Calida's disbarment threat nothing new —Chel Diokno

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno on Tuesday shrugged off Solicitor General Jose Calida's disbarment threat in connection with allegedly unethical acts related to an environmental case on the West Philippine Sea.

"Bilang abogado na matagal nang tumutulong sa mga mahihirap, sanay na ako sa mga pagbabanta at pananakot mula sa bibig ng mga may kapangyarihan. Hindi na bago yan," Diokno said in a statement.

"In my youth, I saw my father unjustly imprisoned under martial law. He continued to fight for justice, and so will I," he added.

Diokno is the son of the late Jose "Ka Pepe" Diokno, a former senator and prominent human rights advocate who was arrested at the beginning of Ferdinand Marcos' martial law and detained without charges for two years.

Last week, Calida accused lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and Diokno, who represent the fishermen seeking a Supreme Court order for the protection of Panatag and Ayungin Shoals and Panganiban Reef, of deceiving their clients.

He claimed last week that many of the fishermen who supposedly brought the petition for the writ of kalikasan had withdrawn from the case, saying they neither knew of nor supported its filing. Diokno said the case was filed with the fishermen's knowledge and consent.

On Monday, Calida said former IBP president Abdiel Fajardo, incumbent president Domingo Cayosa, and Diokno could face disbarment cases if it was proven that they conspired and supported the allegedly deceitful act.

The SC has warned the parties in the case from litigating their case through media or social media.

The kalikasan suit wants the Duterte administration ordered to enforce Philippine environmental laws in Panatag and Ayungin Shoals and Panganiban Reef, whose marine environment the petitioners said had been damaged by Chinese harvesting and construction activities. —KBK, GMA News