Leda v.

Tabang
Facts:
Respondent, Atty. Trebonian Tabang, and complainant, Evangeline Leda, contracted
marriage at Tigbauan, Iloilo. It was solemnized by Judge Jose Tavarro. The parties agreed to
keep the marriage until after respondent had finished his law studies and had taken the bar
examinations.Respondent in his application declared that he was single. He passed the exam.
But complainant blocked him from taking his oath claiming that he acted fraudulently in filling out
his application. Moreover, she alleged that after respondent’s law studies, he became aloof and
abandoned her.

Issue: WON Respondent is guilty of violating Rule 7.01, Canon 7.0 of the Code of Professional
Responsibility for declaring he was single on his application for examination.

Ruling:
His declaration that he was single in his application was a gross misrepresentation of a
material fact made in utter bad faith. It is a violation of Rule 7.01, Canon 7.0 which states that
“a lawyer shall be answerable for knowingly making a false statement or suppressing a material
fact, in connection with his application for admission to the bar. As good character is an
essential qualification for admission of an attorney to practice, when the attorney’s character is
bad in such respects as to show that he is unsafe and unfit to be entrusted with the powers of
an attorney, the court retain power to discipline him. Thus, his acts of wrapping his marriage and
concealing it upon application at the bar are acts violating Canon 7 Rule 7.01 of the CPR. The
Respondent is hereby suspended from practice of law until the court further orders.