THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is the official organization of all Philippine lawyers whose names appear in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court. The IBP came into being when the Supreme Court created on October 5, 1970 the Commission on Bar Integration tasked “not only to ascertain the advisability of integration of the Bar, but even more, to serve as a common vehicle of the Court and the Bar in fashioning a blueprint for integration and putting the same into actual operation.” Republic Act No. 6397, which became effective September 17, 1971, confirmed the power of the Supreme Court to adopt rules of court to effect the integration of the Philippine Bar.
Then on January 9, 1973, the Supreme Court, by a percuriam resolution, pursuant to its constitutional mandate, ordained the integration of the Bar in accordance with its Rule 139-A, effective January 16, 1973. Within the next succeeding months, the IBP was organized.
On February 17, 1973, local chapters all over the country were finally formed and elections for chapter officers were held. On March 17, 1973, the first batch of representatives to the IBP House of Delegates composed of 104 delegates representing the IBP Chapters nationwide convened in Manila and elected its first set of IBP Governors.
It is an official organization – and by “official,” we mean that it is established by the State. Republic Act No. 6397 confirmed the power of the Supreme Court to adopt rules of court to effect the integration of the Philippine Bar. Presidential Decree. No. 181 was promulgated on May 4, 1973 constituting the IBP into a body corporate and providing government assistance thereto for the accomplishment of its purposes.
Since its creation, the IBP Philippines has had 24 presidents and the current one is Rosario T. Setias Reyes, the very first Lady President of the organization.
The IBP-Negros Occidental Chapter, which holds office at the Nursery Compound along Gatuslao Street in Bacolod City, recently held its elections for a new set of officers at the Hall of Justice quadrangle. They will serve a two-year term.
Elected were Arnel Lapore - president; Edmundo Manlapao Jr. - vice president; Josephine Maria Natalaray - secretary; Gerry Llena - treasurer; Mary Gold Lemoncito-Chuatico - auditor; and Michael Sunio - PRO.
The Board of Directors is comprised of retired Judge Gorgonio Ybañez, Narciso Javelosa, Pauline Nuega, Audrey Violet Lacson, and Nino Jandy Calitis.
On being elected as president of IBP-Negros Occidental, Attorney Lapore says that he is honored with the prestige and responsibility that goes with the presidency. Among his many plans is to help uplift the out-of-town court rooms, and promote health awareness among lawyers and judges to mention a few.
Congratulations!