I FOLLOWED with interests the misfortune that a lawyer faces in relation to his clients.
I consider Ferdinand Topacio one of the young promising lawyers. Lately, he is in the news for two wrong reasons. One, he blurted to the press that Ben Tulfo is returning the P60 million earned from Bitag-Tourism deal. As it turned out, the Tulfos are disowning Topacio’s claim. He finds himself in uncomfortable position. Two, Topacio spearheaded a bounty for the arrest of Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teddy Casiño and Renato Mariano. These four militant leaders are wanted for a murder case in a Nueva Ecija court.
When the previous judge inhibited, there was a change of resolution leading to dismissal. In effect, the four left leaning leaders are set free. Again, Ferdie finds himself in a bind for the intended bounty.
In the United States, the former personal lawyer of Donald Trump, Michael Cohen had testified that his client directed him to arrange payments ahead of the presidential elections to silence two women. Porn Star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Model Karen Mcdougal were given $130,000 and $150,000, respectively to keep quiet.
Whereas, before Michael Cohen was the repository of trust, after he pleaded guilty, the lawyer is called a “devious little rat.” The lawyer-clients relationship is equal to the privilege of a sinner’s confession. Cohen used to boast that he would take a “bullet” for the president but he obviously cracked under pressure.
The three young lawyers who were arrested while assisting their client in a Makati Bar is proof that lawyers are exposed to hazards in their profession. The death of some lawyers in the Visayas supposedly associated with drug clients is a testimony to the danger of lawyering.
In our country, the personal and professional issues are often undistinguishable that leads to the perception that the client and his lawyer are of the same ilk.
Here in our province, it is a pity that a young lawyer, Ryan Rueda was gunned down in Mexico, Pampanga. The reason is he persisted in fighting for his client’s cause to the consternation of the other litigant. From a healthy and vibrant lawyer, Ryan is now a person with serious disability – no friends and no income. He is paralyzed from waist down.
Lawyering is not exactly a bed of roses. You are expected to solve your client’s problem and in the process, you are in peril. This is the hazard of lawyering.