22 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

Jan a 9, 1973.

IN THE MATTER OF THE INTEGRATION OF THE BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES.

RESOL ION

PER CURIAM:

On Decembe 1, 1972, he Commi ion on Ba In eg a-

23

VOL. 49, JANUARY 9, 1973 23

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e
1
ion bmi ed i Re da ed No embe 30, 1972, i h he ea 2 ne ecommenda ion on he ba i of he
aid Re and he p oceeding had in Admini a i e Ca e No. 526 of he Co , and con i en l i h he ie
and co n el ecei ed f om i [ he Commi ion ] Boa d of Con l an , a ell a he o e helming na ion ide
en imen of he Philippine Bench and Ba ha hi H able C dai he i eg a i f he Phili i e Ba
a a ible h gh he ad i a d m lga i fa a ia e C R le.
The pe i ion in Adm. Ca e No. 526 fo mall p a he Co o o de he in eg a ion of he Philippine Ba , af e d e
hea ing, gi ing ecogni ion a fa a po ible and p ac icable o e i ing p o incial and o he local Ba a ocia ion . On
A g 16, 1962, a g men in fa o3 of a ell a in oppo i ion o he pe i ion e e o all e po nded befo e 4he Co .
W i en oppo i ion e e admi ed, and all pa ie e e he eaf e g an ed lea e o file i en memo anda.

_______________
1 C ea ed b S p eme Co Re ol ion of Oc obe 5, 1970 fo he p po e of a ce aining he ad i abili of he in eg a ion of he Ba in hi
j i dic ion, he Commi ion i compo ed of S p eme Co A ocia e J ice F ed R i Ca o (Chai man), Sena o Jo e J. Ro , e i ed S p eme
Co A ocia e J ice Con ado V. Sanche , S p eme Co A ocia e J ice ( hen Co of Appeal P e iding J ice) Sal ado V. E g e a, U.P.
La Cen e Di ec o C i oli o Pa c al, E -Sena o Tecla San And e Ziga, and San Beda La Dean and Con i ional Con en ion Delega e
Feliciano Jo e Lede ma (Membe ).
2 Filed on J l 11, 1962 (b a Commi ee compo ed of Jo e W. Diokno, Roman O ae a, Jo e P. Ca ag, E genio Villan e a, J . and Leo A.

Pan ncialman), he pe i ion ep e en ed he nanimo con en of 53 Ba A ocia ion (f om all o e he Philippine ) eached in con en ion a
he Fa Ea e n Uni e i A di o i m in Manila on J ne 23, 1962.
3 W i en oppo i ion e e bmi ed b A . Ce a Faja do and Vicen e L. A cega, he Cama ine No e La e Leag e, A . F c o o S.
Villa in, he Cama ine S Ba A ocia ion and he Manila Ba A ocia ion.
4 The pe i ione and he Neg o Occiden al Ba A ocia ion bmi ed memo anda in fa o of Ba in eg a ion, hile he Manila Ba A ocia ion
bmi ed a memo anda oppo ing Ba in eg a ion.

24

24 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

Since hen, he Co ha clo el ob e ed and follo ed ignifican de elopmen ela i e o he ma e of he

in eg a ion of he Ba in hi j i dic ion.
In 1970, con inced f om p elimina e ha he e had g o n a ong na ion ide en imen in fa o of Ba
in eg a ion, he Co c ea ed he Commi ion on Ba In eg a ion fo he p po e of a ce aining he ad i abili of
nif ing he Philippine Ba .
In Sep embe , 1971, Cong e pa ed Ho e Bill No. 3277 en i led An Ac P o iding fo he In eg a ion of he
Philippine Ba , and App op ia ing F nd The efo . The mea e a igned b P e iden Fe dinand E. Ma co on
Sep embe 17, 1971 and ook effec on he ame da a Rep. Ac 6397. Thi la p o ide a follo :
SECTION 1. Wi hin o ea f om he app o al of hi Ac , he S p eme Co ma adop le of co o effec he in eg a ion
of he Philippine Ba nde ch condi ion a i hall ee fi in o de o ai e he anda d of he legal p ofe ion, imp o e he
admini a ion of j ice, and enable he Ba o di cha ge i p blic e pon ibili mo e effec i el .
/
 SEC. 2. The m of fi e h nd ed ho and pe o i he eb app op ia ed, o of an f nd in he Na ional T ea no
o he i e app op ia ed, o ca o he p po e of hi Ac . The eaf e , ch m a ma be nece a fo he ame p po e hall
be incl ded in he ann al app op ia ion fo he S p eme Co .
SEC. 3. Thi Ac hall ake effec pon i app o al.

