High Court denies Eala appeal

The Philippine Star
Friday, September 21, 2007

The Supreme Court yesterday denied with finality former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Emmanuel “Noli” Eala’s motion for reconsideration of his disbarment.

According to SC spokesman Midas Marquez, Eala presented “no substantial arguments” in his motion for reconsideration.

“It was denied with finality. The basic issues were passed upon, there were no substantial arguments,” Marquez said.

It would be recalled that the High Court last Aug. 1 ordered Eala’s disbarment for gross immorality after he was found to have carried an adulterous relationship with a married woman.

In an 18-page decision, the Court annulled and set aside Resolution XVII-2006-06 passed on Jan. 28, 2006 by the Board of Governors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) dismissing the disbarment case against Eala for lack of merit and instead disbarred him for gross immoral conduct.

The Court found out that Eala, a married man, carried on an extra-marital affair with Irene Moje, a married woman, prior to the judicial declaration that her marriage was null and void.

In ordering Eala’s disbarment, the Court acted on the petition filed by Joselano Guevarra on March 4, 2002 before the IBP Committee on Bar Discipline against the PBA commissioner for “grossly immoral conduct and unmitigated violation of the lawyer’s oath.” – Mike Frialde