‘Disillusioned’ lawyer gives up profession

Fed up with the “unspeakable injustice” he allegedly received from his colleagues, a Cebu City-based lawyer gave up his profession to put an end to his “pain and humiliation.”

Dionisio ‘Diony” Cañete is no longer a lawyer after the Supreme Court granted his petition for voluntary delisting of his name from the Rolls of Attorneys.

“This petition is based on my disillusion, frustration, utter disappointment as well as humiliation and embarrassment inflicted by the highly unfair and brutally unjust action of my brothers in the legal profession,” read Cañete’s petition.

The High Court’s resolution dated Jan. 31, 2017 was received by the SC’s Office of the Bar Confidant on Feb. 8, 2017.

In an interview, Cañete said he now dedicates his time to teaching and promoting the traditional Filipino martial arts of arnis in schools, in coordination with the Department of Education. He said he had no regrets at all being a lawyer for more than 50 years.

“I’m happy. I just hope that my case will open a can of worms about corruption in the legal profession,” Cañete told SunStar Cebu over the phone.

Cañete’s angst towards his colleagues stemmed from the dismissal of nine out of 10 com- plaints he filed against a businesswoman in 2015.

Cañete, chairman emeritus of World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF), was sued by businesswoman Lucia Gracia for unlawful detainer.

An unlawful detainer refers to the conduct of a tenant who is in possession of an apartment or leased property and refuses to leave the premises upon the expiration or termination of the lease.

A trial court judge then ordered Cañete’s WEKAF to vacate the property it is renting.

Cañete contested the ruling and filed criminal charges against Garcia. /

I hope that my case will open a can of worms about corruption in the legal profession. DIONISIO CAÑETE