(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court has disbarred a lawyer for drafting a fake decision “acquitting” a drug accused in exchange for money.
In a statement, the SC said it ordered the name of Marie Frances E. Ramon stricken off the Roll of Attorneys “effective immediately” after she was found guilty of violating the Lawyer’s Oath, Canons 1, 7, 19, several provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility and of grave misconduct when she wrote the “fake, spurious and sham decision” supposedly acquitting one Tirso Fajardo for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Earlier, the SC said Ramon told one Maria Rossan de Jesus that she could secure the acquittal of De Jesus’ cousin Fajardo in exchange for a large amount.
Ramon, the SC said, wrote the names of now-Supreme Court justice Ramon Paul Hernando, then a junior member of the CA fifth division; of Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta, then the chair of the division; and of Associate Justice Stephen Cruz, then a senior member of the division; in the fake decision.
The SC said Fajardo’s case had actually been raffled to a different division and had been assigned to a different associate justice.
In its decision, the High Court, which adopted the findings of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ probe, said the disbarment of Ramon was “without prejudice to the civil or criminal cases pending and/or to be filed against” her.
“The court held that Atty. Ramon has tarnished the image of the legal profession and has lessened the public faith in the judiciary. Hence, the ultimate penalty of disbarment must be imposed upon her,” the SC said.