MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has disbarred lawyer Lovejoy Quiambao for engaging in multiple extramarital affairs and entering into a bigamous marriage, finding him guilty of Grossly Immoral Conduct under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.

In a 24-page decision promulgated on June 4, the high court ordered Quiambao’s name to be stricken from the Bar and imposed a total of P400,001 in fines for four counts of grossly immoral conduct. The fines were distributed as P100,001 for the second count and P150,000 each for the third and fourth counts.

The case against Quiambao was initiated by his wife, Merriam Rojas, who learned from their house helper, identified as AAA, that Quiambao had sexually abused her. Confronted by Rojas, Quiambao admitted to an addiction to pornography and agreed to seek psychological intervention from a psychiatrist in Cagayan de Oro.

Rojas further discovered that Quiambao had sexually abused 13 other women who had worked for them as helpers, secretaries, or storekeepers, including two minors. Additionally, he was found to have had sexual relations with a former secretary who was the daughter of a pastor. These revelations led Rojas to file for a protection order, which was granted by a Regional Trial Court in Butuan in February 2017. She also filed for separation, which was granted by an Agusan del Norte court in March 2018, dissolving their community property.

Rojas brought the case before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), which investigated and found Quiambao guilty of serious immoral behavior. The IBP Board of Governors recommended disbarment based on his admissions of infidelity and inappropriate conduct with his employees, a recommendation the Supreme Court later upheld.

Quiambao sought a reduced penalty, arguing that his second marriage was legitimized after his first marriage was annulled. However, Rojas countered that his actions prior to the annulment, including living with the second woman and having children, were sufficient to justify his disbarment.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling, emphasized that Quiambao had violated Canons II and III of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, which mandate proper conduct and fidelity for lawyers. The Court detailed the counts of grossly immoral conduct: engaging in extramarital affairs and disregarding Philippine marriage laws, siring illegitimate children and entering a bigamous marriage, and sexually harassing his employees.

The ruling underscores the gravity of Quiambao’s actions, which the Supreme Court deemed a clear violation of Philippine policies on marriage, described as an “inviolable social institution that must be protected by the State.” The Court concluded that Quiambao’s disbarment was warranted due to his grossly immoral conduct, which was deemed incompatible with the ethical standards required of legal professionals.