Groups and alleged EJK victims’ families file complaint vs FPRRD
SEVERAL groups and the families of alleged victims of extrajudicial killings filed a disbarment case against former President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
The complaint cited multiple grounds, including conduct unbecoming of a lawyer and violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.
Led by Lean Redino Porquia, Atty. Vicente Jaime Topacio, and Llore Pasco, along with the relatives of the EJK victims, the group argued that Duterte should be disbarred for violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.
According to Topacio, the disbarment case is related to Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that the former President would serve as one of her legal counsels in any future impeachment complaints.
Additionally, the House of Representatives recommended in December 2024 that Duterte, along with senators Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, be charged with “crimes against humanity” for the extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.”
At Dutertes’ annual gift-giving activity last month, the vice president said her father would help her legal team in the impeachment cases against her.
“He said that since I wouldn’t accept the money, he would act as my lawyer. So, he will be a collaborating counsel for all the cases,” the vice president said, adding that the former president was preparing his documents to be submitted to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
