Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez exhorts his fellow lawyers to defend and protect the Constitution, rule of law and the weak who can’t afford the cost of legal service. He made the appeal in his solidarity message at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Lahug, Cebu City Friday (Jan. 31, 2025). Around 4,000 lawyers from both the government and private sectors are said to be in attendance at the biennial event.
HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday night urged his fellow lawyers to be defenders and protectors of the Constitution, justice, rule of law, and the weak who cannot afford the cost of legal service.
He made the appeal in a message of solidarity at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Lahug, Cebu City.
The convention’s theme is, “From Milestones to Horizons: Strengthening the Future of the Legal Profession.”
Speaker Romualdez, a UP law graduate, asked his colleagues: “What kind of legal profession will we pass on to the next generation? One that is driven merely by profit, or one that remains a beacon of hope for the nation? One that is transactional, or one that is transformative?”
“We must ensure that every Filipino, whether rich or poor, educated or unlettered, knows that the law is not the instrument of the powerful, but the protector of the weak. That justice is not a privilege, but a right. And that lawyers are not mere advocates of clients, but guardians of the nation’s moral and legal compass,” he said.
The leader of the 306-strong House of Representatives said the legal profession today “demands more than expertise, it demands courage.”
“Courage to uphold the Constitution when it is most inconvenient. Courage to speak the truth when silence is the safer path. And courage to stand for justice, not just for the privileged, but for those who cannot afford representation, whose voices are drowned out by wealth and influence,” he said.
He said he was addressing his audience “not just as a public servant, but as a fellow lawyer who believes in the power of our profession to shape history.”
“Some of you here will go on to become justices and judges, others will lead corporations and industries, and many will dedicate their lives to public service. But no matter where our careers take us, we must never forget this fundamental truth: we are all, at our core, defenders of the law and stewards of justice,” he stressed.
The House leader threw more questions at his fellow lawyers: “When our careers are over, when the last case has been argued and the last motion filed, how will we be remembered? Will we be known for our victories in court, or for the justice we helped uphold? Will we be counted among those who profited from the law, or among those who strengthened it for future generations?” Speaker Romualdez asked.
“The answers to these questions will define our legacy not just as individual lawyers, but as a profession,” he said.
He said he was standing before his friends in the legal profession not merely as Speaker of the House “but as a fellow lawyer, bound by the same oath, shaped by the same discipline, and committed to the same ideals of justice and the rule of law.”
“We gather here not just as members of the Bar, but as custodians of the law, its stewards, its defenders, and, when necessary, its reformers. Each one of us carries the weight of history upon our shoulders, for the law is the foundation upon which our nation stands. It is the silent force that shapes the destinies of millions, the great equalizer that upholds the dignity of the powerless, and the final safeguard against tyranny and injustice,” he added.
Speaker Romualdez spoke of the role and purpose of the law in today’s world.
“We live in an era of disruption. Technology is rewriting the rules of commerce, artificial intelligence is reshaping the practice of law, and geopolitical shifts are challenging the very notion of sovereignty and international order. Here at home, democracy is being tested not by force, but by apathy; not by the absence of law, but by its misuse and manipulation,” he said.
“This is the reality we must confront: the law is only as strong as those who defend it. It is only as just as those who interpret it. And it is only as relevant as those who wield it for the common good,” he said.
He said as Speaker of the House, he had the unique vantage point “of seeing how laws, when crafted with wisdom and purpose, can change lives.”
“We have worked to expand legal aid services, to strengthen judicial independence, and to uphold transparency and accountability in governance. But I also know that legislation alone is not enough. The battle for justice is waged not only in Congress or the courts but in every forum where truth must be defended,” he emphasized.
The House leader assured his fellow lawyers that the House remains a partner of the legal profession “in ensuring that our legal system evolves to meet the needs of our people.”
“But we need your voices, your intellect, and your moral clarity to guide the way. The challenge that lies before us today is to build a legal profession and a nation where justice is not only done but is felt by every Filipino. Let this be our commitment, our cause, and our enduring legacy,” he said.
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