 PA;.ICIPA.E I7 .<E 8EVE96PME7. 6>
.<E 9E?A9 ,:,.EM %: I7I.IA.I7? 6; ,=PP6;.I7? E>>6;., I7 9A$
;E>6;M A78 I7 .<E IMP;6VEME7. 6> .<E A8MI7I,.;A.I67 6>
J=,.ICE.
4/5 Computer literacy program should be included in MC9E.
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P;6?;AM,! ,=PP6;. E>>6;., .6 AC<IEVE <I?< ,.A78A;8, I7 9A$
,C<669, A, $E99 A, I7 .<E P;AC.ICA9 .;AI7I7? 6> 9A$
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.<E 9A$ A78 J=;I,P;=8E7CE.
4A5 Integrity and dignity in the legal profession as diminished to some e1tent after
revealing the process of drafting decisions.
CA767 * - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 A. A99 .IME, =P<698 .<E I7.E?;I.:
A78 8I?7I.: 6> .<E 9E?A9 P;6>E,,I67 A78 ,=PP6;. .<E
AC.IVI.IE, 6> .<E I7.E?;A.E8 %A;.
8ule 7.01 - A lawyer shall be answerable or <nowin#ly ma<in# a alse statement or
su''ressin# a material a%t in %onne%tion with his a''li%ation or admission to the bar.
8ule 7.04 - A lawyer shall not su''ort the a''li%ation or admission to the bar o any
'erson <nown by him to be un/ualiied in res'e%t to %hara%ter, edu%ation, or other
rele&ant attribute.
8ule 7.0F - A lawyer shall not en#a#e in %ondu%t that ad&ersely rele%ts on his itness to
'ra%ti%e law, nor shall he, whether in 'ubli% or 'ri&ate lie, beha&e in a s%andalous
manner to the dis%redit o the le#al 'roession.
4B5 .he associate +ustice should not escape liability from the fact that the decision
as made by hired or#.
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I7 .<E =7A=.<6;IDE8 P;AC.ICE 6> 9A$.
8ule *.01 - A lawyer shall not dele#ate to any un/ualiied 'erson the 'erorman%e o any
tas< whi%h by law may only be 'erormed by a member o the 0ar in #ood standin#.
8ule *.04 - A lawyer shall not di&ide or sti'ulate to di&ide a ee or le#al ser&i%es with
'ersons not li%ensed to 'ra%ti%e law, e-%e't5
a? (here there is a 're-e-istin# a#reement with a 'artner or asso%iate that, u'on the
latter1s death, money shall be 'aid o&er a reasonable 'eriod o time to his estate or to
'ersons s'e%iied in the a#reement6 or
b? (here a lawyer underta<es to %om'lete uninished le#al business o a de%eased
lawyer6 or
%? (here a lawyer or law irm in%ludes non-lawyer em'loyees in a retirement 'lan, e&en
i the 'lan is based in whole or in 'art, on a 'roitable sharin# arran#ement.
C<AP.E; III. .<E 9A$:E; A78 .<E C6=;.,
>7? As to the issue ("N the asso%iate 3usti%e mis/uoted or twisted the 'assa#e he lited.
CA767 &) - A 9A$:E; 6$E, CA786;! >AI;7E,, A78 ?668 >AI.< .6
.<E C6=;..
8ule 10.01 - A lawyer shall not do any alsehood, nor %onsent to the doin# o any in
Court6 nor shall he mislead, or allow the Court to be misled by any artii%e.
8ule 10.04 - A lawyer shall not <nowin#ly mis/uote or misre'resent the %ontents o
'a'er, the lan#ua#e or the ar#ument o o''osin# %ounsel, or the te-t o a de%ision or
authority, or <nowin#ly %ite as law a 'ro&ision already rendered ino'erati&e by re'eal or
amendment, or assert as a a%t that whi%h has not been 'ro&ed.
8ule 10.0F - A lawyer shall obser&e the rules o 'ro%edure and shall not misuse them to
deeat the ends o 3usti%e.
>+? 2he asso%iate 3usti%e1s eorts are /uestionable as the de%ision was 're'ared by hired
wor<.
CA767 &( - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 EEE;. EVE;: E>>6;. A78 C67,I8E; I.
<I, 8=.: .6 A,,I,. I7 .<E ,PEE8: A78 E>>ICIE7. A8MI7I,.;A.I67
6> J=,.ICE.
