Legal & Judicial Ethics, M.P.Lacsie, 2015 pg.

Rule 7.03. A lawyer shall not engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law,
nor shall he, whether in public or private life, behave in a scandalous manner to the discredit of the
legal profession.
As emphasized in long line of cases, lawyers, who are officers of the courts arrayed by public trust, must maintain
continuously the required condition attributed to the profession. It is irrefutable that preservation bestows confidence
to the entire vocation. Any shortcomings cannot be taken lightly by proper authorities so as to maintain what is right,
correct the wrong, and establish the most appropriate acuity to the so called administrators of justice. It places to
mend serious doubt to the competency and moral uprightness of the members of the bar.
In Melendrez vs. Decena, A.M. No. 2104, August 24, 1989, a lawyer who commits an unlawful act though not
related to the discharge of his professional duties as a member of the Bar, which puts his moral character is serious
doubt, renders him unfit to continue in the practice of law. In the instant case, the exploitative deception exercised by
respondent attorney upon the complainants in his private transactions with them, and the exacting of unconscionable
rates of interest, considered together with the acts of professional misconduct committed by respondent attorney,
compel this Court to the conviction that he has lost that good moral character which is indispensable for continued
membership in the Bar.
In Po Cham Vs. Pizarro, A,C, No. 5499, August 16, 2005, The misconduct of a lawyer, whether in his professional or
private capacity, which shows him to be wanting in moral character, honesty, probity and good demeanor to thus
render him unworthy of the privileges which his license and the law confer upon him, may be sanctioned with
disbarment or suspension. Thus, under Section 27, Rule 138 of the Revised Rules of Court, a member of the Bar
may be disbarred or suspended from his office as attorney on the following grounds: 1) deceit; 2) malpractice
or other gross misconduct in office; 3) grossly immoral conduct; 4) conviction of a crime involving moral
turpitude; 5) violation of the lawyers oath; 6) willful disobedience to any lawful order of a superior court; and
7) willfully appearing as an attorney for a party without authority.