Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo yesterday urged the  members of the legal community to give dignity and nobility to the  profession so as to regain the trust of the people in lawyers and in the  entire justice system.

Speaking at the second leg of the Ethics Caravan for the Proposed Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) at the  University of Mindanao, Matina Campus, Davao City, Davao del Sur on  Monday, October 24, 2022, Chief Justice Gesmundo also underscored  the importance of these inclusive and consultative dialogues with all  concerned stakeholders in revising the Code. 

“This a clarion call for all of us to take the responsibility of giving  dignity and nobility to our profession, and by so doing, put back the  trust of our people not only in lawyers, but in the justice system as a  whole,” said Chief Justice Gesmundo, who also gave an overview of the  Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI). 

The Chief Justice emphasized that lawyers, as officers of the  court, “play a key role in the administration of justice and upholding the  rule of law.”  

However, the Chief Justice said that the legal profession “is no  stranger to allegations of scandal and controversy. In fact, it is a general  belief that in practice, lawyers either by hook or by crook use unsavory  tactics to further their client’s, or even their own, interest,” he said.  “Some lawyers even lie, cheat, or steal to gain the upper hand. It is no  wonder that lawyers have often been perceived as liars, having no  scruples at all, and only after his or her professional fees.”  

The proposed CPRA seeks to improve and modernize the practice  of law. The Chief Justice shared that it tackles the use of social media,  formation and definition of the lawyer-client relationship, conduct of  non-legal staff and other intricacies experienced by practitioners today.  “The CPRA also consolidates separate regulations pertaining to the  discipline of lawyers,” he said. “It also abbreviates administrative  proceedings and imposes a standardized table of penalties for varying  degrees of offenses. The CPRA not only addresses the punitive aspect of  the unethical legal practice but also captures the ideal characteristics  that all members of the bar must live up to- independence, propriety,  fidelity, competence and diligence, equality, and accountability.”  

Chief Justice Gesmundo stressed that apart from aiming to  inform members of the Bar about the proposed CPRA, the goal of the  Ethics Caravan “is to allow for a more inclusive and consultative dialogue  with all relevant stakeholders including practitioners, the academe, and  other stakeholders, to further fine-tune the proposed provisions and  address any concern which might have been previously overlooked.”  

The Chief Justice encourage everyone to work with the Judiciary  and help it achieve its goal of delivering timely and effective justice,  stressing that: “Efficiency, Innovation, and Access, the outcomes of the  SPJI, may only be attained through meaningful cooperation between the  members of the bar, the bench, court officials and employees, other  public officials, and court users. This Ethics Caravan is an effort to open  more avenues for cooperation between the Court and different sectors of  relevant stakeholders.” 

The five-leg Ethics Caravan is part of the Supreme Court’s efforts to  update the 34-year old Code of Professional Responsibility and craft a  modern, relevant, and responsive guide for lawyers’ conduct. The first  Caravan was held in Cebu City last September. After the Cebu and Davao legs, consultations with stakeholders on the proposed CPRA will  be conducted in Naga City, Baguio City, and the NCR.  

Led by the Supreme Court Sub-Committee for the Revision of the  Code of Professional Responsibility (Sub-Committee), with the support of  the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-Australia, The Asia  Foundation, The European Union, Justice Sector Reform Program:  Governance in Justice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the  Philippine Association of Law Schools, the Ethics Caravan is a series of  consultations seeking to incorporate in the CPRA the underlying ethical  considerations of a technology-driven Judiciary and legal profession in  line with the Supreme Court’s SPJI. 

Likewise, it aims to introduce the proposed CPRA and its salient  provisions to stakeholders and the general public as part of the Supreme  Court’s efforts to update the 34-year old Code of Professional  Responsibility and craft a modern, relevant, and responsive guide for  lawyers’ conduct. 

Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, in a recorded  message, highlighted the proposed changes in the Lawyers’ Oath,  including adding the word “justice” for the first time, underscoring the  value of the Lawyer’s Oath as forming “the basic foundation of what a  lawyer means.”  

Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, the Sub-Committee Chairperson, in  her video recorded message, expressed her gratitude to all participants.  She disclosed that “it was the choice and wish of the Chief Justice to  hold every Ethics Caravan in the university where the teaching of ethics  all begins and where the values we learned from home are fortified. We  also recognize the role of the youth in nation building as future shapers  of the world. The great lawyers of today were once law students.” 

Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Sub-Committee Vice  Chairperson, presented the proposed CPRA. She shared that the CPRA is  the Court’s attempt in crafting more relevant and responsive guide for  lawyers’ conduct. 

The closing remarks of Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Sub-Committee  Vice Chairperson, was read by Court of Appeals Justice Geraldine C.  Fiel-Macaraig. 

Supreme Court Justices Jhosep Y. Lopez, Japar B. Dimaampao,  and Jose Midas P. Marquez also attended the second Ethics Caravan.  

The Caravan will culminate in the National Summit on Ethical  Standards for Lawyers which will be held in February 2023.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo waves to the participants of the second leg of the  Ethics Caravan as he leaves the Auditorium of the University of Mindanao, Matina  Campus, Davao City, Davao del Sur on Monday, October 24, 2022. (Courtesy of the SC  Public Information Office)

Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh gives a presentation on the proposed Code of  Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) during the second leg of the Ethics  Caravan for the Proposed CPRA held at the Auditorium of the University of Mindanao,  Matina Campus, Davao City, Davao del Sur on Monday, October 24, 2022. (Courtesy of  the SC Public Information Office)