The Re of he Commi ion abo nd i h a g men on he con i ionali of Ba in eg a ion and con ain all
nece a fac al da a bea ing on he ad i abili (p ac icabili and nece i ) of Ba in eg a ion. Al o embodied
he ein a e he ie , opinion , en imen , commen and ob e a ion of he ank and file of he Philippine la e
pop la ion ela i e o Ba in eg a ion, a ell a a p opo ed in eg a ion Co R le d af ed b he Commi ion and
p e en ed o hem b ha bod in a na ional Ba plebi ci e. The e i h fficien ba i a ell a ample ma e ial
pon hich he Co ma decide he he o no o in eg a e he Philippine Ba a hi ime.
25

VOL. 49, JANUARY 9, 1973 25

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

The follo ing a e he pe inen i e :

(1) Doe he Co ha e he po e o in eg a e he Philippine Ba ?

(2) Wo ld he in eg a ion of he Ba be con i ional?
(3) Sho ld he Co o dain he in eg a ion of he Ba a hi ime?

A e ol ion of he e i e eq i e , a he o e , a a emen of he meaning of Ba in eg a ion. I ill ffice, fo

hi p po e, o adop he concep gi en b he Commi ion on Ba In eg a ion on page 3 o 5 of i Re , h :
In eg a ion of he Philippine Ba mean he official nifica ion of he en i e la e pop la ion of he Philippine . Thi
eq i e membe hi and fi a cial (in ea onable amo n ) of e e a o ne a condi ion i e a o he p ac ice of
la and he e en ion of hi name in he Roll of A o ne of he S p eme Co
The e m Ba efe o he collec i i of all pe on ho e name appea in he Roll of A o ne . An In eg a ed Ba (o
Unified Ba ) pe fo ce m incl de all la e .
Comple e nifica ion i no po ible nle i i dec eed b an en i i h po e o do o: he S a e. Ba in eg a ion, he efo e,
ignifie he e ing p b Go e nmen a ho i of a na ional o gani a ion of he legal p ofe ion ba ed on he ecogni ion of he
la e a an office of he co .
De igned o imp o e he po i ion of he Ba a an in men ali of j ice and he R le of La , in eg a ion fo e -cohe ion
among la e , and en e , h o gh hei o n o gani ed ac ion and pa icipa ion, he p omo ion of he objec i e of he legal
p ofe ion, p an o he p inciple of ma im m Ba a onom i h minim m pe i ion and eg la ion b he S p eme Co .
The p po e of an in eg a ed Ba , in gene al, a e:

(1) A i in he admini a ion of j ice;

(2) Fo e and main ain on he pa of i membe high ideal of in eg i , lea ning, p ofe ional compe ence, p blic e ice
and cond c ;

26

26 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

(3) Safeg a d he p ofe ional in e e of i membe ;

(4) C l i a e among i membe a pi i of co diali and b o he hood;
(5) P o ide a fo m fo he di c ion of la , j i p dence, la efo m, pleading, p ac ice and p oced e, and he ela ion of
he Ba o he Bench and o he p blic, and p bli h info ma ion ela ing he e o;
(6) Enco age and fo e legal ed ca ion;
(7) P omo e a con in ing p og am of legal e ea ch in b an i e and adjec i e la , and make epo and ecommenda ion
he eon; and
(8) Enable he Ba o di cha ge i p blic e pon ibili effec i el .

In eg a ion of he Ba ill, among o he hing , make i po ible fo he legal p ofe ion o:

(1) Rende mo e effec i e a i ance in main aining he R le of La ;

(2) P o ec la e and li igan again he ab e of annical j dge and p o ec ing office ;
(3) Di cha ge, f ll and p ope l , i e pon ibili in he di ciplining and/o emo al of incompe en and n o h j dge and
p o ec ing office ;

/
 (4) Shield he j dicia , hich adi ionall canno defend i elf e cep i hin i o n fo m, f om he a a l ha poli ic and
elf-in e e ma le el a i , and a i i o main ain i in eg i , impa iali and independence;
(5) Ha e an effec i e oice in he elec ion of j dge and p o ec ing office ;
(6) P e en he na ho i ed p ac ice of la , and b eak p an monopol of local p ac ice main ained h o gh infl ence o
po i ion;
(7) E abli h elfa e f nd fo familie of di abled and decea ed la e ;
"(8) P o ide placemen e ice , and e abli h legal

