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Julian Malonso vs Atty. Pete Principe.

JULIAN MALONSO, Complainant, versus ATTY. PETE PRINCIPE, Respondent.

ADM. CASE NO. 6289 | 2004-12-16

D E C I S I O N

Tinga, J.:

The duty of courts is not alone to see that lawyers act in a proper and lawful manner; it is also their duty to see that lawyers are paid their just and lawful fees. Certainly, no one, not even the Court can deny them that right; there is no law that authorizes them to do so.[1]



In a Complaint[2] for disbarment dated 6 June 2001 filed before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Julian Malonso claimed that Atty. Pete Principe, without any authority entered his appearance as Malonso's counsel in the expropriation proceedings initiated by the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR). In addition, he...