SC justice to 1,126 new lawyers: Have clean conscience, moral fitness

The 1,126 passers of the 2014 Bar examinations on Friday took their oaths as new lawyers, taking home with them a reminder from a Supreme Court justice to have a clean conscience and moral fitness in their law practice.

The new lawyers took their oath in front of SC magistrates, including 2014 Bar exams chair Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta; the 2014 Bar examiners; and various law deans at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The 2014 Bar exams was topped by San Beda College of Law graduate Irene Mae Alcobilla, who got a score of 85.5.

In a speech he delivered following the oath-taking, SC Associate Justice Martin Villarama challenged the new lawyers to stand up for the truth as this is their "foremost duty."

He said the lawyers would "rise and fall" depending on how seriously they take the principles of honor and competence.

"As you embark on a legal career, bear in mind that as a supervisory and disciplinary authority, the court does not concern itself with the number of cases you've won, your pedigree or populairty, the positions you held in private sector or government, much less your financial network," he said.

"What is primarily ascertained is you moral fitness," Villarama added.

Villarama even quoted former US President Abraham Lincoln, saying: "Resolve to be honest at all events and if in your judgment you can't be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer."

Villarama also cited problems and controversies hounding lawyers in the Philippines, including, among others, numerous complaints against employing dishonorable means in prosecuting and defending matrimonial cases, as well as violations of the law in notarial practice.

He even cited how the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam has once again dragged the names of law practitioners.

"Most unfortunately, the full blown investigation of the pork barrel scam by Congress rebuilt the complicity or participation of lawyers in perpetrating anomalies involving public funds," he said.

Villarama also advised the new laywers to "be more careful in your actions and work, whether in private or public setting," noting that in the age of social media, "a lawyer's infraction is magnified a thousand times."

Villarama urged the lawyers to remain humble and to accomplish their tasks in good faith.

Quoting Pope Francis, the magistrate also called on the new lawyers to "build a better world."

"By the way, did I tell you how it feels so right when one's conscience is clean?" he added.

For her part, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, in an interview with reporters, emphasized that the public expects a lot from the new lawyers.

"I hope that they believe that this course will support them in their endeavors. If they want this country to move forward, we must stand for the truth," she said.

SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, said the "number one obligation" of the new lawyers is "to uphold and maintain and adhere to the (lawyer's) Code of Ethics." —KBK, GMA News