IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973 - 2013 September 2012

CJ Sereno calls for reflection. IBP President Libarios and CJ Sereno pose with the other members of the 23rd POLA Executive Committee

At 23rd POLA Confab ABAD PRESENTS AFFIDAVIT

INTL BAR LEADERS ADOPT RULE TO IBP SRO CROWD
MANILA DECLARATION A new Supreme Court
rule that is changing the
CJ Sereno delivers first public address litigation landscape was
the topic of an IBP Public
The leaders of 18 national bar associations and Forum held September
international bar federations concluded the 23rd Con- 17, 2012 at a packed
ference of the Presidents of Law Associations in Asia JBL Reyes Hall.
(POLA) in Manila with the signing of the Manila Decla- Called the Judicial Af-
ration, a historic document reaffirming the objectives fidavit Rule, the document Justice Roberto A. Abad
of the 22 year old organization and providing special was approved by the Su-
emphasis to the plight of migrant workers and victims preme Court in an en banc courts of Quezon City. Ap-
of trafficking and cross-border crimes. session last September 4 proval of the rule was rec-
after going through pilot ommended by Senior As-
The 23rd POLA Conference was held at the Marriott testing early this year in the
Hotel from August 27 to 29 - see page 7
and was hosted by the Inte- IBP FULL HOUSE CROWD
grated Bar of the Philippines.
The draft of the Manila Dec-
laration was presented for
discussion by IBP President
Roan Libarios, Chairman
of the 23rd POLA, during
the Presidents Meeting on
August 29 and was unani-
mously passed after the in-
clusion of enhancements to
the original draft.
- see page 4

Legal Aid via

POLA Nights
to Remember 10 VP Binays
speech in POLA 12 Facebook 23
MESSAGES FOR THE IBP EASTERN VISAYAS CONVENTION
Renewing Our Oath, Reliving Our Mission
From the National President
The national
leadership of the
Integrated Bar of
the Philippines
joins me in sa-
luting the IBP
Eastern Visayas
Region on its 10th Regional Con-
vention, to be held at the Oriental
Hotel & Resort in Palo, Leyte, from
September 20-22, 2012.
I also extend my warmest hand-
shake to the IBP Leyte Chapter for
hosting this event that celebrates a
decade of service of the IBP East-
ern Visayas Region, which brings
together our brothers and sis-
ters from Cebu, Cebu City, Bohol,
Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Sa-
mar, Eastern Samar and Northern
Samar.
Under our present circumstance
as a nation, there is perhaps no
theme that is more appropriate
and timely for our profession than
Renewing Our Oath, Reliving Our
Mission. As we live in increasingly
complex and challenging times, we
regularly need to be reminded of the
simplicity of the basics and the rule
of law, upon which the solid founda-
tions of our democratic institutions
must firmly stand. We need a con-
stant re-examination and renewal
ask ourselves: are we doing the
right thing? -- so we may fully live
our mission of serving the ends of
justice wherever we may be.
This reaffirmation of mission
was once again highlighted in the
The
Vol. 8
Bar TriBune
No. 6
Official Publication of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines
15 J. Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tel. No. 63.2 6313014 Telefax No. 63.2 9100417
Website: www.ibp.ph Email: ibp_national@yahoo.com
recently concluded 23rd Confer-
ence of the Presidents of Law As-
sociations in Asia (POLA), which
your organization -- the IBP host-
ed last month. A high point of the
POLA Conference was the passage
of the Manila Declaration, in which
the presidents of 18 national law
associations and international law
federations, unanimously commit-
ted themselves to promote human
rights and peace, protect migrant
workers from abuse and enhance
access to justice for low-income
and marginalized individuals,
among other key initiatives. These
are the same critical issues that the
IBP has stood up for, as sentinel of
law and democracy.
I wish to conclude this mes-
sage with a special congratulatory
note to Governor Manuel Enage,
Jr. I am informed that the College
of Maasin, a school of modest be-
ginnings which he helped estab-
lish, has produced five new lawyers
this year, a tribute to the patience,
persistence and singular focus of
its founders and certainly an en-
couraging best practice many law
schools can learn from.
Once again, to our esteemed
colleagues in IBP Eastern Visayas
Region, keep the faith and the fire
burning.
Congratulations and Mabuhay!
ROAN I. LIBARIOS
National President
Aurora G. Geronimo, Jaryl Ann V. Ranchez,
Vivian C. Capiznon, Myla L. Bernal, Cherryl M. Artajo, Jerome M. Abella
Staff
Jose E. San Diego, Jr.
Editorial Consultant
We welcome feedback and suggestions. Please write to ibp_national@yahoo.com
From the Regional Governor
It is my distinct honor to greet and
welcome to the beautiful province of
Leyte the guests and delegates of the
10th IBP-Eastern Visayas Regional
Convention with the theme Renewing
Our Oath, Reliving Our Mission. This
gathering will certainly be a perfect
avenue for us to rekindle our fraternal
bond and feel once more the warmth
of our enduring friendship, bound by
our steadfast commitment to the rule
of law and to our justice system.
As we face the reality that lawyers
play a vital role in every civilized and
democratic society, it is indeed a great
challenge for every lawyer to continue
protecting and upholding the rights of
our citizens. Our people have reposed
their trust and confidence in our pro-
fession such that we could not afford
to jeopardize the future of our nation
by abusing our oath and responsibili-
ties. This convention is therefore the
best opportunity for us to rekindle our
vow to become instruments of justice
and with the end view of uplifting our
vocation to new and greater heights.
I also congratulate the officers and
members of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines-Leyte (IBP-Leyte) Chapter
for successfully hosting this bi-annual
event.
God bless and Mabuhay!
MANUEL L. ENAGE, JR.
IBP Governor for Eastern Visayas
Eumir C. Lambino
Layout Artist
 The Bar Tribune

IBP EASTERN VISAYAS HOLDS

10th REGIONAL CONVENTION
IBP Eastern Visayas Region will Programme HigHligHts
hold its 10th Regional Convention at
DAY 1 The Code of Professional
the Oriental Hotel & Resort in Palo, R.A. 7279, Lina Law Responsibility (Legal Ethics)
Leyte, from September 20-22, 2012 Lecturer: Atty. Jose D. Lina Jr. Lecturer: Atty. Dennis A.B. Funa
with the theme Renewing Our Oath, Updates in Intellectual Dinner / Socials
Reliving Our Mission. Convention Property Law
host is IBP Leyte Chapter. Lecturer: Atty. Ramon S. Esguerra DAY 3
Fellowship Night Special Protection for Women &
IBP Eastern Visayas is made up of Guest Performers Children (Substantive &
the provinces of Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Chapter Presentations Procedural Law)
Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Sa- Raffle Lecturer: Atty. Cecilio D. Duka
Labor Arbitration (ADR)
mar, Samar, Southern Leyte and
DAY 2 Lecturer: Atty. Cecilio D. Duka
Cebu City. Updates in Criminal Procedure Plenary Session & Approval of
(Substantive & Procedural Law) Resolutions
Meanwhile, aside from its partici- Atty. Ramon S. Esguerra Closing
pation in the Eastern Visayas Region- Oral Advocacy (Legal Writing &
al Convention, IBP Cebu Chapter has Oral Advocacy) Pre-Convention: September 19, 2012
also lined up activities for Law Week Lecturer: Atty. Israelito P. Torreon Leyte Park Gym
2012 commemoration, including a Jail Updates in Civil Procedure Magsaysay Street,
Visit & Legal Consultation at Mandaue (Substantive & Procedural Law) Tacloban City
City Jail on September 17; a Dialogue Lecturer: Atty. Vicente M. Joyas
Duties of a Lawyer to His Client Sports Events: Basketball, Chess,
with CJ Ma. Lourdes Sereno and SC
(Legal Ethics) Badminton
Associate Justices on September 19; Lecturer: Atty. Dennis A.B. Funa
and a Free Legal Clinic on September
22.
Eastern Visayas Chapter Presidents

Manuel L. Enage, Jr. Roy Percival M. Perez Meljohn B. De La Pea Cristifil D. Baluma Ferdinand A. Pepito
Governor, Eastern Visayas President, Leyte Chapter President, Biliran Chapter President, Bohol Chapter President, Cebu Chapter
President, Southern Leyte Chapter Host Chapter

Earl M. Bonachita Jose Vincent R.M. Opinion Rolando P. Dubongco Cesar T. Mabansag
President, Cebu City Chapter President, Eastern Samar Chapter President, Northern President, Samar Chapter
Samar Chapter

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 3

September 2012
- Intl Bar... from cover
The Manila Declaration includes a
6-point commitment by POLA member
countries and associations to encourage
lawyers to promote human rights and
peace, promote awareness of UN conven-
tions on the protection of migrant workers
and victims of international trafficking and
cross-border crimes, commit to the pro-
tection of migrant workers among POLA
members, recognize the need for strong
and independent bar organizations for
the competent and efficient delivery of
legal services, strengthen cooperation in
promoting legal aid programs for migrant
workers, and provide legal aid in an equi-
table and accessible manner.
The Presidents Meeting discussed
three other draft resolutions corporate
social responsibility; human trafficking,
drugs and cross-border crimes; and pro-
motion of labor standards in globalized
employment markets which are still sub-
ject to further discussions in POLA.
SECOND TIME FOR IBP
Represented by the IBP, the Philip-
pines won the privilege of hosting the 23rd
POLA Conference during the 22nd Con-
Snapshots from the 23rd POLA Conference held at Marriott Hotel
4 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
ference held June last year in Taipei. The
IBP first hosted the POLA in 1996.
The 23rd POLA Conference in Manila
was keynoted by Vice President Jejomar
Binay while newly appointed SC Chief
Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno graced the
third day of the conference with a lunch-
eon talk (see separate story).
Conference sessions revolved around
the theme The Legal Profession and the
Renewed Challenges of Globalization
and included topics on human trafficking
and cross-border crimes, labor standards
in globalized employment markets, cross-
border legal practice and services, and
corporate social responsibility.
Each conference session had a mod-
erator and a panel of reactors from POLA
members. The IBPs National Director
for Legal Aid, Atty. Rosario Setias-Reyes
moderated the session on labor standards
in globalized employment markets.
IBP WELCOME
In his welcome remarks, IBP Presi-
dent and Conference Chair Roan Libari-
os noted the special significance of the
event. No other conference can claim to
bring together the Presidents of the lead-
ing Bar organizations in Asia Pacific than
this POLA assembly, he said. Aside from
the 18 heads of bar associations, also
present were the presidents of four lead-
ing international bar federations, namely:
the International Bar Association, Lawa-
sia, Inter-Pacific Bar Association and Un-
ion Internationale Des Avocats.
Libarios walked the delegates through
the programme for the conference, mak-
ing special mention of the Manila herit-
age tour sponsored by the Department of
Tourism. From this (heritage) tour, Libari-
os said, you will understand why Manila
is a virtual microcosm of POLA, a melting
pot of cultures And perhaps from this
tour, he added, you will realize that we,
members of POLA, all share an interlock-
ing culture and heritage.
KEYNOTE
In his keynote speech, Vice President
Binay focused on POLA topics that relate
directly to his responsibilities, such as hu-
man trafficking, drugs and cross-border
crimes as well as the globalized employ-
ment market. (See VP Binays speech on
page 12.)
These are issues we take seriously
because they relate directly to the core of
our efforts to raise the quality of life and
 The Bar Tribune

session i: Combating Human traffiCking and Cross-border Crimes

session ii: Promoting Labor standards in gLobaLized emPLoyment markets

session iii: resPonding to Cross-border LegaL PraCtiCe and serviCes

session iV: Promoting CorPorate soCiaL resPonsibiLity

the very future of our labor-supplying na-

tion, he said.
Binay is Presidential Adviser on Over-
seas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns,
Chairman Emeritus of the Inter-Agency
Committee on Anti-trafficking in Persons
(IACAT) and Chairman of the Presidential
Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment
(PTFAIR).
According to Binay, human smuggling
and illegal recruitment by criminal syndi-
cates and non-licensed fly by night recruit-
ers are the countrys biggest problem. tions between country of origin and coun- tice Ma. Lourdes Sereno spent part of her
They flourish in part, Binay said, because try of destination in the enforcement of second day at work with a luncheon talk
destination countries do not complement overseas workers rights. He said push- on the third day of the conference.
the efforts of labor-sending countries at ing of adoption of the ILO framework as a In her first official address after be-
combating these twin evils in labor migra- convention is the shared responsibility of ing sworn in as Chief Justice, Sereno dis-
tion. every country. cussed the current issues on governance
He announced that the International by working back through the lens of his-
Labor Organization has put forward a NEW CHIEF JUSTICE tory.
rights-based approach in labor migra- Sereno asserted that the Philippines
tion, one that clearly defines the obliga- Meanwhile, newly installed Chief Jus- is a young nation yet in terms of political

