Howard Calleja, BBM accuser, found guilty, suspended by IBP– Gadon
SENATORIAL aspirant, Atty. Larry Gadon, called on Filipinos not to take seriously the several petitions filed against former senator, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong/BBM’ Marcos, seeking the cancellation of his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president on the ground of ‘moral turpitude’ and Marcos’ alleged “conviction” by a Quezon City for the non-filing of his income tax return from 1982 to 1985.
“BBM’s accusers have no credibility as they are communists and another, a lawyer who was suspended by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for running away with the money of his client in the amount of P6.635 million,” Gadon said.
Gadon was referring to the ‘Task Force Detainees of the Philippines’ (TFDP), ‘Kapatid’ and the ‘Medical Action Group’ (MAG), all of which are known to be associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and who filed for the cancellation of Marcos’ COC last November 2, 2021.
The group was followed on November 8, 2021, by 1Sambayan spokesperson, Atty. Howard Calleja.
1Sambayan, which has thrown its support behind the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo, is also known as a political ally of the CPP. The CPP is a declared terrorist organization here and abroad.
But according to Gadon, a senatorial bet of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), a party founded by the elder Marcos, former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Calleja is the least qualified to accuse BBM of moral turpitude.
Calleja, Gadon noted, had been suspended for two years by the IBP and the Supreme Court for absconding with the money of one of his clients in 2013.
Gadon also posted in social media a copy of the decision of the IBP involving Calleja and complainant, Myrna M. Torres, docketed under Administrative Case 1851.
The document disclosed that last February 10, 2009, Torres lodge a complaint against Calleja before the Supreme Court “for failure to discharge his obligations as a lawyer of the complainants” involving the settlement of tax obligation and settlement of properties left behind by Torres’ late husband, Jaime.
The complaint further stated that in exchange for his services, Calleja received a total of P18 million from the Torres family.
But instead of faithfully discharging his obligations, the IBP, in its investigation,
found out that Calleja decided to “loan” some of the money to someone else, a relative of the complainant.
In the IBP recommendation dated October 4, 2012, Calleja was found guilty of violating Canon 16 of the Code of Professional Responsibility of those in the legal profession and called for his suspension from law practice until Calleja can properly account for the missing money totaling P6,635,867.57.
Under Resolution XX-2013-487 dated April 16, 2013, the IBP not only ordered Calleja to return the money but also suspended him from law practice for the next 2 years as a disciplinary measure.
