Monday, November 28, 2011

MANILA (Updated) -- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s license as a lawyer should be revoked for openly defying the Supreme Court’s order that allowed former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad, a concerned lawyer said.

Lawyer Ricardo Rivera, who filed a disbarment case against de Lima at the High Court on Monday, said the Justice chief’s actions constitute a clear violation of the Court’s order.

"Respondent's conduct, as herein discussed, falls short of the exacting standards expected of her as a vanguard of the legal profession. She has displayed a conduct that is most disgusting and with so much arrogance unbecoming of an officer of the court,” an excerpt of Rivera's nine-page petition read.
Related Articles

Rivera, who maintains the Rivera Law Office in Jollibee Plaza condominium in Ortigas, Pasig City, said in a text message that he was never connected with the Arroyos.

Earlier, the government -- through de Lima -- refused to recognize the travel clearance pending receipt of the order as she tasked immigration officers to bar Arroyo and her party from boarding a Hong Kong-bound plane.

De Lima had said she is ready to face the charges head on, although she declined to tag the Arroyo camp as responsible for this complaint.

continue... http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/28/disbarment-case-filed-vs-justice-chief-193013