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 5

September 2012
- from page 5
cooperation and governance and the ex-
perience of the modern People Power re-
volts is helping us get started in manifest-
ing such power in governance structures.
(See separate story on CJ Serenos talk.)
NON-LEGAL TALK
It was not always legal talk for the
conference of, for and by lawyers. Gen-
eral Electric Philippines CEO J. V. Em-
manuel De Dios, who is himself a lawyer,
talked about GE technological innovation,
investments in ASEAN and transforma-
tional leadership.
Department of Tourism Undersecre-
tary Atty. Apolonia Jr. gave a glimpse of
Philippine culture and explained why Its
More Fun in the Philippines. There was
also a bit of irreverent history courtesy of
social commentator John Silva.
The 24th POLA will be held in Japan
next year while the 25th will be held in
Australia. (JESD)
FIDA Regional Convention
to be held in Cebu
Two months after the IBP hosted
the 23rd Conference of the Presidents
of Law Associations in Asia (POLA),
another international gathering, this
time of female lawyers, will be held in
the Philippines.
The Federacion Internacional de
Abogadas (FIDA), Philippine Branch,
Inc. is playing host to the Asian Region-
al Convention of FIDA International on
October 3-5, 2012 at Marco Polo Plaza
Hotel, Cebu City.
The Asian Regional Convention
of FIDA is an opportunity to once again
showcase the Philippine hospitality and
rich culture, said IBP President Roan
Libarios in a message to FIDA Philip-
pine Branch. More importantly, it will
also serve as an international forum for
discussing issues that promote human
development, particularly the welfare of
women and children.
An ongoing thrust of the IBP is le-
gal diplomacy, involving the establish-
ment of a global network of networks
of lawyers to facilitate legal action on
wide ranging issues such as interna-
tional trafficking and other cross-border
crimes.
6 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
CJ BARES CHALLENGES
Members of the POLA Executive Committee pose with CJ Sereno
Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno
spent part of her second day in office ad-
dressing delegates to the 23rd Conven-
tion of the Presidents of Law Associations
in Asia (POLA), which was hosted by the
IBP at the Marriott Hotel.
In a speech rich in historical intro-
spection, Sereno said the judiciary has to
undergo a process of redefining itself in
order to be responsive to high public ex-
pectations.
A major need of the judiciary, Ser-
eno said, is to define its engagement
with the litigants, and the members of
the general public as well as who are in-
evitably affected by the decisions of the
judiciary even if they are not direct parties
to a judicial controversy.
PARADOX
The first female Chief Justice -- and
the second youngest to hold the post --
said that while the Philippines and other
countries in the Pacific region all have ju-
dicial systems in place, there are charac-
teristics that make the Philippine situation
different, describing it as a paradox.
While the Philippines has the distinc-
tion of being the first, or among the first in
the Asian region to have formal, sophis-
ticated engagement in Western political
and governance philosophies, it is para-
doxically one of the least experienced in
Asia in social and political cooperation
and independent governance. Sereno
observed.
HISTORICAL ROOTS
structive social and political intercourse
She said that during its colonial oc-
cupation, Spain secured the colonial gov-
ernment presence by divorcing the civil-
ian native population from its indigenous
base, describing the local populations
ties with one another as fragmented.
That meant that Filipinos had very little
experience in social and political coopera-
tion when the Spanish administrators of
the Philippine colonies left, Sereno said.
While acknowledging experiences in
cooperation like bayanihan -- when peo-
ple helped each other transfer native huts
from one location to another -- or commu-
nal activities like fiestas and church pro-
cessions, Sereno said cooperation among
the early Filipinos had almost nothing to
do with governance issues that national
and local government units now face.
The situation would mean, according
to Sereno, that when the US colonizers
tried to make its governance structures
work, the necessary social, intellectual
and political structures that would make
those governance structures take root
were simply not there. The Philippine
masses were just used to the Spanish
overlords exacting tributes and compulso-
ry servitude. Their only experiences were
survival, subsistence and injustice.
PALAKASAN, SIPSIPAN
The effect of Spanish colonization,
Sereno asserted, was to make such so-
cial intercourse revolve around the activi-
ties of the Catholic Church. Informal so-
cial organization rose primarily to facilitate
what was good for the social and econom-
ic rise of the clan without regard for the
rest of society.
Sereno also touched on the evolution
of the Philippine elite to explain why the
country had almost no experience in con-
for the general good when the Ameri-
cans occupied the country at the start of
the 20th century. The Philippine elite
learned that the best way to rise in the
Spanish-overseen economic and social

structure was to engage in what we call
in the vernacular palakasan or sipsipan.
She defined palakasan as elbowing each
other out to gain a place in the sun while
sipsipan refers to sucking up to the pow-
erful through flattery and more unsavory
practices for personal gain.
AMERICAN OCCUPATION
Recalling the milieu the early Filipinos
found themselves in at the turn of the cen-
tury, Sereno said when the Americans
tried to introduce concepts such as a pro-
fessional civil service, the Bill of Rights,
the division of government into three in-
dependent and co-equal branches, and
democracy, there was little fertile soil that
these concepts could take root in.
The sector of the population that
was hungry for those ideas consisted of
the very small foreign-educated mem-
bers of the social elite, and very rarely,
people from the lower social strata, such
as Andres Bonifacio, the organizer of the
first general rebellion against Spain, who
on his own read about the enlightenment
movements in other countries.
She said Filipinos joined the 1898
Revolution not because they fully under-
stood the concepts of liberty, equality and
fraternity but that they were simply too
oppressed that they had enough. In our
words, tama na, sobra na.
Citing the observations of scholars,
Sereno said the pattern of our people
bursting out in action because they have
had enough, and not because they al-
ready have a developed understanding of
the principles of democracy was demon-
- Abad presents... from cover
Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio
sociate Justice Antonio Carpio, Chair of
the mother Committee on the Revision of
Rules.
strated in EDSA People Power I, EDSA
People Power II and in the responses to
the governance of former President Gloria
Arroyo.
THE 70s & 80s
Significantly, Sereno highlighted the
1970s and 1980s the martial law and
People Power period -- as the period that
our people started to experience coopera-
tion and collective action more fully. In a
sense, therefore, the soil that would be
necessary for democracy to bear fruit in
our country has only been cultivated in the
past few decades.
Sereno called for restraint in using
terms of national pride, saying that Filipi-
nos are setting themselves up for deep
disenchantment when referring to the
first democratic revolution in Asia or first
democracy in Asia with untempered
pride. Those revolutions and our demo-
cratic form of government came when,
from the human point of view, the social
and economic base necessary for the ac-
tual and consistent observation of those
political concepts were simply not pre-
sent. (W)e really never had the where-
withal to sustain those concepts and turn
them into success.
PROMISES OF DEMOCRACY
What we had, Sereno pointed out,
were simply the promises of democracy,
and what was required of us was to build
the halls of democracy brick by brick.
She suggested that Filipinos look at
the Philippines as a young country in
The judicial affidavit rule, which will
take effect on January 1, 2013, provides
for the submission of judicial affidavits by
the parties and witnesses to a case, in-
stead of giving direct testimonies in court,
thereby speeding up the hearing and ad-
judication of cases and helping decongest
court dockets.
Forum guest speaker was SC Asso-
ciate Justice Roberto A. Abad, the main
proponent of the new Judicial Affidavit
Rule. Panelists included Maria Filomena
Singh, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 85
of Quezon City; Quezon City Prosecutor
Irene Resureccion (representing Chief
City Prosecutor of Quezon City Donald T.
Dee); and Atty. Tranquil Gervacio S. Sal-
vador III, Past President of the IBP Qu-
ezon City Chapter.
There was a huge turnout of par-
ticipants at the JBL Reyes Hall who lis-
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
terms of our social and political interac-
tions in the sphere of governance and
be thankful for ushering in a unique phe-
nomenon such as People Power, and
now we have started introducing into our
governance structures the manifestations
of People Power in different forms.
ENVIRONMENT & TECHNOLOGY
Sereno concluded her luncheon talk
by drawing attention to the profound en-
vironmental and technological changes
taking place in society, to which she said
the judiciary must be able to respond ef-
fectively.
She said the threat of natural disas-
ters must move the judiciary to think of
our judicial records and how to ensure
their physical integrity when disasters
strike. She also urged less dependence
on the use of paper, the subject of a re-
cent SC Rule, to minimize the cutting of
trees.
Sereno also declared that the SC has
to think about its internal communications
strategy and external relations, noting the
emergence of modern communication
tools like social media. We have a young
population that is technologically savvy,
whose ideas are shaped no longer just by
the school, traditional media or the family,
but also by the insistent influence of social
media.
Because the environmental and
technological changes are taking place
fast, we in the judiciary also have to move
fast to improve the delivery of service in
this changing environment, Sereno em-
phasized. (JESD)
tened to the talk of Justice Abad, whom
IBP Governor Leonor Gerona Romeo de-
scribed as a truly dedicated advocate of
reform in the judiciary.
One of the eye-opener experiences
shared by Prosecutor Irene Resurreccion,
involved a 10-year old case that she said
was going nowhere. Applying the judicial
affidavit rule, Resurreccion was able to
submit the case for resolution only after a
period of 6 months.
IBP President Roan Libarios said the
IBP fully supported the judicial affidavit
rule as it expedites the flow and disposi-
tion of cases. It will go a long way in im-
proving the judicial system of the Philip-
pines. he said, noting that in neighboring
countries, case settlement usually takes
about a year while in the Philippines, it
takes about five years to settle cases in
court.
7
September 2012
The 23rd Annual POLA Conference
MANILA DECLARATION
For the Protection of Migrant Workers and Victims of
International Trafficking and Cross-Border Crimes
WE, the PRESIDENTS OF LAW ASSOCIATIONS IN ASIA
(POLA), have convened in Manila, Philippines for the 23rd An-
nual POLA Conference from 27-29 August 2012 for the purpose
of re-affirming our shared commitment to exchange information
and extend mutual cooperation regarding the organization and
operation of the law associations; to provide regional coopera-
tion for the promotion of peace and human rights activities; to
conduct joint efforts for the enhancement of the rule of law; to
cooperate in advancing the status of lawyers, in developing the
legal profession and the scope of its activities and in strengthen-
ing the activities of the law associations in the region; to cooper-
ate with related international or global organizations such as the
United Nations (UN); to encourage public interest advocacy; to
strengthen norms of professional ethics; and to foster the de-
velopment of regulatory systems which ensure transparent and
rule-based governance.
WE re-affirm our commitment to the foregoing goals and
WE resolve to further promote the regime of human rights and
the rule of law in the region by addressing the plight of migrant
workers in globalized employment markets as well as victims of
international trafficking and cross-border crimes.
Moreover, WE affirm the Basic Principles on the Role of
Lawyers, issued by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human
Rights, which provides that governments and professional as-
sociations of lawyers shall promote programmes to inform the
public about their rights and duties under the law and the impor-
tant role of lawyers in protecting their fundamental freedoms with
special attention to assisting the poor and other disadvantaged
persons to enable them to assert their rights.
TOWARDS THIS END, WE commit, subject to the respec-
tive organizational mandate and national laws of member organ-
izations, to:
1. Encourage lawyers and members of the Bar to play a
8 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
significant role in promoting human rights and peace,
particularly in protecting migrant workers from abusive
conditions in globalized employment markets as well as
those victimized by international trafficking and cross-
border crimes;
2. Promote awareness of existing UN Conventions and
protocols on the protection of migrant workers as well
as victims of international trafficking and cross-border
crimes;
3. Commit to the protection of migrant workers where the
required legal protection and assistance will be more
effective with the cooperation and coordination of the
efforts of POLA members within the framework of this
Declaration;
4. Recognize that strong and independent Bar associations
are necessary and important to the delivery of compe-
tent and efficient legal services that promote access to
justice for low-income and marginalized individuals, par-
ticularly migrant workers and victims of illegal trafficking
and other cross-border crimes;
5. Maintain the ties of friendship and to strengthen cooper-
ation on the basis of equality, mutual interest, trust and
respect, in promoting legal aid programs in their respec-
tive countries for migrant workers, as well as victims of
international trafficking and cross-border crimes; and
6. Acknowledge that legal aid is a service of fundamental
public interest, which should be provided in an equitable
and accessible manner to migrant workers and victims
of international trafficking and cross-border crimes, in
the form of counseling, assistance or representation by
POLA members in host countries, within the framework
of this Declaration.
 The Bar Tribune
Signed this 29th day of August 2012, Manila, Philippines.

MA. CATHERINE GALE DIETER YIH KUMAR RAMANATHAN, SC

President President Chairman
Law Council of Australia The Law Society of Hong Kong Hong Kong Bar Association

JUSTIN DOWD PRASHANT KUMAR ALOYSIUS HARYO WIBOWO

President Honorary General Secretary Head of Department of
The Law Society of New South Wales Bar Association of India International Cooperation
Perhimpunan Advocat Indonesia

KENJI YAMAGISHI NGUYEN DANG TRUNG LIM CHEE WEE

President President President
Japan Federation of Bar Associations Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association Bar Council of Malaysia

JONATHAN TEMM ROAN LIBARIOS LOK VI MING

President President Vice-President
New Zealand Law Society Integrated Bar of the Philippines Law Society of Singapore

DAVID LIOU YOUNG MOO SHIN ISOMI SUZUKI

President President President-Elect
Taiwan Bar Association Korean Bar Association LAWASIA
President-Elect
Inter-Pacific Bar Association

DRISS CHATER AKIRA KAWAMURA

President President
Union Internationale Des Avocats International Bar Association

23rd POLA Chairman Roan I. Libarios presides over the POLA Presidents meeting for the adoption of the Manila Declaration

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 9

September 2012

POLA NIGHTS TO REMEMBER

CULTURAL NIGHT CLOSING FELLOWSHIP
at Sofitel Hotel, Pasay City at Manila Hotel, City of Manila

Expectations for the Fellowship Night at the

POLA Cultural Night at Sofi-
tel Hotel were set high when
IBP President Roan Libarios
told the delegates on open-
ing day: We will delight you
to a sumptuous Filipino fi-
esta, filled with lively and
memorable cultural extrav-
aganza like no other in the
world. So dont you dare
miss tonights enchanting
affair or you will regret it for
the rest of your life. I prom-
ise you.
ing, lauded the POLA initia-
Host: Pasay Cong. Aimee Calixto-
Rubiano with City Administrator
Dennis Acorda (inset)
Manila Hotel was just as
lively, with the all-male, all-
lawyer group Chorus Juris
wow-ing the crowd with their
perfectly blended voices.
(They brought to mind the
Tux group of a few years
back.)
Manila Mayor Alfredo
Lim, the host for the even-
tives to battle human traffick-
Host: Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim
ing and other cross-border
crimes. Fighting crime has always been his priority,
he says, since he started his career as a policeman.

