Protect the Constitution, people’s rights, Robredo tells lawyers

Vice President Leni Robredo has encouraged members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to protect the Constitution and the people’s rights in times of institutional change. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President/PNA)

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo has encouraged members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to protect the Constitution and the people’s rights in times of institutional change.

In her speech at the IBP Central Luzon regional convention and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) in Mabalacat, Pampanga on Thursday, Robredo said it is not enough for lawyers “to know the law, argue their positions well, and quote the most obscure provisions to win their cases and protect their clients.”

“There’s no excuse for us to confuse friends from foes because the Constitution is clear about what and who we must protect. We must remember that our legal profession carries with it the weighty duty of defending our rights and our freedoms,” she said.

She urged the lawyers to be unafraid to speak the truth and fight for causes that many are unwilling to take, as she called on them to honor the profession by committing to fight for the poor, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised.

Robredo, a lawyer before she joined politics, shared that she joined Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (Saligan) and worked closely with farmers, fisher folk, urban poor, indigenous peoples, women and children.

She said the group is a legal resource, non-government organization that empowers marginalized sectors by letting them know about their rights.

“While our economy continues to grow, there are inequalities (that) refuse to be safely hidden in the sidelines while people fight for their rights,” she said.

IBP Central Luzon regional convention and MCLE is a bi-annual event where lawyers from its seven chapters gather to listen to lecturers and experts in different fields of law.