BOC lawyer disbarred for 'illegal' sale of seized vehicle

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has disbarred a lawyer who used his position as a director of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in a scheme of pretending to sell a vehicle confiscated by the bureau 24 years ago.

In a statement Friday, the SC said it disbarred Jorge Monroy from practicing law and fined him P20,000 for violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).

This stemmed from his act of falsely claiming that as Director III of the BOC – Financial Services at the time, he has the specific authority to sell vehicles seized by the agency.

Court records showed that the complainant, Julieta Co, the lawyer's long-time family friend, said in July 2000, Monroy offered to sell her a Toyota Land Cruiser seized by the BOC for P1.4 million.

Monroy assured Co that the transaction was legal and that official receipts will be issued.

Co then gave Monroy a P150,000 check as initial payment. Three days after the transaction, Monroy informed Co that the vehicle was ready for delivery.

Co prepared a manager's check for the balance of P1.25 million but Monroy insisted on cash payment, which he personally received in his office.

After waiting the whole day, Co was told that one signatory from the Department of Finance (DOF) had yet to sign the documents for the vehicle's release.

On July 24, Co returned to Monroy's office but was told by the latter that the signature of the DOF official was still lacking.

Co went with Monroy's personal staff member to the DOF, where she was informed that the documents were still in the office of an undersecretary.

Monroy later claimed that the vehicle could no longer be released as someone ran off with the money. He then issued a receipt to guarantee the return of Co's money.

Despite Co's repeated demands for Monroy to return her money, the latter kept on avoiding her, prompting the complainant to file the instant administrative case for disbarment and two criminal cases against Monroy.

In its ruling, the SC said Monroy was found to have committed a flagrant violation of Sections 1, 2, and 28 of Canon II of the CPRA when he deceived the complainant through an elaborate scheme of pretending to sell a vehicle confiscated by the BOC.

The SC ruled that the totality of evidence presented clearly proved that Monroy miserably failed to live up to the high moral standards required of members of the legal profession.

The High Court also held that Monroy's blatant violation of the law, as shown by his conviction by the Sandiganbayan; his lack of remorse when complainant repeatedly begged him to return her money; and his futile attempt to use an unknown employee of the BOC as a scapegoat all demonstrate his unfitness to continue in the practice of law.

It also took note of Monroy's willful disregard and refusal to comply with the lawful orders of the IBP – Committee on Bar Discipline when the same required him to file an answer and brief, and to attend mandatory conferences in connection with the disbarment case against him. (PNA)