Rondalla greets delegates

And the Conference Chair didnt disappoint as the
culinary and cultural feast hosted by Pasay City Mayor
Antonino Calixto featured the best of the Philippines.
Even the Philippine delegation was mesmerized
by the Nayong Pilipino Dance Troupe which present-
ed 12 native dances (plus a demonstration of ways
to wear a Malong) from various regions, including the
Sakpaya and Bumaya / Uya-Uy (Ifugao); Paseo de
- see next page
All-lawyer group, Chorus Juris, charmes the crowd
Mayor Lim called for international cooperation and
information exchange in battling crime and urged the
POLA delegates to help pass laws that will strengthen
the criminal justice system, such as the witness pro-
tection program; the formulation of a magna carta for
police enforcers; imposition of heavier penal sanction
- see next page

Nayong Filipino dancers wow POLA delegates Mr. Kenji Yamagishi receives a souvenir from Mayor Lim

10 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013

 The Bar Tribune
- Cultural Night... from page 10 - Closing... from page 10
Iloilo, La Jota Moncadea, Vinta/Silong, Singkil (La-
nao); Maglalatik (Bian, Laguna); Binasuan (Pangasi-
nan), Sayaw sa Bangko, Kadang, Kalatong / Bulakla-
kan / Subli and perhaps the most popular of all, the
Tinikling, which a number of foreign delegates tried

Line dancing the night away

for corrupt judges, prosecutors and law-enforcers,

and a stronger system of checks and balances.
Mayor Lim invited the foreign delegates to enjoy
the Philippines, echoing the tourism slogan Its more
fun in the Philippines.

POLA foreign delegates try tinikling and Filipino dances

out for themselves, all without a foot caught between

the bamboo shafts.
The evening was capped with songs from soulful
singer Bayang Barrios and her band.
President Roan Libarios offered profuse thanks Mr. Yasushi Higashizawa, lawyer for Filipina comfort women in Japan,
to the City of Pasay, represented by Cong. Emi Ca- impressed the audience with his rendition of Spanish song La Bamba
lixto-Rubiano, for the warm reception and hospitality. The delegates then let their hair down, so to say,
Cong. Calixto-Rubiano is the sister of Mayor Calixto with non-stop line dancing, an exhilarating and calo-
(who was not able to make it to Sofi- rie-burning climax to POLA Manila 2012.
tel as he was in Naga to pay respects
to the late Secretary Robredo).

Dancing the swing with gusto

Delegates in fiesta setting while Bayang Barrios (inset) belts out local
songs

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 11

September 2012
Keynote speech of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay during the opening ceremonies of the
23rd POLA Conference, August 28, 2012, Marriott Hotel, Pasay City.
I am most delighted to welcome
you, Presidents of Law Associations in
Asia and your respective delegations,
to the Philippines. I am informed this
is the second time your conference is
being held in this country----this gives
us an opportunity to do better as hosts
than the first time.
I trust that under the dynamic
leadership of IBP President Libarios,
this 23rd Conference of POLA will live
up to your highest expectations.
You come at a time when the Phil-
ippines legal history is the focus of
considerable attention, because of the
appointment of a new Chief Justice of
our Supreme Court. But whatever the
season, the rule of law is a constant
concern among our people, not only
judges, lawyers and law professors.
The topics of your first two ses-
sions, namely, combating human
trafficking, drugs and cross-border
crimes and the globalized employ-
ment market: challenges and re-
sponses, directly relate to my official
cabinet responsibilities as Presidential
Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFW) Concerns, Chairman Emeritus
of the Inter-Agency Committee on An-
12
An exciting time to be around,
to be a lawyer and to be part of an
organization such as POLA
ti-trafficking in Persons (IACAT) and
Chairman of the Presidential Task
Force Against Illegal Recruitment
(PTFAIR).
These are issues we take serious-
ly because they relate directly to the
core of our efforts to raise the quality
of life and the very future of our labor-
supplying nation.
Every year the Philippines deploys
more than 800,000 workers abroad.
Their earnings constitute one of the
major contributions to our economic
development. For the first semester
of 2012 alone, overseas Filipino work-
ers remittances reached US$10.128
billion, up by 5.1% from the 2011 lev-
el. This sector, while not an offshoot
of state policy, is nonetheless regu-
lated by government. But thugs and
criminal syndicates have been able to
insert themselves in the process, de-
ploying unsuspecting persons through
clandestine channels to work in sweat-
shops and brothels, not to mention
other low-paying and questionable
jobs. There have been instances also
when OFWs were used as drug couri-
ers. This is the dark picture of labor
migration in transitional economies in
our region.
In the Philippines, we
criminalized trafficking in
persons in 2003. In 2006,
we filed twenty-four (24)
complaints against traf-
fickers in various courts,
resulting in seven (7)
convictions. Last year,
we saw 63 convictions,
almost twice the number
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
from 2003 to 2010.
Human smuggling and illegal re-
cruitment by criminal syndicates and
non-licensed fly-by-night recruiters
constitute our biggest problem. This
appears to be true in all the labor-
sending countries in our region, ac-
cording to the International Labor Or-
ganization.
In 2003, the ILO estimated that be-
tween 60 and 65 million persons were
economically active in a country other
than their own, with as many depend-
ents. This means overseas workers.
A great number of these overseas
workers, according to the ILO, were
without authorization, with a clan-
destine, sometimes criminal, indus-
try abetting them. They come from
countries in Asia with deficits in em-
ployment and work and were mostly
concentrated in the Arab region, espe-
cially in the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries, mainly employed in
construction, manufacturing, services
and domestic work.
In 2009, the ILO reported that
Asian workers now outnumbered Ar-
abs and most of these workers came
from India, Pakistan, the Philippines
and Bangladesh, among others. The
paper finds, too, that migrant women
were employed mostly in domestic
services with only a minor presence in
other branches of economic activity.
They were not covered by the national
labor laws of most host countries.
Also, in these countries, accord-
ing to the ILO report, terms and condi-
tions of employment of foreign work-
ers bore no comparison to that of their

own nationals. Among countries of
destinations of overseas workers, the
Arab region gave the lowest pay for
domestic workers. A report on Asian
womens labor migration mentions
cases of abuse against domestics, in-
cluding long working hours, no days
off, restriction on freedom of move-
ment and association, lack of pay, and
physical and sexual violations.
There are no accurate statistics on
the extent of abuses committed by for-
eign employers on their foreign work-
ers. Documentation and data gather-
ing are hampered mainly by the lack
of cooperation by host countries and
the fact that foreign workers who went
through clandestine channels and
without authorization do not appear in
the rosters of workers of their country
of origin. Nevertheless, from the sheer
volume of overseas workers it may
safely be assumed that the figure of
human rights violations could rise to
very high levels.
Human trafficking and human
smuggling or illegal recruitment flour-
ish in part because destination coun-
tries do not complement the efforts of
labor-sending countries at combating
these twin evils in labor migration.
They also lack a strong legal mecha-
nism to underwrite recruitment or la-
bor policy that keeps to human rights
standards as defined in the Interna-
tional Convention on the Protection of
Migrant Workers and their Families,
the International Bills of Rights and re-
lated international instruments.
The ILO has put forward a frame-
work for a rights-based approach in la-
bor migration, delineating obligations
between the country of origin and the
country of destination in the enforce-
ment of the rights of overseas work-
ers. Pushing for its adoption as a con-
vention is the shared responsibility of
every country. But even if it becomes
a binding form of international law, like
similar instruments, its enforcement
remains an option for host countries.
Ideally, in mature economies and
democracies, work should be a con-
sensual transaction between the em-
ployer and the employee, whether it is
in overseas or domestic employment.
State intervention should come only
during emergency situations and un-
der exceptional circumstances.
But sadly, the world is an amal-
gam of countries with different po-
litical outlooks, historical experience
and level of economic development.
To simplify, we can dichotomize the
world into the labor-sending countries
and the countries of labor destination.
The former goes with a transitional
economy, the latter a mature or de-
veloped economy.
As before, mature economies
usually dictate the rules of the game
in trade and commerce, monetary
exchange and financial placement,
among others. They source cheap for-
eign labor for their manufacturing and
service industries that produce goods
and services pandering to the appeti-
tive pleasure and material comfort of
their people, not to mention their utility
for trade.
In the Arab region, especially the
GCC countries, the social milieu as-
sumes added traits. Here, most coun-
tries have a culture governed by ultra-
conservatism and monarchism. Their
societies tend to be exclusionist. Their
experience with Western colonialism
and imperialism forms another cultur-
al overlay on their national conscious-
ness, with negative consequences on
the introduction of liberal and egalitar-
ian ideals from the West. Given these
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
circumstances, labor-sending coun-
tries must exert every effort to secure
the best possible deal for their over-
seas workers within a bilateral rather
than a multilateral framework.
Voices from the grassroots are
being heard and amplified through the
power of technology and social me-
dia, giving rise to such phenomena as
the Arab Spring and many other social
movements big and small in com-
munities across the world.
It is, indeed, an exciting time to be
around, to be a lawyer and to be part
of an organization such as POLA, for
which, as with most of us, the best is
yet to come. The past 22 years has
been marked by enormous challeng-
es, but I am sure the next 22 and be-
yond will be even more exciting. The
rule of law will continue to be tested
everywhere as technology advances
and societies are transformed.
POLAs path is clear. Throughout
its existence, POLA has advanced the
creation and development of Asia-Pa-
cific law societies, led the movement
for the professional independence of
bar associations, strengthened rela-
tionships within the Asia-Pacific legal
community, encouraged a greater
commitment to public interest advo-
cacy, called attention to human rights
violations, raised awareness of the
responsibilities of the legal profes-
sion and highlighted the importance
of constant review of legal education
systems throughout the region. The
future will expect POLA to do more.
Once again, I thank POLA for
choosing the Philippines as the venue
of this conference, and i hope you will
all leave Manila with some positive
thoughts about what we are trying to
do here in the Philippines.
Thank you and Mabuhay!
13
September 2012

ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN:
THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE
(Speech delivered by Justice Undersecretary and former IBP President Jose Vicente B. Salazar
at the 23rd POLA Conference, Marriott Hotel, August 28, 2012.)

of exploitation and victimization like to cite two examples.

are sub-human. Putting an end to
them called for an expansive and First, just last week, we signed
formidable front. several Memoranda of Agreement
with the Kingdom of the Nether-
Today, much of our efforts lands for stronger partnership and
have paid off; the Philippines has cooperation with respect to traf-
marked significant success. ficking in persons, programs and
initiatives, specifically, in the es-
Two developments, among oth- tablishment of a Victim Processing
ers, attest to this success. Center and an Anti-trafficking in
Persons Database.
One, the recognition of our ef-
forts by the US Department of Heres a second example.
State.
Also recently, the Philippines
And two, the growing support became a member of the inter-
for our efforts from the international national organization called the
community. I would like to expand Financial Coalition against Child
When asked to describe our on each briefly. Pornography. This was upon the
enemies in the human trafficking invitation of this very influential or-
front, two adjectives come to mind. The Philippines today is no ganization. From our perspective,
One, expansive. Two, formidable. longer in the watchlist of the US we view both the invitation and our
State Department. US State Sec- membership in this organization
Expansive because the nem- retary Hillary Clinton had publicly as a recognition and affirmation of
eses keep growing their network recognized what she referred to as the significant contribution we can
and alliances; and formidable the high level of commitment of make in the fight against child traf-
since they have tapped the power our government in the war against ficking, child pornography and sim-
of modern technologies ilar evils.
and continue to enhance The Philippines is called a source nation.
their war chest. Its not really the label we are primarily worried I am often asked: to
about; our concern is the exploitation of our people what would the Philip-
When asked what kind by our enemies in the human trafficking front. pines attribute its gains in
of efforts we have put The forms of exploitation and victimization are the fight against human
against them, two adjec- sub-human. Putting an end to them called for trafficking?
tives come to mind. One, an expansive and formidable front.
expansive. Two, formida- My answer: there are
ble. human trafficking. And, Washing- three pillars upon which much of
ton itself affirmed the feat when the the Philippines success rests.
We have no option; we can do US Department of State gave one
no less. The Philippines is called a of our prosecutors the Global Anti- First Pillar: Legislation. Second
source nation. Its not really the la- trafficking Hero Award. Pillar: Collaboration. Third Pillar:
bel we are primarily worried about; determination.
our concern is the exploitation of The recognition has come not
our people by our enemies in the only from the United States, but Legislation. Collaboration. De-
human trafficking front. The forms from other partner-nations. I would termination.