27

VOL. 49, JANUARY 9, 1973 27

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

aid office and e p la e efe ence e ice h o gho he co n o ha he poo ma no lack compe en legal
e ice;
(9) Di ib e ed ca ional and info ma ional ma e ial ha a e diffic l o ob ain in man of o p o ince ;
(10) De i e and main ain a p og am of con in ing legal ed ca ion fo p ac i ing a o ne in o de o ele a e he anda d of
he p ofe ion h o gho he co n ;
(11) Enfo ce igid e hical anda d , and p om lga e minim m fee ched le ;
(12) C ea e la cen e and e abli h la lib a ie fo legal e ea ch;
(13) Cond c campaign o ed ca e he people on hei legal igh and obliga ion , on he impo ance of p e en i e legal ad ice,
and on he f nc ion and d ie of he Filipino la e ; and
(14) Gene a e and main ain pe a i e and meaningf l co n - ide in ol emen of he la e pop la ion in he ol ion of he
m l ifa io p oblem ha afflic he na ion.

Anen he fi i e, he Co i of he ie ha i ma in eg a e he Philippine Ba in he e e ci e of i po e ,
nde A icle VIII, Sec. 13 of he Con i ion, o p om lga e le conce ning pleading, p ac ice, and p oced e in all
co , and he admi ion o he p ac ice of la . Indeed, he po e o in eg a e i an inhe en pa of he Co
con i ional a ho i o e he Ba . In p o iding ha he S p eme Co ma adop le of co o effec he
in eg a ion of he Philippine Ba , Rep blic Ac 6397 nei he confe a ne po e no e ic he Co inhe en
po e , b i a me e legi la i e decla a ion ha he in eg a ion of he Ba ill p omo e p blic in e e o , mo e
pecificall , ill ai e he anda d of he legal p ofe ion, imp o e he admini a ion of j ice, and enable he Ba
o di cha ge i p blic e pon ibili mo e effec i el .
Re ol ion of he ec d i e he he he nifica ion of he Ba o ld be con i ional hinge on he
effec
2

28 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

of Ba in eg a ion on he la e con i ional igh of f eedom of a ocia ion and f eedom of peech, and on he
na e of he d e e ac ed f om him.
The Co app o ingl q o e he follo ing pe inen di c ion made b he Commi ion on Ba In eg a ion on
page 44 o 49 of i Re :
C i i ali f Ba I eg a i

J dicial P ceme .
In all ca e he e he alidi of Ba in eg a ion mea e ha been p in i e, he Co ha e pheld hei con i ionali .
The j dicial p ono ncemen ppo hi ea oning:
Co ha e inhe en po e o pe i e and eg la e he p ac ice of la .
The p ac ice of la i no a e ed igh b a p i ilege ; a p i ilege, mo eo e , clo hed i h p blic in e e , beca e a la e
o e d ie no onl o hi clien , b al o o hi b e h en in he p ofe ion, o he co , and o he na ion; and ake pa in one of
he mo impo an f nc ion of he S a e, he admini a ion of j ice, a an office of he co .
Beca e he p ac ice of la i p i ilege clo hed i h p blic in e e , i i fa and j ha he e e ci e of ha p i ilege be
eg la ed o a e compliance i h he la e p blic e pon ibili ie .
The e p blic e pon ibili ie can be be di cha ged h o gh collec i e ac ion; b he e can be no collec i e ac ion i ho
an o gani ed bod ; no o gani ed bod can ope a e effec i el i ho inc ing e pen e ; he efo e, i i fai and j ha all
a o ne be eq i ed o con ib e o he ppo of ch o gani ed bod ; and, gi en e i ing Ba condi ion , he mo efficien
mean of doing o i b in eg a ing he Ba h o gh a le of co ha eq i e all-la e o pa ann al d e o he In eg a ed
Ba .
1. F eed m f A cia i .
To compel a la e o be a membe of an in eg a ed Ba
/
 2

VOL. 49, JANUARY 9, 1973 29

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

i no iola i e of hi con i ional f eedom o a ocia e (o he co olla igh no o a ocia e).

