MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has suspended Rose-Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles, who has represented clients in controversial cases, for violating the lawyer's code of conduct.

Angeles, recently the legal counsel of road rage suspect Vhon Tanto, was suspended from the practice of law by the SC for three years.

Angeles was suspended along with fellow lawyer Wylie Paler due to an administrative complaint filed in 2003 by Leo Dongga-as.

According to Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te, Cruz-Angeles and Paler are also expected to return P350,000 to Dongga-as.

The decision penned by the SC found the two lawyers violated passages in the lawyer's code of conduct against dishonest practices, neglect of legal matters entrusted to them, and accountability for a client’s money.

Angeles was also the legal counsel of expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II, then fugitive and now Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon.

In a post on Facebook, Cruz-Angeles said that she will not argue the merits of her case, though she believes that she was not accorded due process.

However, she emphasized that she still believes in the legal system, Supreme Court and Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

"Even if it (legal system) fails individuals, I do not believe that it fails society. Though it can stand improvement, there is no better way yet," she said.

She will go on to "do other things," she said, and will continue to write and teach students as well.