14 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013

 The Bar Tribune

trafficking cases in our courts.

Let me explain each pillar brief- There is a third pillar upon
ly. which our gains in the fight against Three, tightening the noose on
human trafficking is based. This is government employees who aid in
By putting the necessary laws determination. It refers to the col- the operation of trafficking syndi-
in place, our government made lective will to overcome obstacles; cates.
sure there are no ad hoc efforts or to push and sustain the efforts de-
structure in the fight against human spite the odds; and, to not rest on Four, increasing the number of
trafficking. A law created the Inter- ones laurels and avoid compla- processing centers and shelters
agency Council against Trafficking cency, until the job is completed, for victims.
(IACAT) which now leads this fight. and done.
The same law clearly defined the Five, developing programs to
actions which constituted human So, where do we go from here? eliminate the demand for commer-
trafficking and imposed serious cial sex.
penalties for such acts.
On this note, allow me to use
Let me now go to the second this forum to reiterate an earlier
pillar. Its called collaboration. warning we have aired. The
It was clear to us that leg- warning goes to syndicates
islation would be nothing and other criminal ele- ele
more than a scrap of ments whose targets
paper if various con- for exploitation are our
cerned sectors do not children. Let notice be
stand up and rally be- served that the Phil-
hind the fight against ippine governments
human traffick- deadline for eradi-
ing. And so, once cating these ele-
the law was set in ments and their op-
place, we called on erations has been
both our partners in shortened.
government and our
allies in the private This only means
sector. And we were one thing: we have
not disappointed with put a major portion of
the response we got. our resources and ef ef-
forts to put an early end
They came and rallied in child trafficking and child
behind the cause: non-gov- prostitution. The solid phapha-
ernmental organizations, faith- lanx formed by collaboration
based institutions, the business and determination is now behind
community. Many of them have this campaign.
long been involved in the cam- T h e road ahead
paign: helping out in surveillance has been mapped out. The direc- We know that much more need
and law enforcement; assisting in tions are clear. Plans are in place. to be done. Thus, we need to con-
the prosecution of suspects; con- tinue to tap the strength of the
ducting public information cam- After making our initial gains, three pillars legislation, collabo-
paigns; and helping victims of hu- we are now focused on the follow- ration and determination to make
man trafficking get back on their ing priorities. our counter-efforts even more for-
feet. midable.
One, intensifying efforts to in-
But today, these sectors work vestigate, prosecute and convict We are confident that greater
more cohesively, forming an ex- both labor and sex trafficking of- success lies ahead.
pansive and formidable phalanx fenders.
against the human trafficking syn- Thank you and good day.
dicates. Two, clearing the backlog of

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 15

September 2012
First Lady CJ
SERENO MAKES HISTORY
By Annie A. Laborte, Supreme Court Benchmark
History was made when Associate
Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno was
appointed as the first lady Chief Justice of
the Philippine Supreme Court by Presi-
dent Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on Au-
gust 24, 2012. She is the countrys 24th
chief magistrate.
Only 52 years of age, Chief Justice
Sereno will be one of the longest-serving
justices, second only to the first Chief
Justice, Cayetano S. Arellano, who had
served for 18 years and 10 months. Jus-
tices mandatorily retire at the age of 70.
Humble Beginnings
The then 50-year old lawyer-academi-
cian was President Aquinos first appoin-
tee to the Supreme Court on August 16,
2010. The youngest to be so appointed in
this century, Chief Justice Sereno brought
with her years in active law practice, par-
ticularly in the field of local appellate and
international arbitration, and rich scholas-
tic achievements.
She was a professor at her alma ma-
ter, the University of the Philippines (UP)
College of Law, for almost 20 years, start-
ing November 1986. She challenged her
students to strengthen their understanding
of the architecture and philosophy of the
law. She also taught law and economics
at the Philippine Judicial Academy; inter-
national trade law at the Hague Academy
of International law, University of Western
Australia, and Murdoch University; elec-
tronic commerce law at the AIM, and in-
ternational trade law at the Department of
Foreign Affairs-Foreign Service Institute.
Prior to her appointment to the SC,
Chief Justice Sereno was Executive Di-
rector of the policy think-tank of the Asian
Institute of Management since February
2009; and, from April 2000, President of
the Accesslaw, Inc., which had provided
the first electronically-searchable original
legal annotations on general statutes and
tax issuances in Philippine law.
From 1995 to 2002, she was Con-
sultant for Judicial Reform, working with
the United Nations Development Pro-
gram, the World Bank, and the United
States Agency for International Develop-
ment. She wrote the first judicial reform
framework for the UNDP, an international
agency, wherein she connected judicial
16
performance with economic development.
Among the offshoots of this project is the
first major judicial reform program of the
Supreme Court.
For 14 years, or from 1994 to 2008,
she engaged in active law practice as le-
gal counsel in various government agen-
cies: Office of the President, Office of the
Solicitor General, Manila International Air-
port Authority, Department of Agriculture,
Department of Trade and Industry, World
Trade Organization-ASEAN Free Trade
Area (WTO-AFTA) Commission, and the
Philippine Coconut Authority. Thus, at the
age of 38, she handled various interna-
tional trade and investment law disputes
in WTO in Geneva, International Centre
for Settlement of Investment Disputes
(ICSID) in Washington DC, and in Inter-
national Chamber of Commerce's Inter-
national Court of Arbitration (ICC-ICA) in
Singapore and in Paris, employing bilat-
eral dispute resolution mechanisms.
She was co-counsel for the Republic
in its cases involving the Ninoy Aquino In-
ternational Airport Terminal 3.
Chief Justice Sereno has had a short
stint as Commissioner and Chairperson of
the Steering Committee in the Preparato-
ry Commission on Constitutional Reform
in 1999.
In 1999, at the age of 39, Chief Jus-
tice Sereno was selected as the only fe-
male member of the 1999 Preparatory
Commission on Constitutional Reform.
She was elected Chairperson of the Com-
missions Steering Committee. Here, she
devoted her legal expertise in assisting
various committees involved in constitu-
tional reforms.
She was a Director, from 1996 to
1999, at the Institute of International Legal
Studies at the UP Law Center. From July
to October 1998, she was Counsellor to
the WTO Appellate Body in Geneva, serv-
ing as assistant to members of the Appel-
late Body (judges).
She also served as Deputy Commis-
sion at the Commission on Human Rights
after working as a Junior Associate in one
of the known law firms.
The first and key writer on law and
economics and the Constitution and Ju-
dicial Review of Economic Decisions,
Chief Justice Sereno also drafted the le-
gal framework for the operations of the
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
first paperless trading of securities in the
country for the Bureau of Treasury.
In 1998, Justice Sereno was recog-
nized as one of the Outstanding Women
in the Nations Service in the field of law.
Chief Justice Sereno was given a De
Witt Fellowship and a Ford-Rockefeller
Scholarship to pursue her Masters of
Laws at the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor.
Indeed, Chief Justice Serenos par-
ents had nurtured in her a passion for
learning and personal excellence. Her
father Margarito, a native of Siasi, Sulu,
and her mother Soledad, a public school
teacher and native of Bay, Laguna, pro-
vided her second-hand books that she
would enjoy reading. The young Chief
Justice Sereno completed her elementary
and secondary education with honors at
the Kamuning Elementary School and
Quezon City High School, respectively.
Through scholarship, she earned an Eco-
nomics degree at the Ateneo de Manila
University, and Bachelor of Laws degree
at the UP College of Law, graduating val-
edictorian cum laude in 1984, and placing
14th in the Bar exam results of the same
year.
Upholding the Endearing Values
of the Rule of Law
Access to justice is one of the center-
piece advocacies of Chief Justice Sereno.
Asked on July 26, 2010, the third day
of the public interview of the candidates
for the next Chief Justice conducted by
the Judicial and Bar Council, Chief Jus-
tice Sereno has this to say on her judicial
philosophy: I believe that justice, in order
to be justice, must also be rendered in a
credible manner. And that every Justice
and every judge must look to the North
Star that the country has chosen -- which
is the Constitution and uphold the endur-
ing values that the rule of law contains.
Interviewed by the Benchmark when
she was appointed to the Court in Au-
gust 2010, she said, Law and life has the
same foundation. It must be animated by
the search for truth.
Chief Justice Sereno is married to
Mario Jose E. Sereno. They are blessed
with two children, Maria Sophia and Jose
Lorenzo.
 The Bar Tribune

BREAKING TRADITION, MAKING HISTORY

A Tribute to Chief Justice Sereno
The following is a testimonial of Roan I. Libarios, IBP National President and member of UP Law Class
of 1984, in honor of the new Supreme Court Chief Justice, Ma. Lourdes Aranal-Sereno during a dinner
tendered by the UP College of Law and its Alumni, on September 14, 2012 at the Manila Polo Club. The
talk was delivered before UP Law alumni, which included Vice President Binay, Senator Angara, Sena-
tor Drilon, former Chief Justice Davide, Justice Perez, Sol Gen Jardeleza, UP Law Dean Concepcion,
several CA justices, Members of the House of Representatives, former deans, professors, and officers
of the alumni association. (JESD)

Tonight, we are gathered to ren-

der tribute and partake of this shin-
ing moment of distinction earned
by an illustrious member of the
UP Law Class of 1984, to which I
also belong. As a proud member
of this class, I find it fitting to also
acknowledge the other members of
our batch. Ladies and Gentlemen,
let me present to you the men and
women of UP Law Class of 1984,
the ruling class for the next 18
years.
Way back 28 years ago, our
class was indicted for bringing dis-
aster, if not dishonor, to the UP Col-
lege of Law. In 1984, we broke tra-
dition by becoming the first class of
UP Law which failed to produce any
bar topnotcher. Not a single mem-
ber of our class made it to the top
10 in the bar exams. At that time,
this was completely unprecedent-
ed, the first in UP Law history, an
all-time worst performance in the
bar exams.
When our batch entered the Col-
lege of Law in 1981, UP dominated
the bar exams with three topnotch-
ers and 100 percent passing per-
centage. When we left the College
four years later, in 1984, there was
not a single bar topnotcher and the
passing percentage plunged to be-
low par. As a result, we became the
infamous class of 1984. And over
the years, we were treated like an
outcast, below the grade, the lost
class of 1984, like the lost people
in the Orwellian novel of the same
title, 1984.
CJ Sereno escorted by Atty. Danilo Concepcion, UP Law Dean, (left) and Atty. Alfonso Reyno,
Jr., Director of UP Law Alumni Association (right)
Fast forward 28 years later, in
the year of the Dragon, 2012. Our
Class of 1984 has once again bro-
ken tradition, this time bringing hon-
or to UP Law beyond the bar exams.
The outcasts, once in the bottom-
pit, are now, to use the language of
Malcolm Gladwell, the outliers.
Our class has achieved the sin-
gular distinction of producing the
first female Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court in the person of our
Valedictorian, Ma. Lourdes Aranal-
Sereno. At 52, she stands tall as
the second youngest Chief Justice
in the history of the Supreme Court.
And she will outlast not only the pre-
sent political administration but also
the next three succeeding admin-
istrations. She will retire at the age
of 70 in the year 2030, and by that
time, she would be the longest serv-
ing Chief Justice in modern history.
Tonight, as we proudly celebrate
the ascent of our classmate to the
summit of judicial authority, we also
reaffirm the status of our alma ma-
ter, the UP College of Law, as the
premier law school in the country.
(I hope lawyers from other schools
would allow me this indulgence).
Our class was a child of the tu-
multuous 80s, a period of political
turbulence, awakening and unrest.
It was marked in infamy with the
murder in cold-blood on August 21,
1983 of Ninoy Aquino, the revered
symbol of the political opposition.
And UP, the Diliman Republic, be-
came the center of student activism
and vanguard of the protest move-
ment.
Those who lived through the pe-
riod could not forget the use of the
strong arm of the law by the State
to muzzle dissent, which came by

