Lawyers challenged: Unite vs. child abuse

Supreme Court associate justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago has challenged lawyers in the Visayas to unite in the fight against abuses on children, whom she described as the future leaders of the country.

Santiago discussed the issue on child abuse during the opening of the two-day convention of the officials of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Eastern Visayas at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The IBP convention carries a theme, "Empowered Children for a Better Nation, Every Lawyer's Responsibility," which is part of its Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

Speaking before a crowd of about 500 lawyers from Cebu, Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Biliran, the Supreme Court justice reminded parents to be a good "model" to their children.

According to Santiago, parents should examine themselves on how they raise their children and that it is better to teach them good moral values and inform them of their rights.

Most of the speakers in the event echoed the call of the associate justice and challenged the lawyers to be active in their role to protect the children from many form of abuses, such as child labor, prostitution, sexual harassment and exploitation.

The lawyers bannered a theme about the environment during their last year's convention, in which they agreed to play a key role in pressuring the local government units to comply with the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Aside from the threat to file a case against those local government officials who refuse to comply with the proper procedures in handling their garbage, the IBP is also active in the campaign against illegal fishing.

Lawyer Manuel Legaspi, the IBP governor for Eastern Visayas judicial region, is hoping that many of the lawyers will join in the fight against abuses on children and the environment. - Rene U. Borromeo