Marcos tells lawyers: Uphold truth, dignity in digital age

Manila Bulletin

President Marcos has urged the country's lawyers to act as "agents of justice" by upholding truth, fairness, and dignity in the face of challenges brought about by technological innovations.  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/30/marcos-tells-lawyers-uphold-truth   Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

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00:00As members of the legal community, you are in the most fitting position to safeguard

00:06that Constitution, that living document that embodies our collective aspiration and that

00:12binds us together as a people.

00:16A decade ago, the Philippine Constitution Association awarded me the title of the Great

00:21Protector of the Constitution.

00:24When I accepted the award, I could not help but marvel at the irony.

00:27A non-lawyer entrusted with such a lofty title.

00:32But that is the beauty of democracy and the enduring power of our Constitution.

00:37It allows even the most unexpected candidates, like a layman myself, to play a role in protecting

00:44its principles.

00:46And there lies the heart of the matter.

00:48Being a vanguard of the Constitution transcends political affiliation, family legacy, professional.

00:56At its core, it is about ensuring that justice is more than just an ideal written on paper.

01:02It is about ensuring that it exists in the real world, in the lives of every ordinary

01:08citizen.

01:10In this light, we must embrace a simple but profound truth.

01:15The law must serve all Filipinos, not just the privileged few.

01:20Justice must find its way to the margins where it is most needed, reaching the underserved,

01:26the unseen, the unheard.

01:29After all, the Constitution is meant to be wielded with purpose and compassion, especially

01:34for those who need it the most.

01:37Initiatives such as the Unified Legal Aid Service rules, which require lawyers to render

01:42at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid every three years for indigent Filipinos, is very

01:49commendable.

01:50Equally notable are the IBP's tireless efforts to provide legal assistance.

02:00Legal assistance is provided both here and abroad, bringing us closer to a justice system

02:04that serves everyone.

02:07By embracing technology and championing alternative dispute resolution, the IBP has ensured that

02:13fairness and efficiency in legal remedies are accessible to all Filipinos.

02:20No less significant is the pro bono portal introduced by the same institution in April

02:25of last year.

02:27This digital platform has redefined the delivery of legal aid, offering free courtroom representation,

02:34legal counseling, document preparation, and developmental legal assistance to the disadvantaged.

02:41Along with these initiatives, the IBP conducts bench and bar dialogues, which foster collaboration

02:48amongst judges, justices, prosecutors, practicing lawyers, and enhancing in the process the

02:55legal processes that we are using.

02:59This administration remains your partner in nurturing the environment where our lawyers

03:04excel, where justice is swift, where it is fair, where it is impartial, and where the

03:11rule of law remains the cornerstone of all progress.

03:16Towards this end, we have enacted 14 new laws, establishing additional first and second level

03:21courts across the country, bringing justice closer to our people.

03:30And as we move forward, I encourage everyone to enrich your commitment to truth and to

03:36fairness, embrace the highest standards of professionalism, and embody the ideals of

03:42integrity and of service.

03:44United by this shared vision of equity, let us build the Bagong Pilipinas, where the rule

03:51of law reigns supreme, where peace and security shape every community, and where every Filipino

03:59enjoys the enduring gifts of liberty.

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