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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
March 10, 2026 | 12:00am
“Lawyers are expected to demonstrate the highest commitment to respecting women and to ensure that gender does not become a barrier to justice,” the IBP’s human rights committee said in a statement posted on Facebook yesterday, a day after the observance of International Women’s Day.
The STAR / Michael de Guzman, File
MANILA, Philippines — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) appealed to lawyers to uphold respect for women following sexist remarks made by a lawmaker during a congressional hearing.
“Lawyers are expected to demonstrate the highest commitment to respecting women and to ensure that gender does not become a barrier to justice,” the IBP’s human rights committee said in a statement posted on Facebook yesterday, a day after the observance of International Women’s Day.
It maintained that “disrespect, bias or discrimination against women contradicts the foundation of legal ethics and weakens public trust in the profession.”
“A lawyer who does not respect women undermines the basic principles of equality and fairness that the law promotes,” it added.
The IBP called on lawyers to treat female clients, opposing counsel, judges and the general public with the same seriousness and decorum that they accord to everyone else.
“As we commemorate International Women’s Month, lawyers are more expected, in this trying time when violence against women has become increasingly prevalent, to take more action to fight all forms of injustice against women and other vulnerable sectors of society,” the IBP said.
“There is no room in this noble profession for misogyny and sexism. The Court will never tolerate abuse, in whatever form, especially when perpetrated by an officer of the court,” it added, quoting a ruling of the Supreme Court that disbarred Larry Gadon following his sexist remarks against journalist Raissa Robles.
The statement comes amid public criticism of Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio for their inappropriate comments involving actress Anne Curtis and Rep. Sarah Elago.
In a Monday interview with “Storycon” on One News, IBP president Allan Panolong said the organization has the power to initiate motu proprio proceedings against members of the Bar.
“The IBP has this motu proprio power to initiate and investigate an erring member of the Bar whose conduct is unbecoming of a member of the Bar,” Panolong said. “We will discuss this with the board because that can be done under the bylaws… It’s a board action, so the board will deliberate and decide whether to conduct motu proprio.” – Janvic Mateo, Delon Porcalla
