A STALWART of Lakas-CMD is urging 2019 bar passers to help battle the tide of discrimination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) frontliners.
Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles, a lawyer by profession, is calling on all lawyers to provide their probono service for the frontliners who are becoming victims of discrimination.
“Our new lawyers are welcomed into the fold under extraordinary circumstances. These circumstances are demanding—simply put, we need lawyers to go to bat for our heroes who are risking life and limb to protect us from the threat of the pandemic,” Nograles said.
Nograles urged new lawyers not to wait for their license to be of service to the country.
There are various volunteer groups not only with anti-discrimination advocacy, but providing services such as legal aid for persons deprived of liberty and the poor, he also said.
These groups are undermanned, Nograles said, and would benefit from the energy and fresh ideas of younger lawyers.
The neophyte solon, a legal aid advocate, is the founder of LakbayHustisya Foundation, a legal aid trust fund organized to support legal aid activities around the Philippines.
LakbayHustisya spearheads the “e-dalaw” initiative in partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology where PDLs are able to consult with lawyers despite the suspension of visitation rights in jails.
“Umaasaakonamangungunaangmgabagongabogadonatinsapagtatanggolsamganaaapilalonasapanahonngayon,” Nograles said.
Meanwhile, Nograles lauded the new bar passers.
“Of course, congratulations are in order. Pinaghirapanngmgabagongabogadoangtagumpaynilangayon. But as we always say, the hardest part starts now,” he said.
