7/7/2021 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly All of these occurred after Merlina hired the services of Atty. Adame as her lawful attorney-in-fact and caused the latter to file the NLRC Complaint on May 3, 2011 and the annulment of tbe Retainer Contract by Merlina through a Revocation of Retainer Contract dated May 24, 2011. In Linsangan v. Atty. Tolentino,[39] Rule 8.02, Canon 8 of the CPR mandates that a lawyer "should not steal another lawyer's client nor induce the latter to retain him by a promise of better service, good result or reduced fees for his services." Not having been engaged by the client to appear before the NLRC, Atty. Sevandal had no authority to enter his appearance as counsel and encroach on the services of another lawyer. He also had no right to receive the amount of P300,000.00 as attorney's fees awarded by the NLRC. In the cases of Likong v. Lim[40] and Cahanap v. Palangan,[41] the Court disciplined and imposed a penalty of one (1)-year suspension from the practice of law on a lawyer for violating Rule 8.02, Canon 8 of the CPR. Just like in these cases, We modify in this case the recommendation of penalty by the IBP from a suspension of two (2) years from the practice of law to one (1)-year suspension. Also, aside from violating Rule 8.02, Atty. Sevandal demanded and received a substantial amount of money not due to him. Thus, Atty. Sevandal should return the amount of P300,000.00 to Merlina. WHEREFORE, the Court finds Atty. Virgilio A. Sevandal GUILTY of Encroaching the Professional Services of Atty. Melita B. Adame. He is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law for ONE (1) YEAR, effective upon receipt of this Decision and directed to RETURN the amount of P300,000.00 to Merlina B. Sevandal. He is likewise WARNED that a repetition of the same or similar acts shall be dealt with more severely. Let a copy of this Decision be furnished to the Office of the Bar Confidant to be appended to complainant's personal record, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Public Information Office and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts for their information and guidance. Likewise, a Notice of Suspension shall be prominently posted in the Supreme Court website as a notice to the general public. Atty. Virgilio A. Sevandal, upon receipt of this Decision, shall forthwith be suspended from the practice of law and shall formally manifest to this Court that his suspension has started. He shall furnish all courts and quasi-judicial bodies where he has entered his appearance a copy of this Decision. SO ORDERED. Leonen (Chairperson), Hernando, and Rosario, JJ., concur. Inting, J., on official leave. March 25, 2021 https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/66937 7/10