President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged the country’s lawyers to act as “agents of justice” by committing to truth and fairness, upholding the highest professional standards, and embracing ideals of integrity and service.
“As members of the legal community, you are in the most fitting position to safeguard that Constitution—that living document that embodies our collective aspiration and that binds us together as a people,” the President said at the 20th National Convention of Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Cebu City.
“The law must serve all Filipinos—not just a privileged few. Justice must find its way to the margins, where it is most needed—reaching the underserved, the unseen, [and] the unheard,” he stressed.
The President said that his administration was committed to supporting lawyers by ensuring a legal system that is efficient, fair, and rooted in the rule of law.
“This Administration remains your partner in nurturing the environment where our lawyers excel—where justice is swift, where it is fair, where it is impartial, and where the rule of law remains the cornerstone of all progress,” he said.
The IBP, the official organization of all lawyers in the Philippines, convenes in Cebu City to reflect on its role in shaping the legal landscape and to welcome 3,962 new lawyers attending the convention.
The President said the convention’s theme, “From Milestones to Horizons: Strengthening the Future of the Legal Profession,” was a call and a challenge to lawyers to ensure that justice remains the foundation of a strong democracy.
He said the recent adoption of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability — a declaration that the highest ethical standards must guide every member of the legal community – was a big step forward.
The President likewise lauded IBP’s initiatives to improve its services, such as the Unified Legal Aid Service Rules, which require lawyers to render at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid to indigent Filipinos every three years.
He said the launch of additional SecureJustice Hubs in August 2022 and March 2023 has bridged the gap between marginalized communities and the justice they deserve.
The digital platform Pro Bono Portal, launched in April last year, has redefined the delivery of legal aid and offered free courtroom representation, legal counseling, document preparation, and developmental legal assistance to the disadvantaged, he said.
He noted that the IBP conducts Bench and Bar Dialogues, a collaboration among judges, justices, prosecutors, and practicing lawyers that enhances the legal processes.
“By embracing technology and championing alternative dispute resolution, the IBP has ensured that fairness and efficiency in legal remedies are accessible to all Filipinos,” the President said.
At the same time, the President said that issues like cybercrime, data privacy, and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) present technical and moral dilemmas that the law profession must address in an increasingly digital world.
The President assured that his administration remains committed to nurturing an environment where lawyers excel, justice is swift, fair, and impartial, and the rule of law remains the cornerstone of progress.
The government has enacted 14 new laws establishing additional first- and second-level courts nationwide, bringing justice closer to our people. (PND)
