As we enjoy an official holiday to recall the sacrifice and the greatness of our national heroes, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines remembers the many judges, prosecutors, government and private lawyers who were killed or harmed because they were doing their sworn duty. The fact that quite a number of such cases remain unsolved is a shared frustration, shame, and responsibility of Filipino lawyers. Justice BILIS, not justice tiis. We affirm the courage of lawyers defending human rights, public interest advocates and whistleblowers; the selflessness of countless pro bono lawyers helping the poor; the dedication of lawyer-public servants and educators; the creativity of lawyer-innovators, entrepreneurs and activists; the contributions of the good Filipino lawyer to nation-building. In these uncertain and challenging times of the COVID 19 pandemic, IBP salutes the health professionals (doctors, nurses, scientists, technicians, health sector employees and workers) who dutifully and resourcefully attend to the afflicted and so far have managed to keep the death rate of COVID 19 patients lower than global thresholds. We call on our government and the nation to protect, listen to, help, and appropriately recognize the health professionals as our contemporary heroes. We thank and honor them for sacrificing their security and even their life to save their countrymen. We pray for them and their families and be ourselves little heroes of involvement, discipline and unity to win over the COVID 19 virus.

DOMINGO EGON Q. CAYOSA IBP National President