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 17

September 2012

many names, the ASSO (Arrest language, 18 years of possibilities of the dissertation entitled The In-
Search and Seizure Order), the of building generations of judges terface Between the National Land
PCO (Presidential Commitment Or- committed to lives of uprightness Law and Kalinga Land Law --
der), and the PDA (Preventive De- and judicial excellence and a vi- The issue of preservation as
tention Action). It was a time when sion of a judiciary that is truly noble, opposed to usurpation of ancestral
the State called its violence law upright, independent, learned and land is the central theme of the in-
while the dissent of an awakened excellent. terface between national and indig-
people, a grave crime. A week later, in a mock poll enous land laws. xxx At the heart
In this political cauldron of tur- conducted by the IBP Governors of the issue is the colonial and un-
bulence and awakening was mold- and national officers, she placed a just Regalian doctrine, the bedrock
ed the young aspiring lawyer, Ma. strong second among the 22 nomi- upon which national land laws are
Lourdes Punzalan Aranal. Meilou, nees. A month later, on August 25, based. This legal fiction of the Re-
as she was fondly called, excelled 2012, she was anointed by Presi- galian doctrine provides the justifi-
in academics and campus activi- dent Aquino as the 24th Chief Jus- cation for the massive appropriation
ties. She was bubbling with life and tice of the Supreme Court. of ancestral land. It has also been
bursting with energy. In her first year, Tonight, I am tasked to share used to deny native title to ances-
she was crowned Miss Lawfest. In a brief testimonial on our distin- tral land by the legal fiction that be-
her senior year, she was crowned guished honoree, the new Chief fore a Filipino can claim ownership
Mrs. Jong Sereno. She tackled the Justice of the land. to land, he must prove title from the
rigors of scholarship, school-relat- At the outset, let me tell you that State as evidenced by documenta-
ed concerns and marital duties but she is a woman of many fine quali- tion. xxx
still found time to The aspiring
join protest activi- lawyer did not only
ties, revealing her " She was initially reluctant to accept the dissect the conflict
strong sense of nomination and sought the advise of a nun. The between Regalian
social conscious- doctrine and an-
ness and respon-
nun told her that it may be Gods design for her to cestral land rights
sibility. become Chief Justice and the only way to divine but also called for
Two decades Gods plan is to accept the nomination. Otherwise, recognition of in-
later, on August digenous peoples
16, 2010, the
how else would she know that it was Gods plan native title and the
young aspiring for her to become the Chief Justice. And so she legitimacy of their
lawyer of Class accepted the nomination. The rest, as they say, struggle to pre-
1984 was cata- serve their ances-
pulted to the high- is 'herstory.' " tral lands. It was a
est court of the ground-breaking
land. At age 50, she joined the Su- ties. But tonight, let me focus on dissertation which, in later years,
preme Court as its youngest Asso- what I consider as her three defin- was reprinted in book form by the
ciate Justice. Two years later, she ing qualities as a person that could UP College of Law, published and
became a nominee for Chief Jus- greatly shape her performance as cited in several international jour-
tice. Chief Justice -- a high sense of so- nals, indexed in international law li-
On July 20, 2012, she appeared cial consciousness, strong inner braries, and extensively cited in Su-
in the IBP Forum on the Search for courage, and sturdy spirituality. preme Court decisions. By the way,
the Next Chief Justice where she Early in our college days at Mal- may I also add, by way of obiter, that
presented for the first time her ju- colm Hall, our Chief Justice already I co-authored that seminal disserta-
dicial philosophy of Vision, Cour- displayed a strong sense of social tion which helped legal advocacies
age and Accountability. Before the consciousness and bias for the un- on ancestral land rights.
members of the bar, she revealed derprivileged. To illustrate, let me As Associate Justice of the Su-
that her past 52 years have not cite a dissertation published in 1984 preme Court, our honorees strong
been young years; they have been in the Philippine Law Journal where sense of social consciousness
years of adversity; years of paying she critically tackled the conflict be- found its way into her decisions. A
the price of convictions, of incon- tween the Regalian doctrine and case in point is her vigorous Dissent
venience, of having to work dou- national land laws vis--vis ances- in the coconut levy cases, where
bly hard, of avoiding shortcuts and tral land rights. For clarity, allow me she ruled to protect the interest of
easy road. She presents, in her to quote some relevant passages the coconut farmers over the San

18 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013


IBP National President Roan Libarios and CJ Ma. Lourdes Sereno poses with members of UP Law Class of 1984
Miguel Shares and warned against
the triumph of revisionism of our
history on martial law and crony
capitalism. For clarity, let me again
quote some pertinent passages of
her Dissent where she equated the
quest for the recovery of ill-gotten
wealth to the material and moral
recovery of the nation --
All properties from the unlawful
and wrongful exploitation of ones
public position during the Marcos re-
gime is necessarily ill-gotten wealth
and is subject of forfeiture. xxx
The recovery of ill-gotten wealth
and of the governments own prop-
erties involves, as a matter of public
record and knowledge, the mate-
rial and moral recovery of the na-
tion, marked as the Marcos regime
was by the obliteration of any line
between private funds and the pub-
lic treasury and abuse of unlimited
power and elimination of any ac-
countability in public office. For
if there is a lesson that should be
learned from the national trauma
that was the rule of Marcos, it is that
kleptocracy cannot pay.
Under the scheme of our demo-
cratic government, the judiciary, in
conjunction with its main task of dis-
pensing justice, acts as an official
repository of the countrys history
through the decisions it renders.
Lest the forces of martial law revi-
sionism triumph in the future and
crony capitalism be slowly erased
from public memory, the present
opinion is offered so that the peo-
ple may be afforded the opportunity
to judge for ourselves now or in the
future. xxx
(And) when the time comes, xxx
the opportunity to revisit the ruling
of this Court may present itself, and
Philippine history may be redeemed
in part.
Such stirring language in the Dis-
sent effusive in its clarity and un-
restrained in its poignancy -- bears
the indelible mark of the Makibaka
generation where the character of
our Chief Justice was moulded in
part.
Our distinguished honoree is not
only defined by her strong sense of
social justice. She is also a woman
of inner courage and conviction.
Nowhere is this more eloquently
demonstrated than in her stand to
charge a colleague in the Supreme
Court with plagiarism and her de-
fense of UP Law professors when
threatened with contempt by her
colleagues. To borrow a familiar
phrase, she refuses to swim with
the current, even as a matter of
style. Her dissents in controversial
cases speak for themselves. Res
Ipsa Loquitor.
Beneath her strong inner cour-
age and social conscience lies her
sturdy spirituality, her North Star.
You have read it, heard it, seen it,
she attributes her appointment as
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
Chief Justice not to the lobby by
any political or business group but
solely to Gods will.
And I can understand where she
is coming from. In our conversation
on why she accepted the nomina-
tion as Chief Justice, she recounted
to me how it happened. She was
initially reluctant to accept the nomi-
nation and sought the advise of a
nun. The nun told her that it may
be Gods design for her to become
Chief Justice and the only way to
divine Gods plan is to accept the
nomination. Otherwise, how else
would she know that it was Gods
plan for her to become the Chief
Justice. And so she accepted the
nomination. The rest, as they say,
is herstory.
To our dear classmate and Chief
Justice, you have made our class
truly proud. You have 18 long years
ahead to build history and make a
difference in the life of the judiciary
and the nation. And to quote from
the French philosopher Voltaire,
with great power comes great
responsibility. To whom much is
given, much is also expected.
Madame Chief Justice, from
your proud UP Law Class of 1984
and the members of the IBP, please
accept our warmest congratula-
tions. God bless, Godspeed and
Mabuhay!
19
September 2012
Republic of the Philippines
Whereas, case congestion and
delays plague most courts in cities,
given the huge volume of cases filed
each year and the slow and cumber-
some adversarial system that the judi-
ciary has in place;
Whereas, about 40% of criminal
cases are dismissed annually owing
to the fact that complainants simply
give up coming to court after repeated
postponements;
Whereas, few foreign business-
men make long-term investments in
the Philippines because its courts are
unable to provide ample and speedy
protection to their investments, keep-
ing its people poor;
Whereas, in order to reduce the
time needed for completing the testi-
monies of witnesses in cases under
litigation, on February 21, 2012 the
Supreme Court approved for pilot-
ing by trial courts in Quezon City the
compulsory use of judicial affidavits in
place of the direct testimonies of wit-
nesses;
Whereas, it is reported that such
piloting has quickly resulted in reduc-
ing by about two-thirds the time used
for presenting the testimonies of wit-
nesses, thus speeding up the hearing
and adjudication of cases;
Whereas, the Supreme Court
Committee on the Revision of the
Rules of Court, headed by Senior As-
sociate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, and
the Sub-Committee on the Revision of
the Rules on Civil Procedure, headed
by Associate Justice Roberto A. Abad,
have recommended for adoption a Ju-
dicial Affidavit Rule that will replicate
nationwide the success of the Quezon
City experience in the use of judicial
affidavits; and
Whereas, the Supreme Court En
20
Supreme Court
Manila
A.M. No. 12-8-8-SC
JUDICIAL AFFIDAVIT RULE
Banc finds merit in the recommenda-
tion;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Su-
preme Court En Banc hereby issues
and promulgates the following:
Section 1. Scope. (a) This Rule
shall apply to all actions, proceedings,
and incidents requiring the reception
of evidence before:
1. The Metropolitan Trial Courts,
the Municipal Trial Courts
in Cities, the Municipal Trial
Courts, the Municipal Circuit
Trial Courts, and the Sharia
Circuit Courts but shall not ap-
ply to small claims cases un-
der A.M. 08-8-7-SC;
2. The Regional Trial Courts and
the Sharia District Courts;
3. The Sandiganbayan, the Court
of Tax Appeals, the Court of
Appeals, and the Sharia Ap-
pellate Courts;
4. The investigating officers and
bodies authorized by the Su-
preme Court to receive evi-
dence, including the Integrat-
ed Bar of the Philippine (IBP);
and
5. The special courts and quasi-
judicial bodies, whose rules
of procedure are subject to
disapproval of the Supreme
Court, insofar as their existing
rules of procedure contravene
the provisions of this Rule.
(b) For the purpose of brev-
ity, the above courts, quasi-judicial
bodies, or investigating officers shall
be uniformly referred to here as the
court.
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
Sec. 2. Submission of Judicial Af-
fidavits and Exhibits in lieu of direct
testimonies. (a) The parties shall file
with the court and serve on the ad-
verse party, personally or by licensed
courier service, not later than five
days before pre-trial or preliminary
conference or the scheduled hearing
with respect to motions and incidents,
the following:
1. The judicial affidavits of their
witnesses, which shall take the
place of such witnesses direct
testimonies; and
2. The parties documentary or
object evidence, if any, which
shall be attached to the judicial
affidavits and marked as Ex-
hibits A, B, C, and so on in the
case of the complainant or the
plaintiff, and as Exhibits 1, 2,
3, and so on in the case of the
respondent or the defendant.
b. Should a party or a witness desire
to keep the original document or
object evidence in his possession,
he may, after the same has been
identified, marked as exhibit, and
authenticated, warrant in his judi-
cial affidavit that the copy or repro-
duction attached to such affidavit
is a faithful copy or reproduction of
that original. In addition, the party
or witness shall bring the original
document or object evidence for
comparison during the prelimi-
nary conference with the attached
copy, reproduction, or pictures,
failing which the latter shall not be
admitted. This is without prejudice
to the introduction of secondary
evidence in place of the original
when allowed by existing rules.

Sec. 3. Contents of Judicial Affida-
vit. A judicial affidavit shall be pre-
pared in the language known to the
witness and, if not in English or Fili-
pino, accompanied by a translation in
English or Filipino, and shall contain
the following:
a. The name, age, residence or busi-
ness address, and occupation of
the witness;
b. The name and address of the law-
yer who conducts or supervises
the examination of the witness
and the place where the examina-
tion is being held;
c. A statement that the witness is
answering the questions asked of
him, fully conscious that he does
so under oath, and that he may
face criminal liability for false testi-
mony or perjury;
d. Questions asked of the witness
and his corresponding answers,
consecutively numbered, that:
1. Show the circumstances under
which the witness acquired the
facts upon which he testifies;
2. Elicit from him those facts
which are relevant to the is-
sues that the case presents;
and
3. Identify the attached docu-
mentary and object evidence
and establish their authenticity
in accordance with the Rules
of Court;
e. The signature of the witness over
his printed name; and
f. A jurat with the signature of the
notary public who administers
the oath or an officer who is au-
thorized by law to administer the
same.
Sec. 4. Sworn attestation of the
lawyer. (a) The judicial affidavit shall
contain a sworn attestation at the end,
executed by the lawyer who conduct-
ed or supervised the examination of
the witness, to the effect that:
1. He faithfully recorded or
caused to be recorded the
questions he asked and the
corresponding answers that
the witness gave; and
2. Neither he nor any other per-
son then present or assisting
him coached the witness re-
garding the latters answers.
b. A false attestation shall subject
the lawyer mentioned to discipli-
nary action, including disbarment.
Sec. 5. Subpoena. If the gov-
ernment employee or official, or the
requested witness, who is neither the
witness of the adverse party nor a
hostile witness, unjustifiably declines
to execute a judicial affidavit or re-
fuses without just cause to make the
relevant books, documents, or other
things under his control available for
copying, authentication, and eventual
production in court, the requesting
party may avail himself of the issu-
ance of a subpoena ad testificandum
or duces tecum under Rule 21 of the
Rules of Court. The rules governing
the issuance of a subpoena to the wit-
ness in this case shall be the same as
when taking his deposition except that
the taking of a judicial affidavit shall be
understood to be ex parte.
Sec. 6. Offer of and objections to
testimony in judicial affidavit. The
party presenting the judicial affidavit
of his witness in place of direct testi-
mony shall state the purpose of such
testimony at the start of the presenta-
tion of the witness. The adverse party
may move to disqualify the witness or
to strike out his affidavit or any of the
answers found in it on ground of in-
admissibility. The court shall promptly
rule on the motion and, if granted,
shall cause the marking of any ex-
cluded answer by placing it in brack-
ets under the initials of an authorized
court personnel, without prejudice to
a tender of excluded evidence under
Section 40 of Rule 132 of the Rules
of Court.
Sec. 7. Examination of the witness
on his judicial affidavit. The adverse
party shall have the right to cross-
examine the witness on his judicial
affidavit and on the exhibits attached
to the same. The party who presents
the witness may also examine him as
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
on re-direct. In every case, the court
shall take active part in examining the
witness to determine his credibility as
well as the truth of his testimony and
to elicit the answers that it needs for
resolving the issues.
Sec. 8. Oral offer of and objections
to exhibits. (a) Upon the termination
of the testimony of his last witness, a
party shall immediately make an oral
offer of evidence of his documentary
or object exhibits, piece by piece, in
their chronological order, stating the
purpose or purposes for which he of-
fers the particular exhibit.
b. After each piece of exhibit is of-
fered, the adverse party shall state
the legal ground for his objection,
if any, to its admission, and the
court shall immediately make its
ruling respecting that exhibit.
c. Since the documentary or object
exhibits form part of the judicial af-
fidavits that describe and authenti-
cate them, it is sufficient that such
exhibits are simply cited by their
markings during the offers, the ob-
jections, and the rulings, dispens-
ing with the description of each
exhibit.
Sec. 9. Application of rule to crimi-
nal actions. (a) This rule shall apply
to all criminal actions:
1. Where the maximum of the
imposable penalty does not
exceed six years;
2. Where the accused agrees to
the use of judicial affidavits,
irrespective of the penalty in-
volved; or
3. With respect to the civil aspect
of the actions, whatever the
penalties involved are.
b. The prosecution shall submit the
judicial affidavits of its witnesses
not later than five days before
the pre-trial, serving copies of
the same upon the accused. The
complainant or public prosecutor
shall attach to the affidavits such
documentary or object evidence
as he may have, marking them
as Exhibits A, B, C, and so on. No
21
September 2012

