CIRCULAR
NO. 12 [1988]
TO: ALL
JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS,
MUNICIPAL
TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT
TRIAL
COURTS
SUBJECT:
PROHIBITION OF GOVERNORS AND MAYORS FROM THE PRACTCICE OF LAW.
For the
information
and guidance of all concerned, quoted hereunder is the Reply dated June
1, 1988, of Secretary Luis T. Santos of the Department of Local
Government
to a query posed by the Office of the Court Administrator on whether
governors
and mayors, who are lawyers, may be allowed to practice law during
their
term of office, to wit:
"x
x x please be informed that it is the established policy of the
Department to strictly enforce Memorandum Circular No. 17 dated
September
4, 1986 of the Office of the President, more particularly as it
concerns
local elective officials who, by the nature of their positions as
required
by law, to render full-time service to their constituencies during
their
term of office. Provincial governors, city and municipal mayors whose
duties
and responsibilities require that their entire time be at the disposal
of the government, are classified under the said category and are,
therefore,
covered by the absolute prohibition imposed by the afore-cited issuance
of the Office of the President.
"Accordingly, this
Department does not allow governors, city and municipal mayors who are
lawyers to practice law during their term of office.
"Very
truly yours,
[Sgd.]
LUIS T. SANTOS
Secretary"
In this
connection,
you are hereto enjoined to strictly observe the aforementioned
prohibition.
June 30,
1988.
[Sgd.]
MAXIMO
A. MACERENCourt
Administrator
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