Pamphlets circulated: Lawyer hits "low blow" during IBP elections

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Ian Sapayan cried foul over the distribution of a pamphlet entitled “Know your candidates for IBP Cebu City President” circulated during the Integrated Bar of the Philippines election last February 26, 2011.

Sapayan ran for president against Earl Bonachita who was declared winner.

The paper compared the scholastic records and other achievements of Bonachita and Sapayan.

The paper also showed the law schools where both of them graduated, their number of years in the law practice, the number of tries it took them to pass the Bar exams, their experience in the IBP and positions or membership in various organizations, among others.

“I do not believe that the material in question was made and distributed only for the purpose of securing a win. The contents and distribution of the material were meant, more than anything, to humiliate and discriminate rather than persuade members to vote for a particular candidate,” Sapayan said in a statement sent to The FREEMAN.

The paper stated that Sapayan was a repeater while Bonachita passed the Bar exams in his first try. It was also mentioned that Sapayan graduated from law school with no honors while Bonachita graduated as top three in his class.

Sapayan said he was not surprised by such a low blow, as this was only the latest in a series of acts perpetrated weeks before the election.

“But the making and distribution of the scandalous material topped it all. It could only be the doing of a seriously bigoted mind. Indeed, it was bigotry at its worst. It should not have been tolerated. In fact, it should have been condemned the very moment it was discovered,” Sapayan’s statement further read.

The IBP-Cebu City Chapter officials passed a Resolution on March 3, 2011 condemning the making of the paper contending that the circulation of this form of campaign material “has caused the demoralization and polarization of some members of the chapter and has generated a blame game as to who made the paper”.

Sapayan, however, said that condemning the act without investigating who the culprit is and making him account for his deeds will be worthless.

Sapayan added they did not hear any condemnation when the act was discovered on the day of the election itself and far from condemning the act, current IBP-Cebu City Chapter President Michael Yu reportedly even justified it by saying that it was not illegal as the people have the right to know. 

He added that instead of telling his supporters to stop the distribution of the materials as would be expected of a true leader, Yu did not do anything at all. 

Both Yu and Bonachita, who are on the board of directors, signed the resolution.

“It is in light of these revelations that I now view any call for condemnation made by the two officers to be utterly insincere and all overtures made by them for reconciliation to be downright farcical,” he added.

Bonachita’s term as president will begin on April 1, 2011. He was not available for comment yesterday.

Sapayan also announced that he will immediately transfer his membership to the IBP Misamis Occidental Chapter where his hometown is located.  (FREEMAN NEWS)