further judicial affidavit, documen-
tary, or object evidence shall be
admitted at the trial.
c. If the accused desires to be heard
on his defense after receipt of
the judicial affidavits of the pros-
ecution, he shall have the option
to submit his judicial affidavit as
well as those of his witnesses to
the court within ten days from re-
ceipt of such affidavits and serve
a copy of each on the public and
private prosecutor, including his
documentary and object evidence
previously marked as Exhibits 1,
2, 3, and so on. These affidavits
shall serve as direct testimonies
of the accused and his witnesses
when they appear before the court
to testify.
Sec. 10. Effect of non-compliance
with the Judicial Affidavit Rule. (a) A
party who fails to submit the required
judicial affidavits and exhibits on time
shall be deemed to have waived their
submission. The court may, however,
allow only once the late submission
of the same provided, the delay is
for a valid reason, would not unduly
prejudice the opposing party, and
the defaulting party pays a fine of not
less than P1,000.00 nor more than
P5,000.00, at the discretion of the
court.
b. The court shall not consider the af-
fidavit of any witness who fails to
appear at the scheduled hearing of
the case as required. Counsel who
fails to appear without valid cause
despite notice shall be deemed to
have waived his clients right to
confront by cross-examination the
witnesses there present.
c. The court shall not admit as evi-
dence judicial affidavits that do not
conform to the content require-
ments of Section 3 and the attes-
tation requirement of Section 4
above. The court may, however,
allow only once the subsequent
submission of the compliant re-
placement affidavits before the
hearing or trial provided the delay
is for a valid reason and would
not unduly prejudice the oppos-
ing party and provided further,
that public or private counsel re-
sponsible for their preparation and
submission pays a fine of not less
than P1,000.00 nor more than
P5,000.00, at the discretion of the
court.
Sec. 11. Repeal or modification of
inconsistent rules. The provisions
of the Rules of Court and the rules of
procedure governing investigating of-
ficers and bodies authorized by the
Supreme Court to receive evidence
are repealed or modified insofar as
these are inconsistent with the provi-
sions of this Rule.
The rules of procedure govern-
ing quasi-judicial bodies inconsistent
herewith are hereby disapproved.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. This rule
shall take effect on January 1, 2013
following its publication in two news-
papers of general circulation not later
than September 15, 2012. It shall also
apply to existing cases.
Manila, September 4, 2012.

GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES IN LAW: AUSTRALIA

The Center for Asia-Pacific Pro Bono (CAPP), launched on July 16, 2012, is
an Australia-based clearinghouse that coordinates requests for pro bono legal
assistance from the Asia-Pacific region to Australia. It is a project of the Law
Council of Australia and the International Pro Bono Advisory Group and is fund-
ed by the Commonwealth Attorney Generals Department. The Law Council of
Australia is a member of the Presidents of Law Association in Asia (POLA).
The CAPP seeks to match requests from Asia-Pacific for pro bono legal
assistance with Australian legal practitioners and law practices.
Examples of projects eligible for pro bono legal assistance include:
Providing legal opinions, advice and support;
Establishing and helping coordinate community legal education pro-
grams;
Conducting legal education and training programs for lawyers and stu-
dents;
Assisting government law officers to review and/or draft legislation and
regulations;
Capacity-building programs which may require legal skills such as pre-
paring and reviewing contracts;
Assisting with advocacy;
Providing reports and advice on the impact of recent cases, legislation
and proposed reforms on community and business sectors.
To find out more about the CAPPB, including eligibility requirements for pro
bono legal assistance, visit www.cappb.org or email the CAPPB Secretariat
directly at cappb@lawcouncilasn.au

22 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013


IBP COTABATO TAPS
FACEBOOK FOR LEGAL AID
IBP Cotabato City President Noel Ben (seated) with volunteers at the IBP Cotabato Chapter
The IBP Cotabato Chapter has
launched an innovative legal aid project
that makes use of social media site Face-
book to reach out to constituents needing
legal help.
Called the Karapatan Alamin, e-
Paabot Mo: An IBP-Cotabato Chapter
Cyber Free Legal Assistance Program,
the project was inaugurated on August
15, 2012 at Notre Dame University, Co-
tabato City in a unique launch ceremony
that saw IBP National President Roan Li-
barios, IBP National Director for Legal Aid
Rosario Setias-Reyes and IBP Governor
for Western Mindanao Florendo Opay
sending messages by phone patch and
posts in the Facebook wall of IBP Cota-
bato Chapter.
According to IBP Cotabato Chapter
President Atty. Noel Ben, the program
was primarily designed to help Overseas
Filipino Workers, victims of human traf-
ficking, and women and their children who
are victims of different forms of violence
penalized under R.A. 9262, the Anti-Vi-
olence Against Women & Their Children
Act of 2004.
The process is simple, quick and in-
expensive. Those who wish to seek legal
advise just send their queries via Face-
book private message and the designated
Chapter News
Legal Aid Lawyer-Administrator will re-
spond in kind with utmost confidentiality.
In an interview with the Bar Tribune a
month after the launch, Atty. Ben said the
response to the program has been very
encouraging, with the first query for assis-
tance coming from a uniformed personnel
of the PNP.
Asked how the Chapter intends to
sustain the program, Ben said they are
relying on the spirit of volunteerism of
Chapter members involved in the pro-
gram, emphasizing that the Cyber Free
Legal Assistance Program translates into
meaningful actions two of the IBP objec-
tives, namely: to improve the administra-
tion of justice and to enable the Bar to
discharge its public responsibility more
effectively.
IBP President Libarios was all praises
for the project, the first of its kind in the
IBP. In addition, Libarios said the project
is remarkable in that it will not only pro-
vide free legal advice, but will also follow
through with immediate assistance to the
victims, hold the perpetrators accountable
and provide aftercare. This is made pos-
sible by the partnerships the project has
established with duty-holders and share-
holders in government as well as in non-
government organizations.
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
Among the government agencies who
are partners or invited partners are: OW-
WA-ARMM, POEA-ARMM, DOLE-R.O.
12 & ARMM, DFA-Cotabato City, CHR-
R.O. 12 and ARMM, NLRC-RAB 12, Pros-
ecutors Office (Cotabato City & Magu-
indanao), NBI-ARMM, PESO-Cotabato
City, PNP (Cotabato City & PRO-ARMM)
Womens & Childrens Protection Desk.
For the NGO sector, the project is
working with: Center for Migrant Advoca-
cy, Kaagapay-OFW, Mindanao Peoples
Peace Movement, Mindanao Tri-People
Women Resource Center Inc., Alyansa
ng mga Mamamayan Para sa Karapatang
Pantao, Philippine Association of Social
Workers Inc. (Maguindanao & Cotabato
City Chapter), Archdiocese of Cotabato
Social Action & Justice Center, IPDev,
Timuay Justice & Governance, Mindanao
Human Rights Action Center, Internation-
al Organization for Migration-Mindanao,
ICRC-Cotabato, UNHCR-Cotabato, Com-
munity & Family Services International,
and UNICEF-Cotabato.
Among the projects media partners
are: Mindanao Cross, Radio Station
DXMS, Radio Station DXMY, Vera Files-
Cotabato and ABS-CBN Central Mindan-
ao.###
23
September 2012
IBP ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
FETES NEW LAWYERS
IBP National President Atty. Roan
Libarios visited Dipolog City on Au-
gust 30, 2012 for a meet and greet
with the lawyers from the bottled sar-
dines capital of the country.
Libarios was the keynote speaker
of the Testimonial Dinner sponsored
by the IBP Zamboanga del Norte
Chapter on that day at the Plenary
Hall of Hotel Camila II to honor and
welcome the newest lawyers coming
from the province.
In his speech, Libarios called on
the new lawyers to live up to the man-
dates of the IBP. He also stressed
the need to value integrity and com-
petence, and refrain from engaging in
activity that would place the profes-
sion and the administration of justice
(Left to right) RTC Executive Judge Porferio Mah, IBP National President
Roan Libarios and IBP Zamboanga del Norte President Michael Ajoc.
IBP Western Mindanao lady lawyers.
24
Chapter News
in disrepute.
The national president also invited
the local lawyers to attend IBPs 40th
founding anniversary and National
Convention in Davao City on January
15-18, 2013 as well as the upcoming
IBP Mindanao Conference in Zam-
boanga City on October 8-10, 2012.
Libarios was accompanied by IBP
Western Mindanao Governor Atty.
Florendo Opay of Iligan City. In his
talk, Gov. Opay congratulated the lo-
cal officers for their unity and active
involvement in IBP affairs.
The Testimonial Dinner, which is
scheduled annually, was organized
under the leadership of Attys. Michael
Ajoc and Kenneth Rosal, the IBP local
chapters current President and Vice
President Libarios (center) and IBP Western Mindanao Governor Atty. Florendo Opay
(extreme left) pose with the new lawyers of IBP Zamboanga del Norte.
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
President, respectively.
Government lawyers, private
practitioners including incumbent and
retired trial court judges attended the
event, notably, RTC Executive Judge
Porferio Mah, MTCC Judge Dante Vit-
torio Dalman and retired RTC judges
Yolinda Bautista, Soledad Acaylar
and Primitivo Abarquez, Jr..
The newest IBP-ZN members are:
Attys. Ma. Liezelda Abas-Regaon,
Elma Awit, Arvin Bonbon, John Elum-
ba, Adolfo Lopez, Jr., Patrick Ma-
baggu, Ivan Louie Pacatang, Jasmine
Pinsoy, Amalou Tumapon and Philline
Rosame Reluya who all passed the
November 2011 Bar Examinations
and who were admitted to the legal
profession early this year.
 The Bar Tribune
Chapter News

IBP BICOLANDIA REGION

ENERGIZES IBP MASBATE CHAPTER
The IBP Masbate Chapter
hosted the bi-monthly meeting
of the IBP Bicolandia Region last
June. It was a three-in-one event
as IBP Masbate President Rizalito
Apoya also took the opportunity to
hold a Bar and Bench dialogue and
administered the oath to the new
bar passers from Bicolandia.
The event has energized the le-
gal community in Masbate as it was
the first time in a long while that
they have been visited by House of
Delegates of Bicolandia, listened
to their concerns and took note of
their efforts to promote justice. The
mood was warm and encouraging
with the lively exchange of ideas
and renewed commitments to the
purposes of the IBP.
It was not all business, howev-
er, as former IBP Governor for Bi-
colandia Felimon Abelita III, deter-
mined to project the more positive
image of Masbate, took the group
for a day-long drive to the outskirts
of the province. First stop was a
ranch where the guests were treat-
ed to horseback riding, with herds
of cattle grazing about. The rustic
scenery of rolling hills, blue skies
and cool air made for a very invig-
orating experience.
Another surprise that awaited
the group was a stopover at a re-
habilitation centre for drug depend-
ents and other youth offenders.
Managed by a German volunteer,
the centre is located away from
the maddening crowds and pat-
terned after projects of the Catholic
religious group Focolare that are
sustained by contributions from
overseas donors.
Inmates are recruited on a vol-
untary basis and stay at the centre
for a year. They earn their keep by
working in the ranch, the rice fields,
or the processing plant that pro-
duces fresh milk, butter, cheese,
and other milk products on a com-
mercial scale.
The inmates also perform daily
chores and odd jobs that go with
running such a centre. What is
unique with the centre is that be-
fore a task is begun, they would
have a short discussion about val-
ues, coupled with prayers.
At the end of the day and be-
fore they retire, the inmates gather
again and share how they lived out
the values they discussed in the
morning. The daily routine slowly
forms their character, which is very
crucial to their rehabilitation. The
year-long formation usually proves
to be the turning point of their lives.
The group visited the rehabili-
tation centres for boys and girls
which are situated far from each
other. They were impressed at this
Masbate effort to help the justice
system come up with positive solu-
tions for people in conflict with the
law.
Everyone went back to their re-
spective chapters armed with new
insights, not only about the local
IBP chapter, but of the province
as a whole. At the end of the day,
braving the treacherous sea to
cross the channel to Masbate was
well worth the trip. (LLGR)

(Left to right): IBP Masbate Chapter President Rosalito Apoya, IBP Camarines At the Bench and Bar Dialog held during the Regional Meeting of the IBP Bicol-
Sur Chapter President Antonio Rivero, IBP Governor for Bicolandia Leonor Ge- andia Region in Masbtae: IBP Masbate Chapter Vice President Teofilo Tambago
rona-Romeo, IBP Camarines Norte Chapter President Atty. Elaine Gay Belen (fourth from right) with guests from the Public Attorneys Office, Prosecutors Of-
and Masbate Vice Governor Vicente Homer Revil. fice and private practitioners.

