1.

The Prosecutor and the Courts

Akala ko kurot lang, uttered Atty. Fadullon after being attacked by the
defendant during the trial of one of the cases he was handling. 1 But it was more
than just a pinch as evinced by a scar on his neck. When asked how was he able to
move on from that incident, he replied that for him whose work requires him to be
in the court room, it be best to Find humor in the things that happened, otherwise,
hell go crazy.
Also, it would seem that his love for the courtroom helped him overcome
such an event that could propel others to quit litigation altogether. I like the
atmosphere of the court room, Atty. Fadullon proudly proclaimed. During his first
day on the job, he stressed that he wanted to do litigation from the start even if he
didnt know how. He quipped that during that time, his matrix within which his
perception of what a trial was like was just television. Fortunately, he stated that he
eventually realized the key for prosecution: preparation. You dont ever set foot in
court without studying the case, he emphasized. And he is indeed correct. A
prosecutor has a duty to his client, and to the state, to fight for his cause. And more
importantly, a prosecutor, being a lawyer and having promised to conduct himself
as such according to the best of his knowledge and discretion, owes the court the
responsibility to assist the same in the administration of justice. 2 And one cannot
do that if he is unprepared. Almost automatically, one would surmise and argue that
there exists a dissonance between being a champion for ones client and being an
officer of the court.3 Jurisprudence would suggest that in order to rectify any
dissension between a lawyers duty to his client and his duty to the courts, it is
incumbent upon him to settle such in favor of the latter as he is first and foremost
responsible for the dispensation of justice.4 Atty. Fadullon offers a solution in form of
a synthesis for the foregoing dilemma. He stated that, When you handle a case, its
never about the client or about you, its about the case. Given that, he adds that
in terms of investment, youll be able to give your all.
However, an acceptance and an assertion of the primacy of ones obligation
as an officer of the court is not a foolproof guarantee that the manner in which one
exercises such duty will be untainted by the guiles that permeate the system.
Hence, for a prosecutor, and for each and every lawyer, the challenge doesnt stop
1 Christine Avendao, Prosecutor gets parting choke from convict, Inquirer.net,
February 28, 2014, http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/581162/prosecutor-gets-partingchoke-from-convict (accessed May , 2016).
2 Ruben E. Agpalo, Comments on the Code of Professional Responsibility and the
Code of Judicial Conduct, 2004 Ed (Quezon City: Rex Printing Company), 99.
3 Ibid., 98.
4 Ibid., 99.

after accepting ones role in the dispensation of justice relative to ones duty to the
courts. The struggle, being a continuous process, is inherent in every case and in
every task. And Atty. Fadullon, having more than 20 years of experience in the field
of litigation, is extremely aware of such challenge. Chief Fadullon expressed that
Its the fire of idealism which tries to make up for all the failure that the system
has. He shares that its a sense of duty to the courts underpinned by ones ideals
that allows one to fulfill ones responsibility in the best way that he can. Hang on to
your ideals for as long as you can, he adds.
A lot of people are afraid to listen, to hear the truth. That is the truth.

a. His rant about the rule on affidavit something

something
1. His rant about the courts in general

I.

The Prosecutor and the Courts

Akala ko kurot lang, uttered Atty. Fadullon after being attacked by the
defendant during the trial of one of the cases he was handling. But it was more than
just a pinch as evinced by a scar on his neck. The aforementioned incident, as
Prosecutor General Arellano pu it, exemplified the risks that prosecutors face in the
performance of their duties. When asked how was he able to move on from that
incident, he replied that for him whose work requires him to be in the courtroom, it
be best to Find humor in the things that happened, otherwise, hell go crazy.
Also, it would seem that his love for the courtroom helped him overcome such
an event that could propel others to quit litigation altogether. I like the atmosphere
of the courtroom, Atty. Fadullon proudly proclaimed. During his first day on the job,
he stressed that he wanted to do litigation from the start even if he didnt know
how. He quipped that during that time, his matrix within which his perception of
what a trial was like was just television. Fortunately, he stated that he eventually
realized the key for prosecution: preparation. You dont ever set foot in court
without studying the case, he emphasized. And he is indeed correct. A prosecutor
has a duty to his client, and to the state, to fight for his cause. And more
importantly, a prosecutor, being a lawyer and having promised to conduct himself
as such according to the best of his knowledge and discretion, owes the court the
responsibility to assist the same in the administration of justice. And one cannot
do that if he is unprepared. Almost automatically, one would surmise and argue that
there exists a dissonance between being a champion for ones client and being an
[][]

officer of the court. Jurisprudence would suggest that in order to rectify any
dissension between a lawyers duty to his client and his duty to the courts, it is
incumbent upon him to settle such in favor of the latter as he is first and foremost
responsible for the dispensation of justice. Atty. Fadullon offers a solution in form of
a synthesis for the foregoing dilemma. He stated that, When you handle a case, its
never about the client or about you, its about the case. Given that, he adds that
in terms of investment, youll be able to give your all.