Martin3 ROMUALDEZ SA IBP – Hinikayat ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez ang mga kapwa abugado na ipagtanggol ang Konstitusyon, hustisya, rule of law at mga walang kakayanang kumuha ng legal services sa kanyang solidarity message Biyernes ng gabi sa 20th National Convention of Lawyers ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines sa Lahug, Cebu City. Kuha ni VER NOVENO

Speaker Romualdez sa mga abugado: Konstitusyon, walang laban ipagtanggol

February 1, 2025 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 162 views

HINAMON ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez noong Biyernes ng gabi ang kanyang mga kapwa abugado na ipagtanggol at maging protektor ng Konstitusyon, hustisya, pangingibabaw ng batas, at mga walang laban na walang kakayanang kumuha ng legal services.

Ginawa ng lider ng Kamara ang mensaheng ito sa 20th National Convention of Lawyers ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines na ginanap sa Lahug, Cebu City.

Ang tema ng convention ay “From Milestones to Horizons: Strengthening the Future of the Legal Profession.”

“What kind of legal profession will we pass on to the next generation? One that is driven merely by profit, or one that remains a beacon of hope for the nation? One that is transactional, or one that is transformative?” tanong ni Speaker Romualdez, isang UP law graduate.

“We must ensure that every Filipino, whether rich or poor, educated or unlettered, knows that the law is not the instrument of the powerful, but the protector of the weak. That justice is not a privilege, but a right. And that lawyers are not mere advocates of clients, but guardians of the nation’s moral and legal compass,” saad pa nito.

Ayon sa lider ng 306 kinatawan ng Kamara de Representantes sa kasalukuyan hindi lamang expertise ang kailangan ng legal profession kundi maging ng tapang.

“Courage to uphold the Constitution when it is most inconvenient. Courage to speak the truth when silence is the safer path. And courage to stand for justice, not just for the privileged, but for those who cannot afford representation, whose voices are drowned out by wealth and influence,” sabi nito.

Sinabi ni Speaker Romualdez sa kanyang mga kapwa abugado na siya ay humaharap sa kanila hindi bilang isang public servant kundi bilang isang abugado na naniniwala sa kapangyarihan ng kanilang propesyon na hubugin ang kasaysayan.

“Some of you here will go on to become justices and judges, others will lead corporations and industries, and many will dedicate their lives to public service. But no matter where our careers take us, we must never forget this fundamental truth: we are all, at our core, defenders of the law and stewards of justice,” giit nito.

Dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez, “When our careers are over, when the last case has been argued and the last motion filed, how will we be remembered? Will we be known for our victories in court, or for the justice we helped uphold? Will we be counted among those who profited from the law, or among those who strengthened it for future generations?”

“The answers to these questions will define our legacy not just as individual lawyers, but as a profession,” ani Speaker Romualdez.

Ayon sa lider ng Kamara, siya ay nakatayo sa harap ng kanyang mga kaibigan sa legal na propesyon hindi lamang bilang Speaker ng Kamara kundi bilang isang kapwa abugado na dapat sumunod sa sinumpaang propesyon, hinubog ng kaparehong disiplina, at pangakong itataguyod ang hustisya at pagsunod sa batas.

“We gather here not just as members of the Bar, but as custodians of the law, its stewards, its defenders, and, when necessary, its reformers. Each one of us carries the weight of history upon our shoulders, for the law is the foundation upon which our nation stands. It is the silent force that shapes the destinies of millions, the great equalizer that upholds the dignity of the powerless, and the final safeguard against tyranny and injustice,” dagdag pa nito.

Nagsalita rin si Speaker Romualdez kaugnay ng papel ng batas sa kasalukuyang mundo.

“We live in an era of disruption. Technology is rewriting the rules of commerce, artificial intelligence is reshaping the practice of law, and geopolitical shifts are challenging the very notion of sovereignty and international order. Here at home, democracy is being tested not by force, but by apathy; not by the absence of law, but by its misuse and manipulation,” wika pa nito.

“This is the reality we must confront: the law is only as strong as those who defend it. It is only as just as those who interpret it. And it is only as relevant as those who wield it for the common good,” sabi pa ng mambabatas.

Sinabi ng lider ng Kamara na nakikita nito kung papaano ang mga batas, kapag ginawa nang may karunungan at layunin, ay maaaring makapagpabago ng buhay.

“We have worked to expand legal aid services, to strengthen judicial independence, and to uphold transparency and accountability in governance. But I also know that legislation alone is not enough. The battle for justice is waged not only in Congress or the courts but in every forum where truth must be defended,” giit pa nito.

Nagbigay ng katiyakan ang lider ng Kamara sa kanyang mga kapwa abugado na ang Kamara ay mananatiling partner ng legal na propesyon sa pagtiyak na natutugunan ng legal system ang pangangailangan ng publiko.

“But we need your voices, your intellect, and your moral clarity to guide the way. The challenge that lies before us today is to build a legal profession and a nation where justice is not only done but is felt by every Filipino. Let this be our commitment, our cause, and our enduring legacy,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

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