TERESITA P. FAJARDO, Complainant, v. ATTY.
NICANOR C. ALVAREZ, Respondent. A.C. No. 9018, April 20,
2016.
“x x x.
The objective in disciplinary
cases is not to punish the erring officer or employee but to continue to uplift
the People's trust in government and to ensure excellent public service:
[W]hen an
officer or employee is disciplined, the object sought is not the punishment of
that officer or employee, but the improvement of the public service and the
preservation of the public's faith and confidence in the government. . . .
These constitutionally-enshrined principles, oft-repeated in our case law, are
not mere rhetorical flourishes or idealistic sentiments. They should be taken
as working standards by all in the public service.71
Having determined that respondent
illicitly practiced law, we find that there is now no need to determine whether
the fees he charged were reasonable.
x x x.”
x x x.”
