ONG VS DELOS SANTOS
EN BANC [ A.C. No. 10179 (Formerly CBD 11-2985), March 04, 2014 ] BENJAMIN Q. ONG, COMPLAINANT, VS. ATTY. WILLIAM F. DELOS SANTOS, RESPONDENT. Facts: In January 2008, complainant Benjamin Ong was introduced to respondent Atty. William F. Delos Santos by Sheriff Fernando Mercado of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Manila. After several calls and personal interactions between them, Ong and Atty. Delos Santos became friends. In time, according to Ong, Atty. Delos Santos asked him to encash his postdated check inasmuch as he was in dire need of cash. To reassure Ong that the check would be funded upon maturity, Atty. Delos Santos bragged about his lucrative practice and his good paying clients. Convinced of Atty. Delos Santos’ financial stability, Ong handed to Atty. Delos Santos on January 29, 2008 the amount of P100,000.00 in exchange for the latter’s Metrobank Check No. 0110268 postdated February 29, 2008. However, the check was dishonored upon presentment for the reason tha...