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Thursday, June 09, 2005
Former mayor pays IBP fees up to 2006
The lawyer charged with disbarment for his failure to pay his membership dues with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) finds the complaint “too much and unreasonable.”
Lawyer Januario Agra-vante Sr., a former mayor of Badian, Cebu, said the non-payment of membership dues is not a ground for disbarment.
He paid his overdue fees yesterday, including charges for the year 2006, but said he did not violate any law or provision, even if he failed to pay his dues.
“I am not at all alarmed or worried by the complaint. I have not received a copy of the complaint, but if the IBP gives due course to the complaint, then I’ll answer it,” Agravante said.
Lawyer Crispin Montejo Menchavez, who was Agravante’s opposing counsel in a civil case, filed the administrative complaint after he found out that Agravante has not paid his dues since 1998.
Menchavez added that Agravante also failed and refused to file his comment in court, despite a court order directing him to do so.
He added that Agravante did not indicate below his name whether his PTR and IBP numbers are still active this year, since he has not paid his membership dues.
On top of that, Agravante reportedly also did not indicate his Supreme Court roll number. Under the Rules of Court, pleadings filed without the SC roll number are considered not filed at all.
But Agravante said that Menchavez’s allegations are absurd and will not merit his disbarment.
Agravante suspected that Menchavez may be bitter about their case, because the court reportedly considered them (Menchavez and his clients) in default.
“At present, I will have to present evidence ex-parte because they have already been defaulted in this partition case. But I thank him for his worry about my duty before the IBP,” Agravante said.
Although Menchavez filed a case against him, Agravante said he will not be filing a counter-suit against the 87-year-old lawyer. (GN)
(June 9, 2005 issue)
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