PATRICK A. CARONAN v. RICHARD A. CARONAN a.k.a. ATTY.

PATRICK A. CARONAN
A.C. No. 11316, 12 July 2016, EN BANC (Sereno, CJ)
FACTS:
On 2013, a complaint was filed by the real Patrick A.
Caronan against his brother Richard A. Caronan a.k.a. Atty.
Patrick A. Caronan before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
In his complaint, he stated that he and his older brother both
completed secondary education at the Makati High School and
that he finished his college education at the University of Makati.
Thereafter, he applied and got a job at a 7-11 convenience store
in Muntinlupa City, working his way up until he was promoted as
its store manager. On the other hand, his brother enrolled at the
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and later managed to enter
the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City but was discharged
in 1993. The respondent Richard then moved to Nueva Vizcaya
with his wife and three children.
Patrick said he learned from Richard that he had enrolled at
St. Marys Universitys College of Law in Bayombong, Nueva
Vizcaya using Patricks name and college records from the UM
and that he passed the Bar exams in 2004.
But in 2009, he said he was ordered to report to the head
office of Philippine Seven Corporation, operator of 7-11, which
informed him that the National Bureau of Investigation had
requested his appearance in relation to its investigation of a
certain Atty. Patrick A. Caronan for qualified theft and estafa.
Aside from using his name, Patrick said he also learned that his
brother was also facing charges for gun-running and violation of
Batas Pambansa 22 (Bouncing Checks Law).

The respondent Richard denied the allegations but the SC

said that the identity of the real Patrick A. Caronan had been
established based on the probe conducted by the IBP.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the IBP erred in ordering that: (a) the name
Patrick A. Caronan be stricken off the Roll of Attorneys; and (b)
the name Richard A. Caronan be barred from being admitted to
the Bar.

HELD:
No. The Court finds no cogent reason to disturb the findings
and recommendations of the IBP. Since complainant - the real
"Patrick A. Caronan" - never took the Bar Examinations, the IBP
correctly recommended that the name "Patrick A. Caronan" be
stricken off the Roll of Attorneys.
The IBP was also correct in ordering that respondent, whose
real name is "Richard A. Caronan," be barred from admission to
the Bar. Under Section 6, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, no
applicant for admission to the Bar Examination shall be admitted
unless he had pursued and satisfactorily completed a pre-law
course. Clearly, respondent has not completed the requisite prelaw degree.
The respondents false assumption of his brother's name,
identity, and educational records renders him unfit for admission
to the Bar. The practice of law, after all, is not a natural, absolute
or constitutional right to be granted to everyone who demands it.
Rather, it is a privilege limited to citizens of good moral character.
Respondent made a mockery of the legal profession by
pretending to have the necessary qualifications to be a lawyer.
WHEREFORE, respondent Richard A. Caronan a.k.a. "Atty.
Patrick A. Caronan" (respondent) is found GUILTY of falsely

assuming the name, identity, and academic records of

complainant Patrick A. Caronan to obtain a law degree and take
the Bar Examinations. Accordingly, without prejudice to the filing
of appropriate civil and/or criminal cases, the Court hereby
resolves that: (1) the name "Patrick A. Caronan" with Roll of
Attorneys No. 49069 is ordered DROPPED and STRICKEN OFF the
Roll of Attorneys; (2) respondent is PROHIBITED from engaging in
the practice of law or making any representations as a lawyer; (3)
respondent is BARRED from being admitted as a member of the
Philippine Bar in the future; ( 4) the Identification Cards issued by
the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to respondent under the
name "Atty. Patrick A. Caronan" and the Mandatory Continuing
Legal Education Certificates issued in such name are CANCELLED
and/or REVOKED; and (5) the Office of the Court Administrator is
ordered to CIRCULATE notices and POST in the bulletin boards of
all courts of the country a photograph of respondent with his real
name, " Richard A. Caronan," with a warning that he is not a
member of the Philippine Bar and a statement of his false
assumption of the name and identity of "Patrick A. Caronan.