Lupons attend legal education seminar

More than 200 members of the  lupong tagapamayapa (peace council) from the different barangays in Cebu attended a seminar about katarungang pambarangay (barangay justice) that was hosted by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter last Friday.

Dubbed as “Kapamilya Barangay Justice Seminar,” the seminar held at the IBP Cebu City chapter social hall was an outreach activity of dyAB’s radio program “Retro Rakrakan” in line with the station’s month-long 18th anniversary celebration, in cooperation with the IBP-Cebu City chapter.

IBP-Cebu City chapter president Mae Elaine Bathan said the seminar aimed to equip the participants with legal background.

“The IBP-Cebu City chapter’s thrust this year is to provide legal education to the grassroots level, starting with the barangays,”  Bathan said.

She said the role of the lupong tagapamaya is essential in the delivery of justice.

“Most of the cases have to pass through the lupon and I think it is just but proper to arm them with the legal knowledge,” she added.

Lawyer Aiza Fiel Nogra, chief legal officer of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas (DILG), was the main speaker of the seminar.

The seminar was co-sponsored by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) School of Law, Lex Cervus Fraternity and Lex Augustiniana Sorority.

USJ-R School of Law Dean Jonathan Capanas, also a Lex Cervus past president, gave his insights on the topic.

“The number of the attendees and their eagerness to learn is overhelming. This reminds us that we need to hold another one like this, perhaps in a bigger venue,” Capanas told Cebu Daily News.

“We are just glad that “Retro Rakrakan” tapped us because we like rock and we like the idea of service,” Grand Lex Cervus Godofredo Ponteras III said.

Retro Rakrakan show host Edison delos Angeles said there will be more activities and partnerships in the future.

“Retro Rakrakan is not just about rock and music, it goes beyond that,” he said.