Case Digest (A.C. No. 7353) Core Legal Reasoning Model
Core Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
In Nelson P. Valdez v. Atty. Antolin Allyson M. Dabon, Jr. (773 Phil. 109, November 16, 2015), complainant Nelson P. Valdez charged respondent Atty. Antolin Allyson M. Dabon, Jr., a Division Clerk of Court of the Court of Appeals, with gross immorality for allegedly maintaining an adulterous affair with his wife, Sonia Romero Valdez, from 2000 to 2006. Nelson and Sonia married on January 28, 1998 in Paniqui, Tarlac. Sonia, a former Court Stenographer of the Court of Appeals, admitted liaisons with Atty. Dabon in her September 13, 2006 affidavit, claiming the affair began with a lunch date on November 13, 2000, when she alleged she was drugged, taken to a motel, and sexually molested by Atty. Dabon. She added that threats and intimidation kept the liaison going once or twice weekly over several years. Nelson learned of the relationship on April 18, 2006 via an anonymous text and confronted Sonia with a message from Atty. Dabon’s wife, who urged confession and forgiveness. Support Case Digest (A.C. No. 7353) Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
- Parties and Complaint
- Complainant Nelson P. Valdez filed an administrative complaint for disbarment against Atty. Antolin Allyson M. Dabon, Jr., a Division Clerk of Court at the Court of Appeals, on the ground of grossly immoral and indecent conduct.
- The complaint alleged that Atty. Dabon carried on a long-term adulterous relationship with Nelson’s wife, Sonia Romero Valdez, involving sexual assaults, threats and intimidation.
- Allegations of Nelson P. Valdez
- Nelson and Sonia married in January 1998; Sonia worked as a CA court stenographer until May 2006.
- In affidavits dated September 13, 2006, Nelson and Sonia alleged an affair from November 2000 to March 2006, maintained by respondent’s use of sleep-inducing drugs, sexual assault, and ongoing threats of exposure.
- Supporting affidavits from Atty. Barrozo, Atty. Ligot, Virginia D. Ramos and Marie Iris Minerva corroborated Sonia’s account of harassment and persistent pursuit by respondent.
- Position of Atty. Dabon
- Respondent categorically denied all allegations of sexual assault, threats and intimidation, characterizing them as fabrications motivated by malice.
- He contended that any relationship with Sonia was consensual friendship, supported by affidavits from Mary Jane Tulalian and Imelda Adan, and argued that Nelson lacked personal knowledge of the alleged nonconsensual acts.
- IBP Investigation and Recommendation
- On August 15, 2007, the Supreme Court referred the case to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for investigation.
- Investigating Commissioner Manuel T. Chan found the charge of gross immoral conduct sufficiently proven and recommended disbarment; the IBP Board of Governors adopted this recommendation on December 11, 2008 and denied reconsideration in December 2012.
Issues:
- Whether the evidence establishes that Atty. Dabon committed nonconsensual sexual assault and maintained the affair by threats and intimidation.
- Whether Atty. Dabon’s extramarital relationship, even if consensual, constitutes gross immoral conduct warranting disbarment.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)