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Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Seares: 'I'm not a lawyer but'
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
Beware of the public official who prefaces his statement with “I am not a lawyer but...”
Despite the self-warning, he plunges right into legal talk and wades in unfamiliar waters where soon he gasps for air.
Figuratively, because he doesn’t see his own floundering. Only skeptics see it to wonder: If he is not a lawyer, why the heck is he shooting off his mouth about law?
Often, the public official doesn’t think his not being a lawyer is a handicap.
It is not a handicap, if only he consults a lawyer, understands the advice, and doesn’t bungle the retelling.
Ignored
Many public officials don’t talk with lawyers or they ignore advice.
A former city attorney once lamented his boss would make the illegal move first, then ask, “What’s the law that says I can’t do it?”
There are public officials who think they are smarter than lawyers and argue their case in public even if they fall flat on the face trying.
There are also those who are told the law but disregard them anyway for personal spite or gain.
Lawyers once advised a mayor he couldn’t transfer the abattoir site without risking a fat fee to the lot owner for damages.
He did just the same. He loathed the lot owner who had badmouthed him publicly. The City Government picked up the tab for the revenge.
Next time a public officer starts with “I am not a lawyer but...,” duck or shut yourself off if you can.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 16, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
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