In eg a ion doe no make a la e a membe of an g o p of hich he i no al ead a membe . He became a membe of he
Ba hen he pa ed he Ba e amina ion . All ha in eg a ion ac all doe i o p o ide an official na ional o gani a ion fo he
ell-defined b no gani ed and incohe i e g o p of hich e e la e i al ead a membe .
Ba in eg a ion doe no compel he la e o a ocia e i h an one. He i f ee o a end o no a end he mee ing of hi
In eg a ed Ba Chap e o o e o ef e o o e in i elec ion a he choo e . The bod comp l ion o hich he i bjec ed i he
pa men of ann al d e .
O he i e a ed, membe hip in he Unified Ba impo e onl he d o pa d e in ea onable amo n . The i e, he efo e,
i a q e ion of compelled financial ppo of g o p ac i i ie , no in ol n a membe hip in an o he a pec .
The g ea e pa of Unified Ba ac i i ie e e he f nc ion of ele a ing he ed ca ional and e hical anda d of he Ba o he
end of imp o ing he q ali of he legal e ice a ailable o he people. The S p eme Co , in o de o f he he S a e
legi ima e in e e in ele a ing he q ali of p ofe ional e ice , ma eq i e ha he co of imp o ing he p ofe ion in hi
fa hion be ha ed b he bjec and beneficia ie of he eg la o p og am he la e .
A ming ha Ba in eg a ion doe compel a la e o be a membe of he In eg a ed Ba , ch comp l ion i j ified a an
e e ci e of he police po e of he S a e. The legal p ofe ion ha long been ega ded a a p ope bjec of legi la i e eg la ion
and con ol. Mo eo e , he inhe en po e of he S p eme Co o eg la e he Ba incl de he a ho i o in eg a e he Ba .
2. Reg la Fee.
Fo he Co o p e c ibe d e o be paid b he membe doe no mean ha he Co le ie a a .
A membe hip fee in he In eg a ed Ba i an e ac ion

30

30 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

fo eg la ion, hile he p po e of a a i e en e. If he Co ha inhe en po e o eg la e he Ba , i follo ha a an

inciden o eg la ion, i ma impo e a membe hip fee fo ha p po e. I o ld no be po ible o p h h o gh an In eg a ed Ba
p og am i ho mean o def a he concomi an e pen e . The doc ine of implied po e nece a il incl de he po e o
impo e ch an e ac ion.
The onl limi a ion pon he S a e po e o eg la e he Ba i ha he eg la ion doe no impo e an ncon i ional
b den. The p blic in e e p omo ed b he in eg a ion of he Ba fa o eigh he incon eq en ial incon enience o a membe
ha migh e l f om hi eq i ed pa men of ann al d e .
3. F eed m f S eech.
A la e i f ee, a he ha al a been, o oice hi ie on an bjec in an manne he i he , e en ho gh ch ie be
oppo ed o po i ion aken b he Unified Ba .
Fo he In eg a ed Ba o e a membe d e o p omo e mea e o hich aid membe i oppo ed, o ld no n llif o
ad e el affec hi f eedom of peech.
Since a S a e ma con i ionall condi ion he igh o p ac ice la pon membe hip in he In eg a ed Ba , i i diffic l o
nde and h i ho ld become ncon i ional fo he Ba o e he membe d e o f lfill he e p po e fo hich i a
e abli hed.
The objec ion o ld make e e Go e nmen al e ac ion he ma e ial of a f ee peech i e. E en he income a o ld be
pec . The objec ion o ld ca o leng h ha ha e ne e been d eamed of. The con cien io objec o , if hi libe ie e e o
be h e ended, migh ef e o con ib e a e in f he ance of a o of an o he end condemned b hi con cience a
i eligio o immo al. The igh of p i a e j dgmen ha ne e e been e al ed abo e he po e and he comp l ion of he
agencie of Go e nmen .
4. Fai All La e .

31

VOL. 49, JANUARY 9, 1973 31

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

Ba in eg a ion i no nfai o la e al ead p ac i ing beca e al ho gh he eq i emen o pa ann al d e i a ne

eg la ion, i ill gi e he membe of he Ba a ne em hich he hi he o ha e no had and h o gh hich, b p ope o k,
he ill ecei e benefi he ha e no he e ofo e enjo ed, and di cha ge hei p blic e pon ibili ie in a mo e effec i e manne
han he ha e been able o do in he pa . Beca e he eq i emen o pa d e i a alid e e ci e of eg la o po e b he
Co , beca e i ill appl eq all o all la e , o ng and old, a he ime Ba in eg a ion ake effec , and beca e i i a ne
eg la ion in e change fo ne benefi , i i no e oac i e, i i no neq al, i i no nfai .

