In a bail hearing on Nov. 17, Govendo told Atalig to see to it that he report to Corrections on Nov. 19 with his co-defendant attorney Reynaldo O. Yana and during the regular schedule, Wednesdays, so as not to “exhaust the judge’ patience.”
Govendo said that a routine check at Corrections on Nov. 12 showed that Atalig was not there.
“I find it hard to believe that you would still fail to comply with the court’s orders when you were furnished a copy of it,” Govendo said.
The court issued a bench warrant to Atalig for failing to show up at Corrections on Nov. 12 and Atalig was taken into custody on Nov. 15.
Atalig explained that he had attempted to report to Corrections on Nov. 12 but its staff told him he could not be taken into custody because the department could not locate his paperwork.
Govendo ordered both lawyers to continue to be imprisoned until they disgorge attorney’s fees in the full amount of $1,138,500 for the civil case and $150,000 for the first distribution in the probate case, or a total of $1,288.500.
Govendo said that since the court issued the contempt order last March 28, 2008, neither Yana nor Atalig has disgorged the above-mentioned fees in part or in full.
The court earlier ordered that both lawyers will be released from custody every Monday at 8 a.m. so they can work toward satisfying the orders of the court but they are required to report back to Corrections every Wednesday at 8 a.m.
Govendo set a court hearing on Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. to check on the efforts of both lawyers in satisfying the court’s orders.
“I’m telling you to use your time wisely until the next hearing because I will be checking on your progress,” Govendo told the lawyers.
Yana and Atalig have been imprisoned since March 2005, 2008 due to the contempt-of-court charges Govendo issued in connection with the Malite probate. The two lawyers were also suspended from practicing law but on Aug. 15, Govendo allowed Yana and Atalig to be released from Corrections every Monday and return every Wednesday to give them time to work on their case.
