YOUNG v BATUEGAS FACTS YOUNG is the private prosecutor in People of the Phil v Arana BATUEGAS, et al are the counsels

ls for the accused in the said criminal case On Dec 13, 2000, BATUEGAS filed a Manifestation with Motion for Bail alleging that the accused has voluntarily surrendered to a person in authority and, as such, is now under detention Upon verification with the NBI, YOUNG discovered that the accused surrendered on Dec 14, 2000 (not 13) BATUEGAS, et al in their defense alleged that o On Dec 13, 2000, upon learning that a warrant of arrest was issued against their client, they filed a Manifestation with Motion for Bail o They immediately fetched accused from Cavite and brought him to NBI to voluntarily surrender o However, due to heavy traffic, they arrived at NBI at 2am the next day o That was why the Certificate of Detention indicated that the accused surrendered on Dec 14, 2000 and not 13 o As to lack of notice, YOUNG being a private prosecutor, is not entitled to such as only the State and City prosecutors should be given notices Investigating Commissioner recommended suspension of 6 months IBP Commission on Bar Discipline in a resolution approved said recommendation ISSUE W/N BATUEGAS, ET AL ARE GUILTY OF FALSEHOOD AND SHOULD BE SUSPENDED HELD YES, CONCEALED TRUTH RATIO A lawyer must be a disciple of truth He swore upon his admission that he will do no falsehood nor consent to the doing of any in court As officer of the court, his high vocation is to correctly inform the court upon the law and facts of the case to aid it in arriving at the correct conclusion The courts, on the other hand, are entitled to expect only complete honesty from lawyers appearing and pleading before them His a lawyers solemn duty is to defend his client, his conduct must never be at the expense of truth In the case at bar, BATUEGAS, et al feel short of the duties and responsibilities expected of them as members of the bar Anticipating that their Motion for Bail will be denied by the Court found that it had no jurisdiction over the person of the accused, they craftily concealed the truth alleging that the accused had voluntarily surrendered To knowingly allege an untrue statement in the pleading is a contemptuous conduct that the Court strongly condemns BATUEGAS, et al violated their oath when they resorted to deception Hence, BATUEGAS, et al should be suspended for 6 months