FILE Photo: Vice President Leni Robredo.
MANILA, Philippines — The former presidents of the Philippine Bar Association (PBA), the country’s oldest voluntary national organization of lawyers, have expressed support to the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Signatories to the statement of support include former Defense Secretary Avelino J. Cruz Jr., PBA President (1994-95), and former Ombudsman Simeon V. Marcelo who was president from 2009 to 2010.
Cruz and Marcelo were one-half of the four original senior partners of the Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco or the CVC Law Office, but was more popularly known as the “The Firm.” They have since formed their own separate law partnership, the Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (CMT) Law.
The other signatories in the joint statement were lawyers Ruben O. Fruto, Rogelio A. Vinluan, Federico A. Agcaoili, Hector A. Martinez, Victor P. Lazatin, Jose A. Feria Jr., Ma. Teresita Geraldine C. Sison Go, Ma. Charito P. Cruz, Beda G. Fajardo, Emerico O. De Guzman, Rodel A. Cruz, Fina Bernadette A. Dela Cuesta-Tantuico, Jose Luis V. Agcaoili, and Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla.
“As heirs to a past earned by the sacrifice of our predecessors, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the country’s next leader adheres to the same ideals they have fought, bled and died for. Leni Robredo is that candidate,” read the statement.
The former PBA presidents believed that Robredo, herself a lawyer, would be the one to “inspire people to put their faith back in their government” as the country moves to exit the pandemic.
“This is not righteousness for righteousness’ sake. This is leading by example. A weary public will continue to question our Tax Laws if they feel their President will shirk from these responsibilities. But a leader who lives a life of transparency and service will move people to contribute to the nation’s recovery,” they said.
They acknowledged Robredo’s efforts of personally reaching out to the poor and her efforts to assist the public during the pandemic such as free testing, PPEs for frontliners, free consultation, among others.
“We have full confidence in VP Leni’s commitment to return the Rule of Law to its primary place in our system. A rules-based order is the best guaranty of stability. And a stable nation is best positioned to defend itself from foreign aggression. And our security interests in the West Philippine Sea are safe with someone like VP Leni,” they added.
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