MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has suspended Atty. Leticia E. Ala from practicing law for a total of one year and six months, finding her guilty of violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) in a decision promulgated on February 5, 2025. The ruling, penned by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez under A.C. No. 13435, stemmed from a disbarment complaint filed by Denis Guy Martin, a French national and Ala’s former brother-in-law, highlighting her unlawful conduct and use of intemperate language.

Background of the Case

Martin, previously married to Ala’s sister, Rebecca E. Ala-Martin, filed the complaint on August 9, 2018, before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The charges arose from two incidents: an altercation on April 17, 2017, involving Ala and Martin’s son (her nephew), Jean Marc, and a deportation case Ala filed against Martin in January 2017. Martin accused Ala of attempted murder for urging police to shoot Jean Marc, representing conflicting interests in the deportation case, and using offensive language in legal pleadings despite a prior sanction.

This is not Ala’s first brush with disciplinary action. In 2006, Martin filed a similar complaint (A.C. No. 10556), resulting in her admonishment in 2021 for offensive language. The current case, however, escalated the penalties due to the gravity and recurrence of her actions.

The Court’s Findings

The Supreme Court, applying the newly effective CPRA (May 30, 2023), upheld the IBP’s findings with modifications, imposing separate penalties for distinct offenses:

1. Unlawful Conduct: During the April 17, 2017 incident, Ala repeatedly urged police officers to shoot Jean Marc, saying, “For God’s sake! Patayin niyo na si Jean Marc! Barilin nyo na kesa tayo pa ang maunahan niya dito!” Despite police refusal due to legal constraints, she persisted, even suggesting they shoot his leg to prevent escape. The Court found this a violation of Canon II, Section 2 (dignified conduct) and Canon III, Section 2 (upholding laws and legal processes), noting her disregard for due process and human rights. While acknowledging her possible distress, the Court emphasized her duty as a lawyer to uphold the law, warranting a six-month suspension.
2. Intemperate Language: In her pleadings before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for Martin’s deportation, Ala used abusive and derogatory terms, accusing Martin and his counsel of tampering with records, questioning their dignity, and mocking their legal competence with phrases like “tonsorial justice” and “pathetic views.” This breached Canon II, Sections 4 (dignified language) and 13 (unfounded accusations), leading to a one-year suspension. Her prior sanction in A.C. No. 10556 aggravated the penalty.
3. Conflict of Interest: The Court dismissed Martin’s claim that Ala’s filing of the deportation case violated conflict-of-interest rules. Ala acted in her personal capacity, not as counsel for a client, and no evidence showed she used confidential information from past representation of Martin or his company. The burden of proof, resting on Martin, was unmet.

Penalties and Implications

The suspensions—six months for unlawful conduct and one year for abusive language—will be served consecutively, totaling 18 months. Ala was sternly warned that further violations would face harsher consequences. She must immediately notify the Court of her suspension’s start upon receiving the decision, with copies sent to all courts and quasi-judicial bodies where she appears as counsel. Post-suspension, she must file a sworn statement with the Office of the Bar Confidant.

The ruling underscores the legal profession’s high ethical standards, emphasizing that lawyers must maintain propriety, respect legal processes, and use dignified language, even in personal disputes. The Court noted that while the practice of law allows vigorous advocacy, it does not excuse scandalous or offensive behavior that discredits the profession.

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