Law must serve all Filipinos, Marcos tells lawyers

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

In his speech at the 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu City, Marcos focused on the role of lawyers in making justice accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those who are underserved. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday called for a legal system that serves all Filipinos, urging the legal community to reinforce the foundations of the legal profession and ensure inclusive justice.

In his speech at the 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu City, Marcos focused on the role of lawyers in making justice accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those who are underserved.

“The law must serve all Filipinos—not just a privileged few,” Marcos said.

“Justice must find its way to the margins, where it is most needed—reaching the underserved, the unseen, and the unheard. After all, the Constitution is meant to be wielded with purpose and compassion, especially for those who need it the most,” he added.

Organized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the convention gathers legal professionals from across the country and aims to strengthen the foundations of the legal community.

Marcos welcomed the 3,962 newly sworn-in lawyers, urging them to take on the responsibility of shaping a fairer and more inclusive society.

“Your journey begins now, and that journey brings with it a tremendous opportunity to shape a society that is fairer, more equitable, and more inclusive,” he said.

The President also stressed the need for law schools to adapt to the evolving demands of the profession, emphasizing the importance of refining curricula to integrate emerging fields such as Human Rights Law and International Law.

Likewise, he highlighted the importance of the Constitution as a living document that binds the nation together.

“You are in the most fitting position to safeguard that Constitution— that living document that embodies our collective aspirations and that binds us together as a people,” Marcos said, recalling a decade-old award where he was named “Great Protector of the Constitution” by the Philippine Constitution Association.

“Being a vanguard of the Constitution transcends political affiliation, family legacy, profession,” he continued.

“At its core, it is about ensuring that justice is more than just an ideal written on paper, it is about ensuring that it exists in the real world, in the lives of every ordinary citizen.

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The Chief Executive then commended initiatives like the Unified Legal Aid Service Rules, which require lawyers to provide at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid every three years to indigent Filipinos.

He also praised the IBP’s efforts to provide free legal assistance both domestically and internationally.

Marcos reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting the legal community, mentioning the enactment of 14 new laws that establish additional first- and second-level courts across the country, aiming to bring justice closer to the people.