Republic of the Pbilippines COMMISSI ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Queson City, Philippines: |FLORENTINO & ESMAQUEL LAW OFFICE | LEGAL SERVICES SECTOR RECEIVED) Legal Affairs Office [rr mee August 3, 2020 Atty. PATERNO L. ESMAQUEL Atty, ANNIE HAZEL D. BASADA Florentino & Esmaquel Law Office Unit 1706, 17" Floor, Prestige Tower Condominium F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Subject: Engagement of Atty. Eliezer V. Gojas as Private Counsel for the Municipality of Majayjay, Laguna Dear Attys. Esmaquel and Basada: This pertains to your letter dated June 29, 2020 to Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, this Commission, on the above subject. In your letter, you referred to Resolution No. 110-2019 dated September 29, 2019 of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of the Municipality of Majayjay, Laguna, authorizing Atty. Eliezer V. Gojas, legal consultant of the Municipality, to file an ejection case to recover the Municipal Government's property. Pursuant to the said SB Resolution, a complaint for ejectment was filed by the Municipality of Majayjay against your client, Mr. Victorio Z. Ronabio, a resident of Majayjay, Laguna, before the Municipal Trial Court of Magdalena, Laguna, with ‘Atty. Gojas acting as private lawyer of the Municipality. Thus, you would like to verify whether the engagement of Atty. Gojas as legal consultant or private lawyer of the Municipality of Majayjay, from the period July 1, 2016 up to this date, has the written conformity of this Commission as required by COA Circular No. 98-002! dated June 9, 1998. ’ prohibition against employment by local government units of private lawyers to handle ther legal cases.