CASE 12 ISIDRA BARRIENTOS vs. ATTY. ELERIZZA A.

LIBIRAN-METEORO
KEY: Mercantile law exam leakage

FACTS
1. Atty. Meteoro issued several Equitable PCIBank Checks in favor of both Isidra and Olivia for the
payment of a pre-existing debt
2. the checks bounced due to insufficient funds
3. charges for violation of B.P. 22 were filed by Isidra and Olivia
4. Atty. Meteoro promised to pay her debt, and asked for the dismissal of the criminal charges,
however she failed to fulfill such
5. tried to give Isidra and Olivia a title for a parcel of land in exchange for the bounced checks
which were in the possession of complainants (5,000 sq meters)
6. Isidra and Olivia checked the property and discovered that the land belonged to a certain Dra.
Helen Garcia who merely entrusted said title to Atty. Meteoro pursuant to a transaction with
the Quedancor
7. IBP-CBD issued a Notice of Hearing requiring both parties to appear before it. Initially, Meteoro
denied the allegations, however both parties appeared and agreed to settle their
misunderstanding
8. Another hearing was conducted and Meteoro acknowledged her indebtedness, and promised to
pay on a staggered basis
9. Meteoro did not appear on the following hearings because
a. She got sick
b. Her father was admitted in the ICU
10. She filed an answer stating that she already paid partially, IBP set a hearing for her to present
proofs. However is was rescheduled several times due to her unavailability until a resolution was
made in favor of complainants
11. IBP Commissioners recommendation:
a. Suspendeded for 2 years, fine of 25k
12. IBP BOG recommendation:
a. Suspended 6 months and restitution of 84k to complainants

ISSUE
WON Atty. Meteoro is guilty of violation of the CPR Rule 1.01 of Canon 1 for her deliberate
failure to pay just debts and the issuance of worthless checks

HELD
1. YES
2. respondent in her answer initially tried to deny having any obligation towards Isidra Barrientos.
Upon appearing before the IBP-CBD, however, respondent eventually acknowledged her
indebtedness to Isidra only to pay in a staggered basis.
3. After respondent acknowledged her debt to complainant, she committed herself to the payment
thereof. Yet she failed many times to fulfill said promise
4. The issuance of a series of worthless checks also shows the remorseless attitude of respondent,
unmindful to the deleterious effects of such act to the public interest and public order.
5. SUSPENDED for six months from the practice of law, ordered to pay complainant Isidra
Barrientos the amount of P84,000.00, as balance of her debt to the latter, plus 6% interest from
date of finality of this decision.