/
To e ol e he hi d a d fi al i e he he he Co ho ld o dain he in eg a ion of he Ba a hi ime
eq i e a ca ef l o e ie of he p ac icabili and nece i a ell a he ad an age and di ad an age of Ba
in eg a ion.
In man o he j i dic ion , no abl in England, Canada and he Uni ed S a e , Ba in eg a ion ha ielded he
follo ing benefi : (1) imp o ed di cipline among he membe of he Ba ; (2) g ea e infl ence and a cendanc of he
Ba ; (3) be e and mo e meaningf l pa icipa ion of he indi id al la e in he ac i i ie of he In eg a ed Ba ; (4)
g ea e Ba facili ie and e ice ; (5) elimina ion of na ho i ed p ac ice; (6) a oidance of co l membe hip
campaign ; (7) e abli hmen of an official a fo he Ba ; (8) mo e cohe i e p ofe ion; and (9) be e and mo e
effec i e di cha ge b he Ba of i obliga ion and e pon ibili ie o i membe , o he co , and o he p blic. No
le han he e al a con eq ence a e en i ioned and in fac e pec ed f om he nifica ion of he Philippine Ba .
Upon he o he hand, i ha been a io l a g ed ha in he e en of in eg a ion, Go e nmen a ho i ill
domina e he Ba ; local Ba a ocia ion ill be eakened; cliq i m ill be he ine i able e l ; effec i e lobb ing ill
no be po ible; he Ba ill become an impe onal Ba ; and poli ic ill in de in o i affai .
32

32 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

I e I eg a i f he Ba f he Phili i e

I i no e o h , ho e e , ha he e and o he e il p ophe ied b opponen of Ba in eg a ion ha e failed o

ma e iali e in o e fif ea of Ba in eg a ion e pe ience in England, Canada and he Uni ed S a e . In all he
j i dic ion he e he In eg a ed Ba ha been ied, none of he ab e o e il fea ed ha a i en; on he o he hand,
i ha e o ed p blic confidence in he Ba , enla ged p ofe ional con cio ne , ene gi ed he Ba e pon ibili ie
o he p blic, and a l imp o ed he admini a ion of j ice.
Ho do he Filipino la e hem el e ega d Ba in eg a ion? The official a i ic compiled b he Commi ion
on Ba In eg a ion ho ha in he a i al ll ecen l cond c ed b he Commi ion in he ma e of he
in eg a ion of he Philippine Ba , of a o al of 15,090 la e f om all o e he a chipelago ho ha e ned in hei
indi id al e pon e , 14,555 (o 96.45 pe cen ) o ed in fa o of Ba in eg a ion, hile onl 378 (o 2.51 pe cen )
o ed again i , and 157 (o 1.04 pe cen ) a e non-commi al. In addi ion, a o al of eigh (80) local Ba a ocia ion
and la e g o p all o e he Philippine ha e bmi ed e ol ion and o he e p e ion of nq alified
endo emen and/o ppo fo Ba in eg a ion, hile no a ingle local Ba a ocia ion o la e g o p ha
e p e ed oppo i ion he e o. Finall , of he 13,802 indi id al la e ho ca hei lebi ci e ball on he p opo ed
in eg a ion Co R le d af ed b he Commi ion, 12,855 (o 93.14 pe 5 cen ) o ed in fa o he eof, 662 (o 4.80 pe
cen ) o ed again i , and 285 (o 2.06 pe cen ) a e non-commi al. All he e clea l indica e an o e helming
na ion ide demand fo Ba in eg a ion a hi ime.
The Co i f ll con inced, af e a ho o ghgoing con cien io d of all he a g men add ced in Adm. Ca e
No. 526 and he a ho i a i e ma e ial and he ma of fac al da a con ained in he e ha i e Re of he
Commi ion on Ba In eg a ion, ha he in eg a ion of he Philippine Ba i pe fec l con i ional and legall
nobjec-

_______________
5 All fig e a e a of Jan a 8, 1973.

33

VOL. 49, JANUARY 11, 1973 33

Cada . Cada

ionable, and, i hin he con e of con empo a condi ion in he Philippine , ha become an impe a i e mean o
ai e he anda d of he legal p ofe ion, imp o e he admini a ion of j ice, and enable he Ba o di cha ge i
p blic e pon ibili f ll and effec i el .
ACCORDINGLY, he Co , b i e of he po e e ed in i b Sec ion 13 of A icle VIII of he Con i ion,
he eb o dain he in eg a ion of he Ba of he Philippine in acco dance i h he a ached COURT RULE, effec i e
on Jan a 16, 1973.

C ce ci C.J., Makali al, Zaldi a , Ca , Fe a d , Teeha kee, Ba ed , Maka ia , A i and E g e a,

JJ., conc .

I eg a i f he Phili i e Ba dai ed.