The decision by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to honor former President Rodrigo Duterte with its Golden Pillar of Law Award has drawn sharp criticism from members of the legal community, raising questions about the legacy of his five-decade legal career.

The award, presented on Monday, October 6, at the Hall of Justice in Davao City, recognizes Duterte’s contributions in private practice and public service. The IBP described him as having demonstrated “dedicated, honest, and exceptional service to the legal profession.”

Former Undersecretary and City Administrator Jesus Melchor Quitain received the award on Duterte’s behalf, accompanied by his son, Councilor and lawyer J. Melchor Quitain Jr., who shared the news on social media.

“A golden pillar” despite “bending the rule of law”

Jojo Lacanilao, convener of the Concerned Lawyers for Liberties as well as the Duterte Panagutin Network, called the citation given to the former president a shame, especially for a “lawyer who had called for the killing of thousands without due process.”

“IBP Davao is an embarrassment to the legal profession by making this award and can make no justification for this unforced error. The only way they can rectify this wrong is to withdraw this award forthwith,” Lacanilao said. “If a regional group of lawyers is still hoodwinked by the guile of the former President, it demonstrates that any idea of sending him home for temporary release from the ICC detention is a dangerous one.”

Lawyer Wilfredo Garrido also condemned the decision, calling it “madness.” He said: “Golden Pillar of Law award for Rodrigo Duterte for 50 years of service, 40 years of which were spent murdering people, for which he is in jail on charges of crimes against humanity?”

He also questioned which part of Duterte’s career could merit the recognition, adding: “Which part of his career was marked by ‘dedicated, honest, and exceptional service to the legal profession’ that is not overshadowed by his notoriety and infamy? As fiscal – he was falsifying evidence, by his proud admission. As mayor – he was head of the Davao Death Squad. As president – ask the 30,000 victims of his war on drugs. This man should have been disbarred many times over.”

“As a lawyer and member of the IBP, I am deeply embarrassed that Rodrigo Duterte is given this award. A Golden Pillar of Law, my foot!” said Antonio Amora Jr., expressing disgust over the institution’s award to Duterte. “During his presidency, he was supposed to be the chief implementor of the law, yet he openly violated and bent the rule of law.”

“Remember his advice to our cops in the failed drug campaign that if the victims have no guns, they put guns beside their corpses to simulate a gunfight or ‘nanlaban’ as they notoriously put it? The much-maligned EJKs were themselves a direct assault on the time-honored concept of due process of law,” Amora added, recalling the former president’s bloodstained anti-crime and anti-narcotic policy. “The IBP appeared to be a wimp, in my honest opinion, when Duterte lorded it over with his blatant attacks on things we hold sacred in our legal profession. And now this?”

Lawyer Jesus Falcis also voiced dissent, saying: “So with all due respect to the organization I belong to, I humbly dissent in the awarding of Duterte as a Golden Pillar of Law. Duterte has brought darkness to the law of the land. We have only started shining a light back.”

“Kung may choice lang, hindi na sana ako nag-member dito sa Integrated Bar of the Philippines na ito. Kaso compulsory sa mga abogado,” said former NBI official Ricardo Diaz, in his Facebook post. “Napakamot ako sa ulo nang mabasa ko ito! Taga ibang planeta yata ang pumirma nito! Golden Pillar of Law Award? Oh my gulay, nakakabwisit!”

Atty. Tony La Viña seemed straightforward, seeing no one within the legal institution dissenting over fellow lawyer Duterte and his controversial integrity: “Hala. Walay nag-object sa IBP Board?”

IBP: “Duty-bound to be above biases”

The IBP Davao City Chapter defended the award, praising Duterte’s long-standing contributions as a public prosecutor and national leader regardless of the controversy—particularly for his “50 years of distinguished and dedicated service in the legal profession, upholding the ideals of justice, integrity and the rule of law, whether in private practice or public service.”

“While the Chapter recognizes that certain members of the legal community have expressed their personal sentiments against the conferment of the award, we must also be reminded that as lawyers, we are duty-bound to rise above biases and to uphold this fundamental precept of our justice system, that judgment must rest on evidence and final conviction, not mere perception, and every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” said the IBP statement.

📷 Atty. Jay Quitain