By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin on Thursday underscored that lawyers “should conduct themselves honestly and honorably in both their personal and professional lives.”
The Chief Magistrate made the point in his keynote address before more or less 3,000 lawyer-delegates during the 17th national convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) held at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao District, this city.
Bersamin noted that when lawyers took their oath, they “swore to do no falsehood nor consent to the doing of any in court, as well as wittingly sue any groundless, false or unlawful suit, nor give consent to the same.”
The oath, he said, is complemented by Section 20 of Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, which enumerates the duties of a lawyer.
“These duties and responsibilities actually underscore our adherence to truth, to honor, to fidelity to the courts and to the public whom we serve,” Bersamin said.
He particularly cited that dishonesty is a “serious offense and a great form of misconduct whether the offense is committed in the discharge of one’s work or in one’s personal dealings.”
However, amid the clear order, he said that “jurisprudence is replete with examples of our brethren failing in the duty to be honest.”
Bersamin cited several cases where lawyers got suspended or disbarred due to an act of dishonesty. One recurring theme in the jurisprudence on dishonesty is the “use of falsehood to cover up the lawyer’s negligence in handling the clients cause.”
“Acts of dishonesty have not been treated equally. There are degrees of dishonesty and penalties can be calibrated accordingly,” he said, adding that another consideration is whether or not lawyers are repeat offenders.
The Chief Justice spoke about two lawyers who were disbarred for forging of court decisions on annulment cases.
“The forgery of court decisions deserves the highest penalty of disbarment because they have made a mockery of our courts and eroded the public’s trust in our profession and the legal system,” he said.
In his message, he also acknowledged members of the IBP for their role in upholding the rule of law as this year’s convention was anchored on the theme, “Upholding the Rule of Law in the Period of Great Change”.
He pointed out that it is not only during a period of great change that the rule of law is upheld but “at all times, even when the weather is not turbulent.”
Meanwhile, Bersamin also announced that the Supreme Court is opening its e-library to the public, based on SC Memorandum Order 17-2019, dated last March 20.
“The SC has opened the SC e-library to the public, not only to judges and enrolled persons but to all the public, lawyers and non-lawyers alike,” he announced.
The e-library, he said, was launched in 2004. It was the brainchild of Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, when he was chairperson of the SC Committee on Library and Record Management, Legal Research and Printing services.
“For the past 15 years, we have not allowed free public access to the e-library. But now the Supreme Court has opened the e-library to all. I expect that you will show appreciation for this by subscribing to this e-library,” he said.
The opening of the convention was also attended by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Carpio who talked about “Defending Philippine Rights in the West Philippine Sea”, Associate Justice Mariano C. del Castillo who shared about the “2018 Bar Exams Experience and the Upcoming Reforms”, Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen who tackled “Adjudication, the Public Interest and the Limits of Compulsory Legal Aid”, Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Romeo F. Barza who talked about “Conflict of Interest in the Practice of Law”, and retired Justice Magdangal M. de Leon who tackled “Effective Oral Advocacy”, among others.
