MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has disbarred Atty. Demosthenes S. Tecson for gross misconduct after he misappropriated more than P60 million in client funds.

In a per curiam decision, the SC found Tecson guilty of violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) for failing to properly remit money awarded to his clients in an expropriation case.

Court records showed that Tecson personally received P134 million in compensation awarded by the trial court but only turned over P53 million to his clients. 

He retained the remaining amount, claiming part of it was for his attorney’s fees and the rest was allegedly used to support the senatorial campaign of former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima

“If a lawyer fails to manage a client’s money properly during and after the lawyer-client relationship, this is considered misappropriation,” the SC ruled.

Citing Canon III of the CPRA, which mandates lawyers to uphold the law and protect their clients’ interests, the High Court stressed that Tecson had violated his clients’ trust by diverting their funds for his own benefit.

The SC ordered Tecson’s immediate disbarment and directed him to return the unremitted P67 million to his clients.

His claim that the missing funds were used to pay a “PR man” to expedite the case lacked evidence, the Court noted.