Human rights lawyers urged the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to revoke the “Golden Pillar of Law Award” given to former President Rodrigo Duterte, arguing that the recognition risks normalizing ethical misconduct. The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) called on the IBP to reconsider the award to preserve its integrity and uphold the highest ethical standards of the legal profession. The UPLM countered the IBP’s justification for the award, which cited Duterte’s 50 years of legal service and good standing, stating that such criteria overlook critical ethical and legal obligations. The group emphasized that being a “pillar of law” requires adherence to the rule of law, justice, due process, and human rights. The Movement Against Disinformation (MAD) criticized the award as a distortion of legal ethics and a sanitization of power, noting that Duterte’s use of law as a credential rather than a calling devalues the legal profession. Both groups highlighted concerns that honoring Duterte, who is detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs, contradicts the Lawyer’s Oath and undermines public trust in the legal system. The ICC charged Duterte with three counts of murder as crimes against humanity, citing extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Davao City mayor and Philippine president. The UPLM stressed that the award is deeply painful for victims of the drug war, many from marginalized communities, and could be seen as validating impunity. While the IBP announced it would review its recognition protocols to ensure future awards align with justice and integrity, MAD criticized the IBP’s use of “due process” and “presumption of innocence” as cover for the award, accusing the organization of legal sophistry and betraying justice.
