A.C. No. 13674 – 844 Phil. 453 – Legal Ethics – CPRA – Propriety; Accountability – Lawyers must be of good moral character; keeping a mistress
Monette Manauis-Taggueg filed an administrative complaint against her husband, Atty. Vincenzo Nonato M. Taggueg, alleging gross immorality. They were married on 6 June 2002, and had a son. Monette claimed that Atty. Taggueg abandoned their family to cohabit with another woman, Cindy, and flaunted this relationship publicly, including on social media. Evidence presented included their marriage certificate, their son’s birth certificate, photos from Cindy’s Facebook account, and documents related to a wedding ceremony between Atty. Taggueg and Cindy.
ISSUE: Whether Atty. Vincenzo Nonato M. Taggueg is guilty of grossly immoral conduct warranting disbarment.
HELD: Yes. The Supreme Court found that Taggueg’s actions constituted grossly immoral conduct under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA). His abandonment of his lawful wife and child to cohabit with another woman, coupled with the public display of this illicit relationship, demonstrated a willful disregard for the sanctity of marriage and the moral standards expected of members of the legal profession. Furthermore, Taggueg failed to respond to the IBP-CBD’s directives, did not file required pleadings, and did not appear at scheduled conferences, showing disrespect for the disciplinary process.
A lawyer’s abandonment of their lawful spouse and cohabitation with another person, especially when flaunted publicly, constitutes grossly immoral conduct and is a ground for disbarment. Such behavior reflects adversely on a lawyer’s fitness to practice law and undermines the integrity of the legal profession.
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