Accents
By Julia Carreon-Lagoc

ILAC condemns Bocar murder

Sept. 1, 2005, break of dawn, a lawyer was felled: Atty. Norman Bocar, chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan-Muna of Eastern Samar, and tourism officer of the Eastern Samar provincial government. At once fellow lawyers of the Iloilo Legal Assistance Center (ILAC) came up with a Manifesto condemning the “dastardly, cowardly and treacherous” act, to wit:

“The dastardly, cowardly and treacherous murder of Atty. Bocar is a clear manifestation of the State's unleashing its dogs of war against the individuals who are critical of the present exploitative and oppressive system and are in the forefront of the legal struggle against said system.

“While the Arroyo government issues strident and shrill calls for anti-terrorist measures, it turns a blind eye and even sponsors state terrorism against perceived enemies of the state. The Arroyo regime hides behind a mask of a democratic and duly elected government to lull and mislead the people into accepting the vigilante-type killings.

“The killing of Atty. Bocar will not discourage, deter nor weaken the resolve of progressive and patriotic lawyers who are upholding, defending and protecting the rights of the marginalized sectors and individuals in the forefront of the struggle to uphold and protect human rights.

“ILAC calls on all progressive and patriotic lawyers to strengthen their resolve to continue serving the poor and the oppressed, and to uphold and protect human rights.”

What is ILAC? An Iloilo-based group of concerned lawyers, it is committed to the advocacy for the poor, deprived, oppressed and marginalized sectors in society. It handles cases for the underprivileged in the defense of their rights: workers, farmers, indigenous people, the urban poor, women and children, youth and students. ILAC offers legal consultations and other forms of legal assistance such as providing information that would empower its beneficiaries in the struggle for their rights and interests.

Strong in advocacy work, ILAC promotes people's interest and welfare by responding to current issues that violate people's rights. Hence, the fast Manifesto on the Murder of Atty. Norman Bocar to push the solution of the crime and punish the perpetrators. People's organizations will find in ILAC an instrument to help achieve their legitimate demands.

Beyond court tussles, ILAC will be conducting seminars, training and lectures with lawyers and law students on paralegal skills, people-oriented/development lawyering, court observation, and human rights. ILAC members meet and brainstorm on the subject at hand for the immediate course of action.

Through regular meetings and other activities, ILAC seeks to strengthen their organization. Lawyers out there, take note that ILAC is broadening its membership. It is recruiting additional members not only from lawyers, but also from law graduates and law students.

Mine is the pride that my husband Rodolfo is an ILAC member. He loves to quote the brilliant Jose W. Diokno. Rudy remembers one symposium of lawyers where the late Sen. Diokno was the guest speaker. The symposium was held a few days after the senator was released from the Marcos' stockade. Sen. Diokno ended his speech telling them about one plane trip he took when he was seated beside a white, heavily made-up lady. She saw what the senator was reading, A LAWYER'S JOURNAL, and she asked, “Are you a lawyer?” He answered, “Yes.” Then the lady asked the senator if it is true that lawyers are worse than whores. Rudy remembers that for a moment, Sen. Diokno kept silent, tears in his eyes as he looked at the audience of lawyers before him, ending his speech with this memorable quote: “IF WE CANNOT BE THE VOICE OF THE WEAK, THE VOICE OF THE OPPRESSED, THE VOICE OF THE POOR, THEN GENTLEMEN, WE LAWYERS ARE INDEED WORSE THAN WHORES.” (To be continued: Situationer on the attack against lawyers)