Malacañang yesterday congratulated successful examinees in the 2018 Bar examinations and reminded them to keep their integrity as they dive into the perilous world of the legal profession.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo also extended Malacañang’s well-wishes to the parents and to those who provided the means for the new lawyers to graduate from law schools, for the sacrifices “as they toiled to shepherd these new gladiators of law.”
Panelo, who is also President Duterte’s chief presidential legal counsel, said the practice is faced with endless challenges and a constant wrestling with conscience.
“We wish the successful examinees all the best as they begin to pursue a path that is exciting as it is rewarding even if at times perilous,” he said.
“We ought to remove our partisanship, personal feelings, and biases as well as prejudices when a question of law or a case subject of litigation is thrown to our lap for the application of the letter and spirit of the law,” he added.
The Palace official reminded the Bar passers that integrity is still the most important thing for a lawyer.
“As they prepare to take their oaths and sign in the roll of attorneys, we urge them to inculcate in their minds that integrity is the highest in the hierarchy of virtues in the legal profession,” Panelo said.
He hoped that many of the new lawyers would opt to work for the government and help the Duterte administration build a better nation.
“We hope that many of our country’s new lawyers consider pursuing a career in the government and help build a progressive and peaceful nation that will provide a comfortable life for all,” Panelo said.
“Their youth, idealism, academic competence, and personal integrity are welcome under the present administration, and should be in succeeding administrations as well,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)