(Eagle News) — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Thursday, April 26, belied lawyer Larry Gadon’s claims its officials receive allowances from the Supreme Court or from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
In a statement, the IBP said “…the President, Executive Vice President, the members of the Board of Governors, all Chapter and Regional Officers of IBP…serve without any compensation or honorarium.”
As such, the IBP said its pro-Sereno “principled stand” was because it was the group’s “institutional duty and the personal oath of every lawyer to uphold the Constitution and promote the rule of law, regardless of the personalities involved..”
“It is reckless for a lawyer to make false and unfounded allegations. We respect every person’s freedom of expression and may even try to understand his needs and motivations but truth fairness and professional ethics should not be lost even in partisan and passionate lawyering,” the IBP said, apparently admonishing Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno.
The IBP has asked the Supreme Court to allow it to intervene in the quo warranto case against Sereno.
The petition aims to have Sereno’s appointment as Chief Justice nullified.
The High Court has “noted” the IBP’s pleading.