FACTS:

The case involves an administrative complaint for disbarment filed by spouses Venustiano and Rosalia Saburnido against Atty. Florante E. Madroño. The complainants allege that the respondent has been harassing them by filing numerous complaints against them and committing acts of dishonesty. Complainant Venustiano Saburnido is a member of the Philippine National Police while his wife Rosalia is a public school teacher. Respondent is a former judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court.

Previous to this administrative case, complainants also filed three separate administrative cases against respondent. In one of these cases, respondent was found guilty of pointing a high-powered firearm at complainant during a heated altercation and was accordingly dismissed from the service. In another case, respondent was found guilty of granting and reducing bail in a criminal case without prior notice to the prosecution, as well as allowing others to take confiscated smuggled goods without issuing the corresponding memorandum receipts.

In the present case, the spouses Saburnido allege that respondent has been harassing them by filing numerous complaints against them, including serious irregularity, falsification, and violation of the Omnibus Election Code. Complainants argue that these cases were filed in retaliation for the previous administrative cases they filed against respondent. Complainants claim that they suffered moral, mental, physical, and financial damage as a result of the complaints filed against them.

On the other hand, respondent argues that the previous cases in which he was dismissed and his benefits were forfeited did not involve moral turpitude and that none of the complaints he filed against complainants were manufactured.

ISSUES:

1. Whether or not Atty. Florante E. Madroño committed acts of harassment against the spouses Saburnido.

2. Whether or not the complaints filed by Atty. Madroño against the spouses Saburnido were retaliatory in nature.

RULING:

1. Yes, Atty. Florante E. Madroño committed acts of harassment against the spouses Saburnido. The spouses alleged that Atty. Madroño filed numerous complaints against them, causing them moral, mental, physical, and financial damage.

2. Yes, the complaints filed by Atty. Madroño against the spouses Saburnido were retaliatory in nature. The spouses claim that these complaints were filed by Atty. Madroño in retaliation for the administrative cases they filed against him, which resulted in his dismissal from the judiciary.

PRINCIPLES:

• Lawyers are expected to act with honesty and integrity in the practice of law. Acts of harassment and retaliation are in violation of this duty.

• Retaliation against complainants in administrative cases by filing baseless complaints against them may be considered harassment and a breach of the lawyer's duty of fairness and candor to the courts.

• The filing of meritless complaints can cause harm to the reputation and well-being of the complainants, which may result in moral and financial damage.