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 25

September 2012
MINDA HR LEADERS
SEEK IBP LEGAL AID
President Libarios and NCLA Director Rosario Setias-Reyes met with officers of Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan on September
10. Also in photo is NCLA Deputy Director Ma. Gemma Oquendo.
The officers of Makabayan
Coalition (Makabayang Koal-
isyon ng Mamamayan) based
in Caraga Region have sought
legal assistance from the Na-
tional Office of the IBP in con-
nection with allegations that
their members are being sub-
jected to political harassment
and killings by military and po-
lice authorities.
In a dialogue held at the
IBP National Office on Septem-
ber 10, officers of Makabayan
Coalition said the harassment
comes in different forms, such
as: filing baseless charges
against Coalition members;
wrongful accusation as mem-
bers or supporters of the New
Peoples Army (NPA) and mak-
ing warrantless arrests.
The Coalition leaders also
told the IBP that aside from
26
military and police authorities,
prosecutors and the judges
from Caraga Region also be-
come party to the harassment
charges when they immediately
file baseless cases and issue
warrants of arrest without due
process.
The officers submitted to the
IBP a partial list of cases filed
against their members as well
as documented cases of politi-
cal harassment. They also sub-
mitted a list of names of those
who have been killed as well
as an update on the status of
cases filed in court.
The Coalition said they
brought the matter to the atten-
tion of the IBP to seek to legal
protection and assert respect
for their constitutional rights.
They specifically request free
legal assistance from the mem-
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
bers of the IBP in their respec-
tive locations.
IBP President Libarios told
Coalition officers that the IBP
will investigate and verify the
allegations, in keeping with the
lawyers oath to uphold the rule
of law and defend the Constitu-
tion.
In the meanime, IBP Chap-
ters situated in the affected are-
as in Caraga have been advised
to provide free legal assistance
to victims of human rights viola-
tions in their respective areas of
jurisdiction.
The Coalition is composed
of eight Philippine progressive
parties, such as Bayan Muna,
Anakpawis, Gabriela, Ka-
bataan, COURAGE, Migrante,
ACT and Katribu.

Roving Camera: IBP Forum, Sept 17
The press interviews the
Man of the Hour.
All smiles from Bicolandia:
IBP Governor Lee Gerona-Romeo,
with Peer Assistance Director Alice
Risos-Vidal checking her notes.
Voice from the academe: De La Salle Law School Dean Chel Diokno (front row, right).
To his right: Peer Assistance Director Alice Risos-Vidal, Bicolandia Governor Gerona-Romeo,
Western Mindanao Governor Bob Opay and IBP Librarian Cherryl Artajo.
Generation next: young lawyers
on the road to change.
Attending to last minute details:
President Roan Libarios.
Western Mindanao Governor Bob Opay:
all the way from Lanao del Norte.
Emcees all: IBP National Executive Director Joe Cabrera, IBP Makati Chapter
President Grace Quevedo-Panagsagan and IBP Makati Director Arnold Corporal.
IBP PIO Trixie Cruz-Angeles
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
IBP HELP
SOUGHT BY
DENR
A shortage in lawyers has led
The cool Justice: Abad
answers a text message the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR)
to seek the assistance of the
IBP in the filing and prosecution
of reversion cases as well as in
the filing of cases against illegal
settlers in areas within Protect-
ed Landscapes.
Atty. Daniel Darius M. Nicer,
DENR Assistant Secretary for
Internal Audit and Anti-Corrup-
NCLA Deputy Director Jun tion and Atty. Roland Antonio O.
Ambrosio with compaera.
Guia, Jr. recently met with the
IBP National Director for Legal
Aid Atty. Rosario Setias-Reyes
to inquire about the kind of legal
assistance the IBP-NCLA can
offer. Setias-Reyes has created
an IBP team to study the DENR
request.
The meeting was initiated
by Nicer to seek help in cases
against illegal titling of land, il-
legal settlers and illegal loggers.
Nicer has called on fellow
lawyers to be extra cautious in
dealing with such type of trans-
actions as the consequences
to society and the environment
could be catastrophic, citing as
example the massive loss of
life and property damage in Ca-
gayan de Oro province during
typhoon Sendong.
He said that a repetition of
the tragedy resulting from natu-
ral causes like Sendong can
be avoided if all lawyers act with
environmental impact in mind.
goes live on Twitter.
27
September 2012

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH
EDUCATION AND CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING

Atty. Rosario T. Setias-Reyes, National Director for Legal Aid headed the training for paralegals

In celebration of the National Law LECTURERS

Week, the Integrated Bar of the Philip-
pines - National Center for Legal Aid
(IBP - NCLA) headed by its Execu-
tive Director, Atty. Rosario T. Setias-
Reyes, conducted a paralegal train-
ing seminar-workshop with the theme
Empowerment Through Education
and Consciousness-Raising on Sep-
tember 15, 2012 at the J.B.L. Reyes
Hall of IBP Building. The whole day
seminar-workshop was participated Atty. Ambrosio Atty. Dela Cruz Atty. Mercado Atty. Rivero
by 79 barangay officials from the 30
barangays in Pasig City.
Through the training program de-
sign ASK (A- Attitude, S- Skills, and K-
Knowledge), the participants were not
only reminded of their significant roles
as leaders in their barangay but also
given an overview on the following top-
ics: human rights, legal remedies, ba-
rangay justice system, arrest, search,
seizure and detention, special laws,
mediation, investigation, and affidavit- 79 Barangay officials attended the paralegal training
making. IBP- NCLA Senior Deputy Di-
rectors Rosalie J. De la Cruz, Minerva the participants.
M.B. Ambrosio, and Atty. Dante P. Upon request of Pasig Citys As-
Mercado, as well as Deputy Directors sociation of Barangay Captain (ABC)
Attys. Raymundo E. Rivero, Jr., Lucito President Ferdinand Avis, a similar
A. Tan, Eunice M. Sta. Maria, and Ma. training on Katarungang Pamba-
Gemma J. Oquendo, served as the rangay Law is scheduled to be held
lecturers and facilitators during the soon in other barangays in Pasig City
seminar - workshop which employed in order to enhance the knowledge
popular education techniques to make of the barangay officials in effectively
discharging their functions. Workshop
it an enjoyable learning experience for

28 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013


In memoriam: DEAN ERNESTO L. PINEDA
SEPTEMBER 9, 1939 - JULY 29, 2012
IBP GOVERNOR FOR CENTRAL LUZON, 1979-1981
SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Dean Ernesto Pinedas career was
marked by one spectacular achievement
after another. He was considered by
many as a Legal Scholar, a giant in the
legal profession.
His was a life of high achievement:
Dean of the PLM Graduate School of
Law; Dean, College of Law, Pamantasan
ng Lungsod ng Maynila; a law practitioner
before his appointment as Senior Under-
secretary of Justice; Professor of Law;
former Commissioner, IBP Commission
on Bar Discipline; former Governor, IBP;
former IBP Chapter President; Bar Re-
viewer in Civil Law, Legal and Judicial
Ethics, Criminal Procedure, Evidence:
UST, Ateneo de Manila, PLM, UE, Arel-
lano University, FEU, San Sebastian Col-
lege, University of Pangasinan, Siliman
University, Cosmopolitan Review Center,
University of San Carlos, University of
Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Univer-
sity of Manila; Editor-in-Chief, UST Law
Review (1964-1965); Bachelor of Laws,
Cum Laude (1964); Faculty of Civil Law,
UST; Lecturer, UP Law Center; PHILJA,
MCLE; Papal Awardee (Order of St. Syl-
vester (1983); President, Vanguard of the
Philippine Constitution; International Anti-
Corruption Movement of the Philippines;
Member, Rules of Court Revision Com-
mittee; former Member, MCLE Board;
Commissioner, HLURB
He was certainly not an accidental
author as evidenced by the numerous
By Atty. Alicia A. Risos-Vidal
law books he authored, namely: Persons
(Book I, Civil Code); Family Code of the
Philippines, Annotated; Property (Book
II, Civil Code); Succession and Prescrip-
tion (Book III, Civil Code); Obligations and
Contracts (Book IV, Civil Code); Sales
(Book V, Civil Code); Partnership and
Agency (Book VI, Civil Code); Torts and
Damages (Book VII, Civil Code); Credit
Transactions (Book VIII, Civil Code); Le-
gal Separation in the Philippines; Legal
and Judicial Ethics, and Criminal Proce-
dure.
It is difficult to pinpoint what aspect of
law advocacy can be said to be his best
as he was great at almost everything. His
love for the IBP and his stint as IBP GOV-
ERNOR was evident in the Preface of the
2008 Edition of the Family Code and 2009
Edition of the Legal Ethics Book.
He chronicled the IBP and his par-
ticipation in the birth of the Committee
on Family Law which drafted the Family
Code which was submitted to the Civil
Code Revision Committee. He had also
the opportunity to study and comment on
the draft of the Code of Professional Re-
sponsibility which was first submitted for
approval to the IBP Board of Governors,
of which he was a member. He was sub-
sequently appointed Commissioner of the
Commission on Bar Discipline in 1988,
together with Justice Jose Racela, Judge
Concepcion Buencamino, Justice Jose
Feria (Chairman), Justice Nestor Alampay
and Justice Venicio Escolin.
I wish to quote part of the preface of
Prosecutor Amador Y. Pineda, eldest son of Dean Pineda, received the welfare benefit assistance
check and Mass Card from Atty. Alicia A. Risos Vidal, IBP Peer Assistance Director.
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013
The Bar Tribune
his Legal Ethics book: The author had
advocated and is still advocating the mak-
ing of legal ethics as the primordial and
cardinal subject in law and to increase
its weight from 5% to 10% in Bar Exami-
nations. The author believes that, if only
Legal Ethics is given lasting EMPHASIS
and FOCUS, law students will be properly
inculcated and imbued with the proper
norms of conduct which they need in the
practice of law. A principled Bar is the an-
swer to the peoples clamor for a strong,
independent and efficient administration
of justice.
Big words, but those with whom he
practiced law are living witnesses of his
adherence to the highest ethical and pro-
fessional standards in the pursuit of jus-
tice. In fact, he successfully caused the
dismissal from the service of some nine
(9) trial court judges for various cases of
misconduct.
Dean Pineda is survived by his six (6)
children: Prosecutor Amador Y. Pineda,
Marilou Panganiban, Ferdinand Pineda,
Dra. Anna Marie Pineda, Dra. Catherene
Pineda and Alexander Pineda. His wife,
Virginia Pineda, passed away on October
10, 2010.
Usec Pineda was a great man who
toiled in the night in his days as a law
student up until a few days before he
passed away. The school and the coun-
try he served were enriched by his life
of service. I am sure he continues to toil
up there to make even heaven a better
place. Farewell, Dean!
29
September 2012

IBP, POEA SET UP LEGAL AID DESK

The IBP has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency to
set up an IBP-OFW Legal Assistance Desk right at the POEA office in Ortigas Center.

According to IBP National Director for Legal Aid Rosario Setias-Reyes, a huge number of OFWs flock to
the NCLA to seek legal help, some of which involving issues that concern the POEA. The numbers have in-
creased with the launch of the IBP-OFW Legal Assistance Unit in September 2011, coupled with the aggres-
sive information campaign undertaken by the NCLA, said Setias-Reyes.

The situation prompted POEA Administrator Hans Leo L. Cacdac to formally seek legal assistance from
the IBP. It is a welcome development as it would strengthen and enhance the collaborative efforts between
IBP and POEA, said Setias-Reyes.

The signing of the IBP-POEA Memorandum of Agreement on September 18, 2012, as part of IBPs cel-
ebration of the National Law Week, is testimony that the IBP and POEA can work together not only in address-
ing the legal concerns of OFWs and their families, but also the personnel of POEA who, in the performance of
their functions, can also become victims of harassment and unwarranted suits, Setias-Reyes stressed.

At the IBP-POEA MOA signing (left to right, seated) Governor for Southern Luzon Vicente Joyas, President Roan Libarios, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac
and Deputy Administrator for Licensing and Adjudication Jaime Gimenez. Together with the other members of the POEA delegation, IBP leaders who witnessed
the ceremony were Governor for Bicolandia Leonor Gerona-Romeo (standing, left) and IBP National Director for Legal Aid Rosario Setias-Reyes (standing, center).

IBP Governor for Western Mind-

anao Florendo Opay paid a cour-
tesy call on Major General Ricardo
Rainier Cruz III, Commander of the
1st Infantry Division last Septem-
ber 1 at the Army Camp in Pulacan,
Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur. Aside
from promoting peace and environ-
ment concerns, Governor Opay also
requested road security for the 4th
IBP Mindanao Regional Convention
to be held in Zamboanga City from
October 8 to 10.

