Maaari bang mangutang ng pera ang abogado sa kanyang kliyente?

Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta / Magtanong Kay Attorney

Dear Chief Acosta,

Nais kong malaman kung maaari bang umutang ang abogado sa kanyang kliyente? O masasabi bang mali ito at ipinagbabawal ng batas o alituntunin? – Jordan

Dear Jordan,

Malaki ang iniaatang na responsibilidad sa mga abogado kaugnay sa kanilang paninilbihan sa kanilang kliyente pati na sa mismong propesyon ng abogasya. Sa pangkalahatan ay inaatasan silang palaging maging tapat sa kanilang mga kliyente at lubusang isulong ang interes at ikabubuti ng huli.

Isa sa mga alituntuning ipinatutupad ay ang pagbabawal sa mga abogado na umutang o manghiram ng pera sa kanilang kliyente. Kung sakaling ito ay kanilang gawin ay dapat lubos na mapoprotektahan ang interes ng kanilang kliyente. Malinaw na nakasaad sa Code of Professional Responsibility na:

“Rule 16.04 – A lawyer shall not borrow money from his client unless the client’s interest are fully protected by the nature of the case or by independent advice. Neither shall a lawyer lend money to a client except, when in the interest of justice, he has to advance necessary expenses in a legal matter he is handling for the client.”

Samakatwid, hindi hinihikayat ang gawaing pangungutang o panghihiram ng pera ng abogado sa kanyang kliyente. Para sa inyong karagdagang kaalaman, ipinaliwanag ng ating Korte Suprema sa kasong Aurora Aguilar-Dyquiangco vs. Atty. Diana Lynn M. Arellano (A.C. No. 10541, July 12, 2016, Ponente: Honorable Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa), ang sumusunod:

“We have previously emphasized that it is unethical for a lawyer to obtain loans from Complainant during the existence of a lawyer-client relationship between them as we held in Paulina T. Yu v. Atty. Berlin R. Dela Cruz:

This act alone shows respondent lawyer's blatant disregard of Rule 16.04.

x x x

What deserves detestation was the very act of his exercising influence and persuasion over his client in order to gain undue benefits from the latter's property. The Court has repeatedly emphasized that the relationship between a lawyer and his client is one imbued with trust and confidence. And as true as any natural tendency goes, this "trust and confidence" is prone to abuse. The rule against borrowing of money by a lawyer from his client is intended to prevent the lawyer from taking advantage of his influence over his client. The rule presumes that the client is disadvantaged by the lawyer's ability to use all the legal maneuverings to renege on his obligation. Suffice it to say, the borrowing of money or property from a client outside the limits laid down in the CPR is an unethical act that warrants sanction.

x x x”

(Binigyang-diin)

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.