Petitioner: PATRICIA FIGUEROA

Respondent: SIMEON BARRANCO, JR.

SBC CASE NO. 519
July 31, 1997

FACTS:
Respondent Simeon Barranco and Petitioner Patricia Figueroa were childhood sweethearts and town mates in
Janiuay, Iloilo. Their relationship yielded a son. Respondent made numerous promises to marry the petitioner
after he passes the BAR examinations to which, he did in the 1970 BAR examinations. In 1971, petitioner
learned that respondent married another woman and charged him of gross immorality for failure of promise to
marry.

ISSUE/S:
WON the respondent’s act in premarital sexual relations with the complainant and failure of promise to marry
her constitute gross immoral conduct.

FACTS:
The Supreme Court ruled that the facts do not constitute gross immorality warranting permanent exclusion of
herein respondent from the legal profession. His engaging in premarital sexual relations with the complainant
and promises to marry suggest a doubtful moral character on his part but the same does not constitute gross
immoral conduct. To justify suspension or disbarment, the act complained of must not only be immoral but
grossly immoral. Additionally, even assuming that his past indiscretions are ignoble, the twenty-six years that
respondent has been prevented from being a lawyer constitute sufficient punishment therefor. Henceforth, the
Court hereby dismissed the instant petition and herein respondent should be allowed to take his lawyer’s oath.