(Eagle News) — A man who misrepresented himself as a lawyer –and whose latest client is a rape suspect who misrepresented himself as a doctor — is now behind bars in Caloocan City.
Joaquin Misa Jr., was arrested Wednesday, February 17, by the Caloocan City police, for representing himself as a lawyer for Norlito Fruto when in fact he was never one.
Misa is not a lawyer as his name is not included in the Bar, according to the complainant lawyer Roderick Manzano who found this out from the Office of the Bar Confidant of the Supreme Court.
Misa is representing Fruto, a rape suspect who had earlier misrepresented himself as a doctor, in a case of resisting arrest filed with the Caloocan City municipal trial court. Fruto, an expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo member, is also a known supporter of expelled INC members Lottie Hemedez and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo.
The complainant in Misa’s case, Manzano, has filed various petitions against Misa, including charges for indirect contempt, falsification of legitimate document, use of fictitious name and concealment of true name.
Manzano was supposed to file a disbarment case against Misa, but was surprised to find later on that the latter was not even a member of the Bar.
Misa’s present client, Fruto, is also facing a string of charges including estafa, rape and for illegal practice of medicine after he misrepresented himself as a doctor.
On Wednesday, Misa tried to resist arrest, and shouted at the arresting officers of the Caloocan City police department.
In his complaint, Manzano said Misa had also used a roll number (34330) which belonged to another person, lawyer Ma. Teresa V. Abaca of Calapan, Mindoro, who was admitted to the Bar in 1986.
Misa is also not a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), according to Manzano’s complaint.