Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Supreme Court En Banc dated June 3, 2008:
“Bar Matter No. 1922. – Re: Recommendation of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Board to Indicate in All Pleadings Filed with the Courts the Counsel’s MCLE Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Exemption. – The Court Resolved to NOTE the Letter, dated May 2, 2008, of Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura, Chairperson, Committee on Legal Education and Bar Matters, informing the Court of the diminishing interest of the members of the Bar in the MCLE requirement program.
Court further Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Legal Education and Bar Matters, to REQUIRE practicing members of the bar to INDICATE in all pleadings filed before the courts or quasi-judicial bodies, the number and date of issue of their MCLE Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Exemption, as may be applicable, for the immediately preceding compliance period. Failure to disclose the required information would cause the dismissal of the case and the expunction of the pleadings from the records.
The New Rule shall take effect sixty (60) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.”
(Note: It is published today, 26 June 2008, in the Manila Bulletin.)
Oddly enough, the circular leaves in confusion lawyers who are not yet required to obtain an MCLE certificate for having recently taken the Bar exams. I’m sure somewhere, somehow, some strong advocate (to be polite) will stretch this provision to challenge the filing of a pleading or other court document signed by a neophyte lawyer.
Delenda est Carthago.