Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and president Rodrigo Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Bar Association (PBA), the country’s oldest voluntary national organization of lawyers, has offered to moderate the prospective debate between President Rodrigo Duterte and retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.
“Now that the President’s earlier challenge to a debate on the West Philippine Sea has been accepted by former Senior Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, the Filipino public will benefit immensely from a frank and straightforward discussion on a matter that affects the entire citizenry,” Atty. Rico V. Domingo, PBA President said in a statement.
“The Philippine Bar Association (PBA) offers to host this discussion on such date and time as the President and Justice Carpio may agree,” Domingo said.
He said the PBA will be provided a “balanced arena fit for two lawyers of eminent stature and experience to dispassionately discuss the core issues relating to the dispute on the West Philippine Sea.”
Domingo said the PBA’s offer is “at no cost to either party conformably with its staunch advocacy to promote the Rule of Law.”