PBBM enjoins lawyers to be ‘angels of justice’

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PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said the law serves all Filipinos and that justice should reach even the marginalized and underprivileged sector.

The President, during the 20th National Convention of Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Cebu City, said justice should also be swift, fair, and impartial.

“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,” Marcos said as he committed to ensuring an efficient and fair legal system rooted in the rule of law.

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To achieve this, he said the government has enacted 14 new laws establishing additional first- and second-level courts nationwide.

The President enjoined 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.

“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.

Marcos lauded the IBP convention’s theme this year, “From Milestones to Horizons: Strengthening the Future of the Legal Profession,” which he said is a call and a challenge to lawyers to ensure that justice remains the foundation of a strong democracy.

He also recognized the 3,962 newly sworn-in lawyers and urged them to take on the responsibility of shaping a fairer and more inclusive society.

He also asked them to protect human dignity in the face of increasing challenges from the digital age, including cybercrime, data privacy issues, and artificial intelligence (AI).

“The emergence of issues such as cybercrime, data privacy, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence presents not only technical dilemmas but moral ones as well. Therefore, they demand our continued commitment to protect human dignity in an increasingly digital world,” he said.

The President, meanwhile, acknowledged the recent adoption of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability which he said is a significant step forward in ensuring the highest ethical standards that guide every member of the legal community.

He also assured his administration’s commitment in uplifting the legal education system in the country, as he recognized the need for law schools to adapt to the changing legal profession by updating curricula, incorporating emerging fields, and balancing legal theory with practical application.

Marcos said the Revised Model Curriculum for the Basic Law Program has already established a foundation by including Human Rights Law and International Law in legal education.

“Our challenge is to ensure that these principles are not confined to the pages of textbooks or the halls of courtrooms, but are lived and breathed—always guided by the Constitution and the values it upholds,” he said.            

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