Monday, October 13, 2008 Mercado: Brian Nepomuceno & other lawyers By Ram Mercado First Person
THE law profession in Angeles City has been enriched with the entry of new, brilliant, and exciting lawyers -- most of them sons of well-known community leaders and celebrities.
Dr. Emmanuel Angeles, former CDC president and now head of the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) has two lawyer-sons, Joseph Emmanuel and Gabriel Martin.
Among other pursuits, Joseph Emmanuel manages a New York Bar Review Center-affiliate with the Angeles University Foundation's School of Law. Gabriel Martin, I understand, is being groomed to take over his father's place as former AUF president, now Chancellor on leave.
I have not met the two young lawyers, but I know their talented first cousin, Atty. Agustin Angeles, son of the late Rotary Club governor Tony Angeles and Mrs. Vicky Lazatin Angeles.
Toti Angeles is amiable, debonair, and a perfect gentleman. I heard he will be taking over her mother soon as president of the Republic Central Colleges.
My friend, the former city fiscal and ex-Mayor Tarzan Lazatin's city administrator Alberto Suller, has sired a lawyer, Atty. Arvin "Pogi" Suller.
Arvin was the city legal officer but his father, a frustrated politician, put him out and he won as city councilor.
The father has thus realized his political aspiration through his worthy son.
Atty. Angelo Lopez III, son of the famous TV host Sonny Lopez Jr., has been gaining popularity for his pro-poor advocacy, handling pro-bono cases endorsed mostly by Congressman Tarzan. Pinggoy Lopez, a former City Council bet, was the able troubleshooter for the legal problems in the office of Congressman Roilo Golez.
There is Atty. Romeo "Jun" Yusi, junior son of the well-known Romy Yusi of Royal Security Agency, and former agrarian counsel of the DAR and who is now city legal officer. Another son, Atty. Paul Yusi, formerly from the office of the Solicitor General, has joined the ranks of Angeles City lawyers. He finds the local environ vibrant, exciting, and full of challenges.
An upcoming practitioner to watch is Atty. Brian Nepomuceno, son of Councilor Robin Nepomuceno and businesswoman Cecille Nepomuceno. Almost always, it is the son who fulfills an unrealized aspiration of the father. Bong Nepo, for instance, finished his law degree but did not take the Bar exams. His son, an Ateneo graduate, did, and he is now his father's own legal counsel.
Atty. Brian in tandem with Atty. Paul Yusi (UST) had just successfully thwarted barangay chairman Jerry Alejandrino et. al. from ousting his father as the duly-elected representative of the city's Liga ng mga Barangay to the City Council.
As the lawyer for his father, Robin, and the rest of the defendants including 17 punong barangays, and the national organization officials of the Liga, and presiding officer Vicky Vega Cabigting, too, Brian had convinced the presiding judge to dismiss Alejandrino's petition for a restraining order and a motion of reconsideration.
Robin Nepomuceno will now continue unmolested his representation of the local Liga to the city sanggunian. As this developed, the city federation officials of the Liga had collectively commended RTC Judge Serafin David for his quick, decisive, and incontrovertible verdict, according to Anunas punong barangay Carlito Ganzon.
The Liga directors asked the opposing barangay chairmen to unite and join the majority in working for and getting their rightful benefits from the City Government. The village chieftains wanted Councilor Robin Nepo to support their fund request for barangay development with dispatch. The former Pampanga vice governor did not object to that.
One of the plaintiffs said there was no problem in striking unity among all the barangay chairmen, admitting he saw no discrimination and unfairness on their group by the Executive branch.
Robin Nepomuceno has pledged to work for the general welfare of the Liga and equally promote and protect the interest of those in his group and those of the other side.
"Kailangan pantay-pantay and mga pribilehiyo at pakinabang ng lahat ng mga barangays," he said. After all, City Mayor Francisco "Blueboy" Nepomuceno is his younger brother.
Robin, it was reported, started going the rounds of the city barangays after the court decision, thanking his constituents for their sustained support while he struggled to get seated to represent the village chiefs in the sanggunian.
City hall personnel and business leaders said the time for partisan conflict and fighting is over. "Let Robin work in peace to achieve harmonious relations among all fellow officials and work for all residents."
The Nepomuceno couple must be proud of their son, Atty. Brian, in a rare event where the son had fought for his father's interest. Mom Cecille must be the proudest mother of all.
Barangay leaders and officials were guests of the Nepomucenos in their Paradise estate in Sunday's La Naval fiesta. It’s happy days are here again for the political dynasty. This, after a nearly 10-year reign by Tarzan Lazatin as city mayor.
