A Capitol-employed lawyer in Bohol may face sanctions for practicing law
while employed as a full-time Chief of Staff and paid by people’s taxes in the
province.
In a letter to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Mr. Donald Sevilla alleged
that Atty. Glen Anino, Chief of Staff of the Vice Governor Victor Balite,
continues to appear in cases of his clients while employed in the government.
“In the case of Atty. Anino, he must secure an authority to be allowed to
limited practice of his profession as a lawyer from the Vice Governor or the
Provincial Governor of Bohol. Absent such authority, he may be committing a
violation of Section 7 (b), RA 6713 or may be held administratively liable under
items 15 and 16, Section 50 (F), Rule 10 of the 2017 RACCS,” the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) said in a letter.
“Anino, while employed in a full time position as Chief of Staff with salary
grade 24 of the Office of the Vice Governor of Bohol, continues to appear in
cases of his clients which may put opposing litigants like myself at a
disadvantage due to the influence his office wields,” Sevilla earlier told CSC
Assistant Commissioner Atty. Ariel Ronquillo in another letter.
“While him (Anino) and his client (Willy Ramasola) were not part of the
government bureaucracy at the Provincial Capitol when this case was started,
both of them are now. The client according to reports is hired as a consultant
of the OGAR (Office of Governance Accountability and Review) a newly
created office by virtue of an Executive Order by the Governor of Bohol
tasked to look into and investigate perceived anomalous transactions of the
past administration,” narrated Sevilla in his letter to the CSC.
Sevilla said there is a travesty of justice when a Capitol employee is acting as
a private lawyer for a private citizen such as Ramasola whose involvement
with OGAR is not yet finalized in legal documents, and could still be
questioned by the Ombudsman.
“Our hearing schedules have been reset to accommodate the other party and
this last one with the lawyer’s accompanying explanation on their Motion for
Postponement attached herewith as Annexes A to A4, speaks for itself. Much
as I want a speedy trial and disposition of our case for Unjust Vexation, this
has dragged on for sometime,” Sevilla said, referring to his string of libel cases
filed against Ramasola
“Thus I am bringing this matter to the Commission for its opinion and what can
be possible legal remedies to address this seeming travesty of justice as the
parties involved have the resources of government to support them. I shall be
looking forward to your esteemed counsel,” he wrote to the CSC.
Sevilla said that Anino’s private practice gives him an unfair advantage over
opposing litigants, as he can use his government position to influence the
outcome of cases.
The CSC has advised Anino to secure permission from the Vice Governor or
the Provincial Governor of Bohol to continue practicing law. If he does not
obtain permission, he could be held administratively liable, the CSC said.
“Engaging in private practice of one’s profession unless authorized by the
Constitution, law or regulation or the head of the office where the employee or
official is assigned, and provided that such practice will not conflict with one’s
official functions. Pursuit of private business, vocation or profession without
the permission required by Civil Service rules and regulations,” Ronquillo said
in a letter reply to Sevilla, citing items 15 and 16 of Section 50 (F), Rule 10 of
the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (2017 RACCS),”
CSC Commissioner Ronquillo said.