Roman Romulo: A lawyer with a heart for Pasig

Graduating from the UP College of Law, Roman T. Romulo didn’t wait to take his oath as a lawyer to start a career as a defender of human rights and an advocate of the law. Several months before the results of the bar exams were to come out, he was handed a case at the law firm where he was his training. He came across a case of a convict on death row. His immediate superior told him he could handle the appeal if he wanted. Roman accepted the challenge — though he was told that his "client" was probably guilty. "It didn’t dissuade me," he says. "The man was entitled to an appeal. That’s his right under the law."

Roman threw himself into the case, making regular visits to the convict to see for himself the merits of the case. "As lawyers, we have to remember that we shouldn’t lose sight that we’re dealing with people — not just defendants," he explains. "I needed to know his story — something that was not in the court documents or the legal notes."

The approach paid off. It turned out that his client was so poor that he couldn’t afford proper legal representation. Promptly, Roman worked on the appeal that was to be presented to no less than the highest court in the country — the Supreme Court. Although not yet a lawyer, Roman worked on it with the guidance of his supervisor at the firm. Because of that appeal, the guilty verdict was overturned and the man was released.

Even if the bar results hadn’t been announced yet, Roman was already at heart a bona fide lawyer. "The feeling of helping someone who had seemingly fallen through the cracks of the legal system is indescribable," he says. "All I knew was that this is why God had blessed me with my parents — my father, who set a good example — and my education and training. His purpose for me is to help people with my abilities. That moment when I heard the appeal was successful was the greatest moment of my life at that point. I knew I was doing what I was born to do."

Roman’s dedication hasn’t wavered. He spent several years in the private sector — furthering his learning and understanding of the law. It was a good experience but he knew it was just practice and he was patient. But his goal was still the same. The year he was eligible to become partner in the law firm, he resigned and decided it was time for him to serve.

Being a resident of Pasig for most of his life, Roman says it was only natural for him to pour all his efforts there. "Pasig is the only home I have," he says. "I think before anything else one should take care of one’s home. This is where I’m needed. This is the only place I should be."

Putting up his own practice, he has also been involved in several projects in the community, including education in the form of scholarships, practical livelihood projects, medical supplies and assistance and the facilitation of securing the individual land titles to the residents of Villa Cuaresma.

Roman admits that he’s taken after his dad, Alberto Romulo. This includes the elder Romulo’s integrity in his three decades of public service. Roman is careful not to sully in any way that legacy. When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo first assumed office and named his dad finance secretary, Roman immediately tendered his resignation at the law office where he was working. The reason for this was that the firm was handling several clients in the finance community and Roman thought it improper for him to continue handling their cases.

"I learned the workings of the law and know how to make them work for people — not the other way around," says Roman. "Yes, I was born into a family of distinguished public servants — but I chose to make and distinguish myself as a public servant."

"Above all, I’m a Pasigueno."