8ule 14.01 - A lawyer shall not a''ear or trial unless he has ade/uately 're'ared himsel
on the law and the a%ts o his %ase, the e&iden%e he will addu%e and the order o its
'reeren%es. 7e should also be ready with the ori#inal do%uments or %om'arison with the
%o'ies.
8ule 14.04 - A lawyer shall not ile multi'le a%tions arisin# rom the same %ause.
8ule 14.0F - A lawyer shall not, ater obtainin# e-tensions o time to ile 'leadin#s,
memoranda or bries, let the 'eriod la'se without submittin# the same or oerin# an
e-'lanation or his ailure to do so.
8ule 14.0D - A lawyer shall not unduly delay a %ase, im'ede the e-e%ution o a 3ud#ement
or misuse Court 'ro%esses.
8ule 14.0B - A lawyer shall rerain rom tal<in# to his witness durin# a brea< or re%ess in
the trial, while the witness is still under e-amination.
8ule 14.0@ - A lawyer shall not <nowin#ly assist a witness to misre'resent himsel or to
im'ersonate another.
8ule 14.07 - A lawyer shall not abuse, browbeat or harass a witness nor needlessly
in%on&enien%e him.
8ule 14.0+ - A lawyer shall a&oid testiyin# in behal o his %lient, e-%e't5
a? on ormal matters, su%h as the mailin#, authenti%ation or %ustody o an instrument, and
the li<e, or
b? on substantial matters, in %ases where his testimony is essential to the ends o 3usti%e,
in whi%h e&ent he must, durin# his testimony, entrust the trial o the %ase to another
%ounsel.
>*? Atty. 8o/ue )r. %ra&es attention when he di&ul#ed to the media his %ourse o a%tions.
CA767 &' - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 ;E9: =P67 .<E ME;I., 6> <I, CA=,E
A78 ;E>;AI7 >;6M A7: IMP;6P;IE.: $<IC< .E78, .6 I7>9=E7CE!
6; ?IVE, .<E APPEA;A7CE 6> I7>9=E7CI7? .<E C6=;.
8ule 1F.01 - A lawyer shall not e-tend e-traordinary attention or hos'itality to, nor see<
o''ortunity or %ulti&atin# amiliarity with )ud#es.
8ule 1F.04 - A lawyer shall not ma<e 'ubli% statements in the media re#ardin# a 'endin#
%ase tendin# to arouse 'ubli% o'inion or or a#ainst a 'arty.
8ule 1F.0F - A lawyer shall not broo< or in&ite intereren%e by another bran%h or a#en%y
o the #o&ernment in the normal %ourse o 3udi%ial 'ro%eedin#s.
4&)5 Its unfair for the associate +ustice to label others or# as his.
CA767 &A - A 9A$:E; ,<A99 6%,E;VE CA786;! >AI;7E,, A78
96:A9.: I7 A99 <I, 8EA9I7?, A78 .;A7,AC.I67, $I.< <I,
C9IE7.,.
8ule 1B.01 - A lawyer, in %onerrin# with a 'ros'e%ti&e %lient, shall as%ertain as soon as
'ra%ti%able whether the matter would in&ol&e a %onli%t with another %lient or his own
interest, and i so, shall orthwith inorm the 'ros'e%ti&e %lient.
8ule 1B.04 - A lawyer shall be bound by the rule on 'ri&ile#e %ommuni%ation in res'e%t
o matters dis%losed to him by a 'ros'e%ti&e %lient.
8ule 1B.0F - A lawyer shall not re'resent %onli%tin# interests e-%e't by written %onsent
o all %on%erned #i&en ater a ull dis%losure o the a%ts.
8ule 1B.0D - A lawyer may, with the written %onsent o all %on%erned, a%t as mediator,
%on%iliator or arbitrator in settlin# dis'utes.
8ule 1B.0B - A lawyer when ad&isin# his %lient, shall #i&e a %andid and honest o'inion on
the merits and 'robable results o the %lient1s %ase, neither o&erstatin# nor understatin#
the 'ros'e%ts o the %ase.
8ule 1B.0@ - A lawyer shall not state or im'ly that he is able to inluen%e any 'ubli%
oi%ial, tribunal or le#islati&e body.
8ule 1B.07 - A lawyer shall im'ress u'on his %lient %om'lian%e with the laws and
'rin%i'les o airness.
8ule 1B.0+ - A lawyer who is en#a#ed in another 'roession or o%%u'ation %on%urrently
with the 'ra%ti%e o law shall ma<e %lear to his %lient whether he is a%tin# as a lawyer or
in another %a'a%ity.