SC disbars prosecutor for remarks vs. justices, bar confidant

The Supreme Court has disbarred a prosecutor for her remarks against the justices and the Bar Confidant.

In a decision promulgated in February but released only recently, the SC en banc found Perla Ramirez guilty of violating the Lawyer’s Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

"She is disbarred from the practice of law, and her name is ordered stricken off the Roll of Attorneys, effective immediately," the Court said.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed against Ramirez for her "unruly and offensive behavior" with residents and employees of a condominium in Makati City.

In 2014, the SC found Ramirez liable for violation of the Code and suspended her from practice for six months.

Ramirez appeared before the SC in 2016 with a letter and a copy of her service record to request that the SC lift the suspension order.

Then-Bar Confidant Atty. Cristina Layusa advised her to file the necessary motion and submit a sworn statement that she did not practice law during her suspension.

The Court denied Ramirez’s request as she did not comply with the required sworn statement and the necessary certifications from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the trial courts.

In 2017, Layusa read out the dispositive portion of the Court’s resolution, which denied Ramirez’s plea, after Ramirez went to the Office of the Bar Confidant to check the status of the suspension order. 

The Court said Ramirez then directed Layusa to read the entire record of the case. After being told not to speak in a disrespectful manner, Ramirez called Layusa "bruha ka" and hurled swear words at her. 

She said Layusa was a "disgrace to the legal profession" who was "only a clerk" who did not know her work.

Ramirez also questioned whether the SC justices were Bar passers.

This prompted Layusa and other OBC staff to file an incident report. The Court required Ramirez to comment on the incident report, but she did not file any. 

The OBC recommended the disbarment of Ramirez.

The Court said it finds it proper to impose the penalty of disbarment as Ramirez insulted a bar confidant in front of her staff and that the prosecutor neither confirmed nor denied the charges against her.

It said that this is not Ramirez's first offense, as she had been previously suspended. 

"This Court has always reminded members of the Bar that the practice of law is not a right but a mere privilege that is subject to the inherent regulatory power of this Court," the SC said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News