The Supreme Court (SC) disbarred the spokesperson and lawyer of the family of late radio broadcaster Percival 'Percy Lapid' Mabasa for violating the lawyer's Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR).
In the 10-page decision dated January 30, 2023, the SC found Lapid's family lawyer Atty. Berteni Causing guilty for violating Rule 1.01 and 7.03 of the lawyer's CPR.
"He is hereby DISBARRED from the practice of law. The Office of the Bar Confidant is DIRECTED to remove the name of Berteni C. Causing," the higher court's ruling reads.
The issue stemmed from the complaint filed by Jackiya Lao in February 2019.
In the complaint, he alleged that Causing posted on his Facebook account the draft copy of a complaint-affidavit for plunder against him on January 2019.
"The publication besmirched Lao's good name and reputation in the eyes of Facebook users at the time that no such complaint was filed or pending before the Office of the Ombudsman," the Supreme Court said.
According to the higher court, Lao alleged that Causing purposely posted the case on his social media account to make her sister Lyndale Causing known to the public.
Lyndale was one of the candidates aspiring for the position of 2nd District of South Cotabato Representative during that time, it said.
Lao also alleged that Causing posted the said plunder case on his Facebook account for the second time.
The Mabasa family's spokesperson, on other hand, argued that his posts are just "an exercise of the freedom of the press and freedom of expression."
But the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) found that Causing committed a violation for the said social media post.
On January 2020, the IBP then recommended a six-month suspension with a stern warning against the lawyer.
