SECONDDIVISION

[G.R.No.146783.July29,2002]

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR HABEAS CORPUS OF MAXIMINO

GAMIDO MAXIMINO B. GAMIDO, petitioner, vs. NEW BILIBID PRISON,
respondent.

RESOLUTION
QUISUMBING,J.:

BeforeusistheMotionforRelieffiledonJanuary17,2002byEspiridionJ.DelaCruz,ofSuite
416WilliamLiyaoBldg.,RizalAvenue,Manila,whostyleshimselfascounselforpetitionerMaximino
B.Gamido.Twoissuesweretenderedduringthehearingofsaidmotiontoday,attendedbyDelaCruz
andthecounselsforrespondentledbytheAssistantSolicitorGeneralRodolfoUrbiztondo,OSG,to
wit:
1.Whetherornottherehasbeenaviolationoftheruleagainstforumshoppingand
2. Whether or not Espiridion J. Dela Cruz may appear as counsel for petitioner in this case,
consideringallegationsthatheisnotamemberofthePhilippineBar.
ItappearingthatearlierthepetitionerhimselffiledunderdateofFebruary12,2001,personallyhis
MotiontoWithdrawPetition,andthattheCourtinitsResolutiondatedMarch12,2001,grantedthe
withdrawalofhispetitionforhabeascorpus,theCourtherebyRESOLVESthattheinstantMotionfor
Relief, which was filed without authority of the petitioner and clearly without merit, should be and is
herebyDENIED.
Further,consideringrepresentationsbytheselfstyledcounselforpetitionerthathe,EspiridionJ.
Dela Cruz, is a lawyer with a law office bearing his name at Suite 416 William Liyao Bldg., Rizal
Avenue,Manila,andforthispurposeheusedthetitleofattorneyandindicatedinhispleadingsfiled
beforethisCourtanIBPnumber,whichturnedouttobespurious,ithavingbeenshownandadmitted
byhimthatheisnotamemberofthePhilippineBarascertifiedbytheOfficeoftheBarConfidant,
after he was made to show cause why he should not be disciplinarily dealt with for appearing as
counselinthiscasewithoutlicensetopracticelaw,andalthoughheaskedtheCourtforforgiveness
forthewronghehaddone,theCourtRESOLVEDtodeclareESPIRIDIONJ.DELACRUZGUILTYof
indirect contempt of this Court. WHEREFORE, he is hereby sentenced to pay a FINE of TEN
THOUSANDPESOS(P10,000)withinthirtydaysfromnoticehereof,ORsufferIMPRISONMENTfora
periodofonemonthandonedaytobeservedattheNationalBureauofInvestigation(NBI)detention
center,TaftAvenue,Manila,withthewarningthatarepetitionofthesameorsimilaractwouldbedealt
withmoreseverely.
SOORDERED.
Bellosillo,(Chairman),Mendoza,andCorona,JJ.,concur.