Monday, February 27, 2012

Jose W. Diokno: Fleshing out a legend | Inquirer News

Jose W. Diokno: Fleshing out a legend | Inquirer News


Sen. J. W. Diokno on the law profession:


"x x x.

“A lawyer lives in and by law; and there is no law when society is ruled, not by reason, but by will—worse, by the will of one man.


“A lawyer strives for justice; and there is no justice when men and women are imprisoned not only without guilt, but without trial.


“A lawyer must work in freedom; and there is no freedom when conformity is extracted by fear, and criticism silenced by force.


“A lawyer builds on facts. He must seek truth; and there is no truth when facts are suppressed, news is manipulated and charges are fabricated.


“Worse, when the Constitution is invoked to justify outrages against freedom, truth and justice, when democracy is destroyed under the pretext of saving it, law is not only denied—it is perverted.


“And what need do our people have for men and women who could practice perversion?


“Yet the truth remains true that never have our people had greater need than today for great lawyers, and for young men and women determined to be great lawyers.”


x x x."