SC issues second show cause order vs. PAO chief

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta to explain anew why she should not be disciplined for issuing an order in response to an earlier court resolution.

In a statement, the Supreme Court en banc asked Acosta to show cause why she should not be administratively dealt with for issuing PAO Office Order No. 096 after the Court directed the office to comply with Canon III, Section 22 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability( CPRA).

“The Court deemed the foregoing instructions in Atty. Acosta’s Office Order as belligerent and disrespectful as she effectively accused the Court of directly exposing the public attorneys not only to criminal and administrative liability but also physical danger,” the Court said.

According to the Court, though it appears to be a directive to comply, the office order “further instigated disobedience to the said rule.”

Meanwhile, the SC noted that the order gave public attorneys the “discretion and disposition” to comply with Canon III, Section 22 of the CPRA.

It said the order’s advice to attorneys to reconcile the CPRA provision with Article 209 of the Revised Penal Code — which penalizes the betrayal of trust and revelation of secrets by lawyers — also insinuates that compliance with the CPRA will amount to a violation of the article.

When sought for comment, Acosta said she would wait for the resolution.

The SC previously denied the request of PAO to remove Canon III, Section 22 of the CPRA, which states that "a conflict of interest of any of the lawyers of the PAO incident to services rendered for the Office shall be imputed only to the said lawyer and the lawyer’s direct supervisor."

The Court also asked Acosta to show cause why she should not be cited in indirect contempt for her social media posts and newspaper publications “which tended, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice.”

In response, Acosta apologized to the court.—LDF, GMA Integrated News