Saturday, September 29, 2007 Sarabia: The courts' keeper By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
LAWYER Edipolo Sarabia Jr. has found his job a breeze in the four years that he has been the officer in charge of the Office of the Clerk of Court. That doesn't mean the job is easy though.
Among others, he is accountable for all money coming from the Regional Trial Courts.
"We're talking about millions here and kung mawala 'yan, ako ang accountable niyan. Kahit nasa labas ako, kung anuman ang mangyari dito sa loob ng opisina, ako pa rin an mananagot," Sarabia told Sun.Star Davao.
Aside from being the Clerk of Court, he is also acting provincial sheriff of the Regional Trial Court handling the extra-judicial foreclosure of cases.
He attributes his becoming a lawyer to his father, retired Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Edipolo Sr. Bal, who is the third among the brood of Judge Sarabia and wife Anita.
"Actually, 'di na alam ng tatay ko kung ano ang gawin sa akin. Kung di niya ako pinilit, 'di ko rin alam kung ano ako ngayon," Sarabia admitted.
He got his elementary education at the Davao Cental Elementary School in 1971, finished his secondary education and got his Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science from the University of Mindanao. It was also from UM that he got his law degree in 1996.
Right after college, he worked at the City Legal Office. He then worked as a clerk of the MTCC when he decided to enter law school.
The Sarabias, while having made their individual names in the city, are more known for sports. The whole family is into it. He attributes the discipline they have to sports.
"We were all into sports and lahat kami nakatapos. We graduated all as scholars kasi varsity kami lahat," he said.
It was only in law school when he paid tuition, but not because he was no longer in sports.
"I want the athletes to be like us, eh sino bang mag-aakalang maging abogado ako?"
Since passing the bar, however, he has not practiced lawyering.
"I was the assistant in this office and now the OIC. 'Yung work dito... is only administrative function. 'Yung knowledge mo lang ang magagamit, 'di ang skills," Sarabia said.
His being a lawyer has not stopped him from his involvement in sports. He was the president of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines-Davao chapter, a member of the Davao City Sports Council, and the chairman of the Committee in Sports of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
