FACTS: Priscilla de
Mijares and Justice Onofre Villaluz were married despite the pendency of
Justice Villaluz’ former marriage in court. Few days after the marriage, De
Mijares and Villaluz had a heated fight which led to exchange of offending
remarks. Villaluz called the complainant a nagger and told her to get the
marriage contract and have it burned. Such unbearable utterances of respondent
left complainant no choice but to leave in haste the place of their would-be
honeymoon. Since then, the complainant and respondent have been living
separately because as complainant rationalized, contrary to her expectation
respondent never got in touch with her and did not even bother to apologize for
what happened. Several months after, she learned that respondent married a
certain Lydia Geraldez. Thus, the basis of this complaint.
ISSUE: WON Ret.
Justice Onofre A. Villaluz be suspended from his practice of law.
HELD: Citing Rule 1.01
of the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Supreme Court found the
respondent engaging in an unlawful, dishonest, immoral or deceiful conduct and
recommends SUSPENSION with the specific WARNING that a more severe penalty
shall be imposed should he commit the same or a similar offense hereafter.
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