Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2006
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: Bobby Nalzaro
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

NALZARO: THE MAYOR'S INCONSISTENCIES

MAYOR Tomas Osmena defended the action of Councilor Gerry Carillo who
served as legal counsel for two drug suspects.

He said the councilor did nothing wrong in defending innocent
people.

Anyway, Carillo did not use his influence, the mayor said. Well, what
can we expect from the mayor?

Carillo is his ally. Otherwise, the mayor would have been on his
back.

But I find the mayor's stand very inconsistent in relation to the
aggressive drive of the government to eliminate the number one menace
in our society, illegal drugs.

The hizzoner has been at loggerheads with some members of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu chapter on the proposal
of a city councilor to publish the names of prosecutors and judges,
who frequently dismiss drug cases.

The mayor even accused some lawyers of protecting and coddling people
involved in illegal drugs.

Well, we cannot question legal practitioners on the kind of cases they
handle because they are private individuals. But the case of Carillo
is a different story.

The mayor said Carillo is just defending innocent people?

Oh, come on mayor. While no law prohibits members of local legislative
bodies who are lawyers from practicing their profession, delicadeza
dictates that they should refrain from getting involved in
cases-illegal drugs, illegal gambling, violation of the anti-piracy
law, human trafficking and prostitution-where the government is the
complainant.

I received some intriguing information that this is not Carillo's
first time to handle drug cases.

He is also defending clients charged with software
piracy.

I would like to remind my good friend Gerry that he is not an ordinary
lawyer.

He is an elected official.

Whether he firmly believes that his clients are innocent, he should
inhibit himself from handling cases out of delicadeza because he is
supposed to side with the government.

Yes, we can give Carillo's clients the benefit of the doubt.

But can we also assume that there was a presumption of regularity in
the performance of their duty on the part of the barangay tanods who
arrested the suspects?

Tomas said he will allow members of the City Council who are lawyers
to defend drug cases, as long as they will not use their influence.

Mr. Mayor, the fact that these lawyers also hold the title of city
councilor is influence enough.

Also, isn't it awkward that while some councilors are in the frontline
in the war against illegal drugs, others are defending drug suspects?

If Tomas insists on his stand, he might as well put a stop to the
City's anti-drug campaign. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom