A lawyer who has not been paid for his services and reimbursements asked the Sandiganbayan that he be relieved of his representation and withdraw as counsel of an accused in a criminal case pending with the anti-graft court.

The court granted the plea of lawyer Daniel F. Victorio Jr.

In a resolution, the court said:

"The Court is not unaware that the practice of law is not a money-making trade. However, it is important to emphasize that lawyers are still entitled to a reasonable fee for the effort and work done in pursuing the cause of their clients. Hence, the motion is justified.”

Victorio had been the counsel of record of former Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) President Danilo R. Crisologo who had been charged with graft and malversation in connection with the loss of an aircraft pressure indicator.

He filed a motion with the Sandiganbayan to allow him to withdraw as Crisologo’s counsel because he was no longer being reimbursed by the accused for the filing of pleadings nor being paid for his representations in court.

He told the court that when he asked Crisologo’s permission to withdraw, his client refused.

He also told the court that he already gave up his private law practice in Manila temporarily and moved his family to the province for the duration of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Last July 9, the court granted his plea. It said: “Here, the Court finds that Atty. Victorio's withdrawal of appearance as counsel has a good cause, as the herein accused did not only stop paying for his representations in court, but also failed to reimburse the expenses incurred for the pleadings filed in court."

Associate Justice Georgina D. Hidalgo wrote the resolution with the concurrence of Seventh Division Chairperson Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta and Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses.