MANILA — The new national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Monday vowed a full investigation on the fiasco over the organization’s involvement with Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula.
Lawyer Domingo Eyon Cayosa assured that they would look into the circumstances of the press conference conducted by Advincula in their headquarters in Pasig City last week.
“Be assured that we will responsibly do our job as elected leaders of the organization and safeguard the interests and integrity of the IBP,” Cayosa assured in a statement.
The IBP has turned down Advincula’s request for free legal assistance, citing that Bikoy has failed to meet standards.
A disbarment complaint was filed on Friday against Cayosa and his predecessor, lawyer Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, by the Kabalikat party-list before the Supreme Court, accusing the duo of violating Rule 1.02 of the Code of Professional Responsibility for allowing Advincula to use the IBP office to publicly accuse members of the first family and allies of President Rodrigo Duterte of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Rule 1.02 states that “a lawyer shall not counsel or abet activities aimed at defiance of the law or at lessening confidence in the legal system.”
The complaint states that the IBP heads committed misconduct in “allowing, tolerating, and abetting” Advincula “in the commission of slander and/or uttering seditious words or speech and in circulating scurrilous libels against the duly constituted authority and a member of his family.”
Solicitor General Jose Calida earlier called for the resignation of Fajardo as IBP head.