The legal profession in the country is under siege. Lawyers smell trouble in the recent move by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to secure from the courts a list of their colleagues, who are representing activists.
It cited paragraphs 16 and 18 of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which mandates the government to “ensure that lawyers: a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.”
