Antonio Pido named new IBP president

Antonio Pido has been named the new national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the country’s only mandatory organization for lawyers.

On Wednesday, the IBP said Pido was formally inducted by the Supreme Court en banc on Tuesday evening, succeeding Burt Estrada, whose term ended on June 30, 2023.

In his inaugural speech, the Samar native said the IBP should speak on the "legal issues affecting our nation and our communities," including the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea.

"We have legal issues on our territorial seas that have been adversely affecting subsistence fishermen against foreign intrusion. This is guaranteed to be protected under Section 7, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution... The IBP has a public responsibility to do its share in making people aware of what the law on the matter is, all geared towards upholding the rule of law in the Philippines," said Pido. 

"The IBP shall not shy away from speaking with one voice on these legal issues," he said.

Prior to his election, Pido served as the IBP executive  vice president, president of the IBP Samar Chapter, and governor of the IBP Eastern Visayas region.

He is a member of the University of the Philippines College of Law Class of 1982 and was part of the Order of the Purple Feather honor society.

Other IBP officers who were inducted were: Allan Panolong as Executive Vice President and Governor for Western Mindanao; Minerva Taguinod as Governor for Northern Luzon; Kriden Balgomera as Governor for Greater Manila; Annalyn Sherry Hibo-Gamboa as Governor for Bicolandia; Pitero Reig as Governor for Southern Luzon; Cres Tan as Governor for Western Visayas; Marlo Destura as Governor for Eastern Visayas; PN Trinidad as Governor for Eastern Mindanao; and Maria Imelda Quiambao-Tuazon is the newly appointed officer-in-charge for IBP Central Luzon. —VBL, GMA Integrated News