Sereno urges new lawyers to shun corruption

MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno reminded new lawyers not to be corrupt.

On Wednesday, a total of 949 law graduates took their oath as “officers of the court” before the Supreme Court in a special en banc session at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“Say it in your heart that I will not be corrupt and I will not allow anyone to corrupt me,” Sereno told the new lawyers during the oathtaking which was also a special en banc session.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno: United. AP

She said the new breed of lawyers should work hard to change the public perception that lawyers are corrupt, selfish and arrogant.

Associate Justice Martin Villarama, on the other hand, reminded the new lawyers that there is a higher law than that of the government and that is the law of conscience.

The 2012 Bar examination has the second lowest passing rate in the history of professional licensure examination for lawyers in the Philippines.

The new 949 new lawyers is 17.76 percent of 5,343 who took the examination during the four Sundays of October last year.