30 IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013

 The Bar Tribune
4 September 2012

I am writing to congratulate you and the Integrated Bar

of the Philippines on the success of the 23rd POLA Con-
ference.
The Australian delegation were impressed with the struc-
September 17, 2012
ture and content of the Conference program and its seam-
less delivery.
I also found the Presidents meeting to be valuable. I On behalf of the LAWASIA delegation to the POLA
think we need to look at how we can record and action meeting in Manila, may I pass on our thanks to you, the
decisions for the future. IBP and its staff for all that you did to make the meeting
It was a great honour to be present at the first public en- a great success.
gagement of your new Chief Justice and we will watch her
future career with interest. We all much appreciated your kind and generous hos-
Please accept my sincere thanks for your warm hospital- pitality as well as the warm and collegial welcome.
ity and I look forward to meeting you again at LAWASIA
in Bali later this year. It was also very special for delegates to have the op-
Again, congratulations and thank you. portunity to hear the Chief Justice deliver her remarks
and added a good deal to an already interesting occasion.
CATHERINE GALE
President And, it certainly was a lot of fun in the Philippines,
Law Council of Australia thanks to the efforts of the IBP.

11 September 2012
JANET NEVILLE (Ms)
I write to acknowledge and thank you, and your col- CEO / Secretary General
leagues, for the superb 23rd POLA Conference in Manila. LAWASIA
It was a memorable event, well organized and well run.
I wanted to convey my appreciation for everything
that you and your colleagues did to put on such a spec- September 4, 2012
tacular occasion.
You are also to be commended for the Vice-President It was my great pleasure to meet you in POLA Ma-
of the Republic of the Philippines open the conference nila. All delegates from Japan truly feel that the confer-
and to secure a speech by Chief Justice Sereno, as her first ence was a great success.
public engagement.

JONATHAN TEMM I am writing this email as the IBA conference in Dub-

President lin is getting closer.
New Zealand Law Society
The JFBA will hold a reception at the official resi-
dence of the Ambassador of Japan in Dublin.
September 12, 2012
We would really appreciate it if the IBP could join us
Thank you for organizing an excellent POLA Confer-
at this memorable event.
ence.
As President of Integrated Bar of the Philippines, you
and your team took great pains to make all the delegates
YUICHI KAWAMOTO
comfortable. During all the four sessions, we had qualita-
Japan Federation of Bar Associations
tive discussions.
The evening programmes on all the three days were
excellent and enjoyable.
It was my first visit to Manila, I enjoyed my stay and
look forward to come back again to visit places outside
Manila especially the beaches. Please let me know if the
IBP need any legal advice/ assistance in India.

YAKESH ANAND
Bar Association of India
IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013 31
22
CHAPTER DIRECTORY

32
INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES
Chapter President Address Tel./Mobile Chapter President Address Tel./Mobile
NORTHERN LUZON EASTERN VISAYAS
Abra CONDE CLARO C. VENuS IBP Office, 2/F, Hall of Justice, Bangued, Abra (074) 752-8322 Biliran MELJOHN B. DE LA PENA IBP Office, 2/F, Solite Building cor. (053) 500-9389
Baguio-Benguet FRANKLIN B. CALPITO IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Baguio City (074) 442-8937 Vicentillos & Ballesteros Sts., Naval, Biliran
Cagayan ORLANDO D. BELTRAN IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Carig, Tuguegarao City (078) 844-1221 Bohol CRISTIFIL D. BALuMA RTC-IBP Law Library, Capitol Bldg.Tagbilaran City, Bohol (038) 235-5919
September 2012

Ifugao ROMEO u. HABBILING IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Lagawe, Ifugao Cebu FERDINAND A. PEPITO IBP Building, Capitol Compound, Cebu City (032) 254-7787
Ilocos Norte MARIANO R. NALuPTA JR. IBP Office, 2/F, Marcos Hall of Justice (077) 772-0845 / Cebu City EARL M. BONACHITA IBP Building, Capitol Compound, Cebu City (032) 253-6713
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte 792-3045 Eastern Samar JOSE VICENTE R.M. OPINION IBP Building, Borongan, Eastern Samar
Ilocos Sur JOSE ROSARIO JIMENEz IBP Office, Provincial Capitol, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (077) 722-3364 Leyte ROY PERCIVAL M. PEREz IBP Building Leyte Sports Development Center Comp. (053) 321-3615
FebSeptemberruary

Isabela NERIzA M. DASIG-CACATIAN IBP Bldg. Alibagu, Ilagan, Isabela (078) 622-2323 / Sta. Cruz., Tacloban City
2

0939 557-8257 Northern Samar ROLANDO P. DuBONGCO Allen, Northern Samar

Kalinga-Apayao FRANCIS B. CALSIYAO IBP Office, Magsaysay St., Tabuk, Kalinga-Apayao Samar CESAR T. MABANSAG IBP Building, Court House Compound, Catbalogan, Samar
La union ABRAHAM F. DATLAG IBP Office, 2/F G.E.Antonio Bldg., (072) 888-5579 / Southern Leyte MANuEL L. ENAGE, JR. IBP Office, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Maasin City, southern Leyte (053) 381-2191
San Fernando City, La union 0905 411-0640 WESTERN VISAYAS
Mountain Province WILSON K. KALANGEG IBP Office, Bontoc, Mountain Province (078) 805-1068 Aklan FLORA B. ALMERO IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Godofredo Ramos Street, Kalibo, Aklan (036) 621-1499
Nueva Vizcaya EMMANuEL C. RASING IBP Office, Justice Hall Bldg. (078) 805-1068 / Antinque CORNELIO P. ALDON San Jose, Antique
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya 0908 862-5152 Capiz LORENCITO B. DIAz IBP Office, 2/F, Hall of Justice, Roxas City (036) 621-1499
Bar Tribune September 2012

Quirino EDWIN O. BETGuEN IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Cabarroguis, Quirino Province 0917 580-7360 Guimaras ROMMEL C. BELLONES M. Chavez Hall, Hall of Justice, San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras (033) 329-6440
CENTRAL LUZON Iloilo PAuLINO L. SALMON, JR. 4/F, Hall of Justice, Iloilo City (033) 337-5224
Bataan JuLIET S. SALARIA IBP Bldg., Capitol Compound, City of Balanga, Bataan (047) 921-1085 Negros Occidental FILOMENO B. TAN, JR. IBP Building, Nursery Compound, Gatuslao Ctreet, Bacolod City (034) 433-1611
Bulacan CECILIO ALEJANDRO C. VILLANuEVA IBP Office, Provincial Capitol, Malolos, Bulacan (044) 662-4768 Negros Oriental ARTuRO M. DuPIO IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Capitol Area (035) 225-2624/
Nueva Ecija LYDIA BAuTO-HIPOLITO IBP Bldg., Ramos St., Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija (044) 600-2553 / Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental 225-4579
311-2106 Palawan NESARIO G. AWAT G/F, Capitol Building, Capitol Compound, Fernandez St.
Pampanga CASIANO C. SABILE IBP Bldg., Capitol Compound (045) 963-5007 Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (048) 434-8411
San Fernando City, Pampanga Romblon MARK ANTHONY N. GANAN Batiano, Odiongan, Romblon
Pangasinan FARAH MARIE G. DECANO IBP Bldg., Judge Jose R. De Venecia Sr. Memorial Hall, (075) 614-3119 Siquijor ALFONSO L. SALCEDO Camangki, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor
Bonuan, Tondaligan, Dagupan City, Pangasinan EASTERN MINDANO
Tarlac ARNALDO P. DIzON IBP Bldg., Tarlac City (045) 982-7813 Agusan del Norte ARCEDEL I. LIBARIOS IBP Office, Capitol Building, Capitol Site, Butuan City (085) 342-5224/
zambales CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE B. MONATO IBP Bldg., Ohio St., upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City (047) 811-1534 342-8980
SOUTHERN LUZON Agusan del Sur RuSTICO A. PEAS IBP Office, Beside RTC, Government Center, Patin-ay (085) 343-8847
Aurora SHARON T. YLANAN IBP Office, Brgy. Suklayin, Baler, Aurora Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur
Batangas LOIDA C. CONTI IBP Office, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Pollocan West, Batangas City Bukidnon ISIDRO L. CARACOL Free Legal Aid Office, Malaybalay, Bukidnon (088) 221-3225
Calmana EMILIANO A. MACKAY IBP Office, 3/F, Aurelio Bldg., 9th Avenue, Caloocan City Camiguin CARLO C. BORROMEO Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin
Cavite RENANTE C. BIHASA IBP Chapter Bldg., E. Aguinaldo Highway, Imus, Cavite Davao City JONATHAN M. JOCOM 2/F, Hall of Justice, Candelaria Street, Ecoland, Davao City (082) 296-0070
Laguna VIRGILIO B. GALEON IBP Office, Don Tomas Dizon Hall, Hall of Justice, San Pablo City Davao del Norte CASIANO S. RETARDO, JR. Solaon Building, Quezon Street, Tagum Ciyt, Davao Del Norte (084) 400-5468
Makati GRACE P. QuEVEDO-PANAGSAGAN IBP Office, uG 39, Cityland Dela Rosa Condominium, Dela Rosa St., Makati City Davao del Sur CYNTHIA CARADO DOROMAL IBP Building, Hall of Justice Compound, Digos City
Marinduque MA. AuRORA P. SORI-ROMANO IBP Office, unit 5, 3K Bldg., Barangay 2, Poblacion Gasan, Marinduque Davao Oriental GILBERTO M. MADuAY Mati, Davao Oriental
Occidental Mindoro ALFREDO A. CASTILLO IBP Office, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Misamis Oriental ALPHON R. LAGAMON IBP Bldg., Provincial Capitol Compound (088) 856-4209

IBP: Celebrating 40 years, 1973-2013

Oriental Mindoro CHARLOTTE F. AGuBA-GOCO IBP Office, Capitol Square, Calapan City Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental
PPLM PATERNO S. LARRACAS IBP Office, Rm. 217, Pasay City Hall, F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City Surigao del Norte ALFONSO S. CASuRRA IBP Office, Parola P. Reyes Street, Surigao City, 8400 Surigao Del Norte (086) 826-6015
Quezon RONALDO A. SALAMILLAS IBP Building, near RTC, Lucena City Surigao del Sur EDWIN M. MALAzARTE RTC IBP Law Library, Palace of Justice Building, (086) 211-3414
Rizal JuLIAN R. TORCuATOR JR. Rizal Provincial Jail Compound, Cabera Road, Sitio Kaytikling, Brgy. Dolores, Taytay Capitol Hills, Tandag, Surigao Del Sur
GREATER MANILA WESTERN MINDANAO
Manila I FRANCISCO A. SANCHEz III IBP Office, 1929 Tomas Mapua Street zambasulta JOSE RIzALINO L. ORTEGA 2/F, Room 201, Hall of Justice, zamboanga City (062) 993-2899
Manila II ROSARIO T. SETIAS-REYES unit 427, Madrigal Building, No. 286, Escolta, Manila 0919-8184068 Cotabato NOEL A. BEN Hall of Justice, Regional Complex, Cotabato City, Cotabato (064) 421-3841
Manila III GISELA F. LOOD IBP Office, Rm. 504, Doa Amparo Bldg. 735-7275 Lanao del Norte ALIzEDNEY M. DITuCALAN IBP Bldg., Badelles Street, Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte (063) 352-0328
Catalua Street, Sampaloc, Manila Lanao del Sur BASARI D. MAPuPuNO IBP Building, Bongon, Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur (063) 352-0328
Manila IV YOLANDO F. LIM IBP OffiCe, L2 F1 uG Floor, Bugundy Transpacific Place 0915-1804059 Misamis Occidental DANIEL C. LAO Hall of Justice, Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental (088) 521-3306
2444 Taf Ave., Malate, Manila North Cotabato VICENTE C. ANDIANO Public Attorneys Office, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato (064) 288-5429
Quezon City VICTORIA V. LOANzON IBP Office, Rm. 235, 2Flr, Justice Hall, 925-7183 South Cotabato ELVIE E. ALBANO IBP Room, Hall of Justice, lagao General Santos City, South Cotabato (083) 552-3221
City Hall Compound, Quezon City Sultan Kudarat RuTILLO B. PASOK Magsaysay Avenue, Poblacion, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat (064) 201-3550
BICOLANDIA Samboanga del Norte MICHAEL L. AJOC 2/F, Hall of Justice, Dipolog City, zamboanga Del Norte (065) 212-2638
Albay VICENTE P. DEL ROSARIO IBP Office, RTC Hall, Rawis, Legaspi City (052) 4820281/ zamboanga del Sur EDGAR B. BONGALOS 2/F, Hall of Justice, Pagadian City, zamboanga Del Sur (062) 214-3953
4814640 zamboanga Sibugay RICHARD B. RAMBuYONG Ipil, zamboanga Sibugay (062) 333-5704
Camarines Norte ELAINE GAY R. BELEN IBP Office, Daet, Camarines Norte (054) 440-0902 Sarangani ROSALIO C. CARIO Rm. 206 Arenas Building, Pioneers Ave., General Santos
Camarines Sur ANTONIO C. RIVERO IBP Building, J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City (054) 473-2042
Catanduanes GREGORIO M. SARMIENTO, JR. IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Capitol Compound, Virac, Catanduanes (052) 811-2245
Masbate ROSALITO B. APOYA IBP Office, Hall of Justice, Masbate, Masbate Compiled by Aurora Geronimo, Ron-ron Chu and Roel Lepasana
Sorsogon WILLIAM E. ERLANO IBP Office, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon (056) 211-3272 Encoded by Precious Cazeas