Back

Pimentel, et al. vs. Legal Education Board (LEB)

G.R. No. 230642 OSCAR B. PIMENTEL, ERROL B. COMAFAY, JR., RENE B. GOROSPE, EDWIN B. SANDOVAL, VICTORIA B. LOANZON, ELGIN MICHAEL MC. PEREZ, ARNOLD E. CACHO, AL CONRAD B. ESPALDON, ED VINCENT S. ALBANO, LEIGHTON R. SIAZON, ARIANNE C. ARYUGUE, CLARABEL ANNE R. LACSINA, KRISTINE JANE R. LUI, ALYANNA MARI C.BUENVIAJE, IANA PATRICIA DULA T. NICOLAS, IRENE A. TOLENTINO and AUREA I. GRUYAL, Petitioners, vs. LEGAL EDUCATION BOARD, as represented by its Chairperson, HON. EMERSON B. AQUENDE, and LEB Member HON. ZENAIDA N. ELAPAÑO, RESPONDENTS; ATTYS. ANTHONY D. BENGZON, FERDINAND M. NEGRE, MICHAEL Z. UNTALAN, JONATHAN Q. PEREZ, SAMANTHA WESLEY K. ROSALES, ERIKA M. ALFONSO, KRYS VALEN O. MARTINEZ, RYAN CEAZAR P. ROMANO, and KENNETH C. VARONA, Respondent-In-Intervention; APRIL D. CABALLERO, JEREY C. CASTARDO, MC WELLROSE P. BRINGAS, RHUFFY D. FEDERE, CONRAD THEODORE A. MATUTINO and numerous others similarly situated, ST. THOMAS MORE SCHOOL OF LAW AND BUSSINESS, INC., represented by its President RODOLFO C. RAPISTA, for himself and as Founder, Dean and Professor of the College of Law, JUDY MARIE RAPISTA-TAN, LYNNART WALFORD A. TAN, IAN M. ENTERINA, NEIL JOHN VILLARICO as law professor and as concerned citizens, Petitioner-Intervenors; x-------------------------------x G.R. No. 242954 FRANCIS JOSE LEAN L. ABAYATA, GRETCHEN M. VASQUEZ, SHEENAH S. ILLUSTRISMO, RALPH LOUIE SALAÑO, AIREEN MONICA B. GUZMAN, DELFINO ODIAS, DARYL DELA CRUZ, CLAIRE SUICO, AIVIE S. PESCADERO, NIÑA CHRISTINE DELA PAZ, SHEMARK K. QUENIAHAN, ALJAY T. MEJOS, ROCELLYN L. DAÑO, MICHAEL ADOLFO, RONALD A. ATIG, LYNETTE C. LUMAYAG, MARY CHRIS LAGERA, TIMOTHY B. FRANCISCO, SHIELA MARIE C. DANDAN, MADELINE C. DELA PEÑA, DARLIN R. VILLAMOR, LORENZANA L. LLORICO, and JAN IVAN M. SANTAMARIA, Petitioners, vs. HON. SALVADOR MEDIALDEA, Executive Secretary, and LEGAL EDUCATION BOARD, herein represented by its Chairperson, EMERSON B. AQUENDE, Respondents.

G.R. No. 230642 and G.R. No. 242954 | 2019-09-10

DECISION
 
REYES, J. JR., J.:
 
On the principal grounds of encroachment upon the rule-making power of the Court concerning the practice of law, violation of institutional academic freedom and violation of a law school aspirant’s right to education, these consolidated. Petitions for Prohibition (GR. No. 230642) and Certiorari and Prohibition (GR. No. 242954) under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court assail as unconstitutional Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7662,1 or the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993, which created the Legal Education Board (LEB). On the same principal grounds, these petitions also particularly seek to...