Pubdate: Wed, 01 Feb 2006
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: Frank Malilong
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

MALILONG: PRAY FOR HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR

The Other Side

I am not going to violently react, as most of my colleagues in the bar
are probably inclined to do, to the statement of His Honor, the Mayor
that most lawyers depend on income from defending drug suspects. To
quote the late Tranqui Ortega, "that is to your according, Your Honor."

When I was admitted to the bar 31 years ago, I thought I'd be able to
finally cross the poverty line. It didn't take long before I realized
that I thought wrong.

I managed to survive through my modest practice but the only wealth I
acquired were, aside from my children, the coins that I saved inside a
large glass jar. I lost those, too, to thieves who broke into my
office and whom the police could not identify, much less apprehend, to
this day.

But that is beside the point, which is that I did not and I do not
earn my keep from defending drug suspects. Not that there is anything
shameful or demeaning about defending a person who is accused of
violating the anti-drugs law especially when he is falsely accused,
which is, in several instances, the case, by policemen out on a
shake-down. All that I am saying is that contrary to His Honor, the
Mayor's insinuation, no lawyer will ever starve or be forced to close
his office if there are no drug offenders to defend.

Your Honor, we are not wealthy like your councilors, who smirk at the
money the public are paying them because it cannot even buy them a
drink. We believe them when they say that they/you are not in
government for the money. What you're there for, we will not make it
our business to know, at least this time.

But with all due respect, Your Honor, it is very wrong if not grossly
ignorant of you to conclude that just because lawyers are not filthy
rich like your colleagues in the City Government, they will lose their
livelihood if there are no drug cases to handle. Mang-notaryo lang gud
tawon diay mi sa City Hall, 'Nyor.

I can understand His Honor's contempt for lawyers. A lawyer sued him
for closing the south coastal road and a judge (who is and must be a
lawyer) ordered him to reopen it. In between, they asked so many
questions on so many things. His Honor thinks: Do they know any at
all? He is all-knowing and infallible; those pests are
insufferable.

And so when they gathered the nerve to question the propriety of
publishing the names of judges and fiscals who have dismissed drug
cases, His Honor exploded. You disgusting, miserable lawyers, your
poverty disqualifies you to any claim to public service. You're into
this only for the money.

Don't take offense, companeros and companeras. Let's pray for His
Honor. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, were it not for the
grace of God, he could have been you or I. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom