INTRODUCTION
The Five-Year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovation of the Supreme
Court for 2022-2027 envisions judicial reforms to upgrade and streamline
judicial services both administrative and adjudicative with a target to
achieve three outcomes: Efficiency, Innovation and Access.
Under the desired outcome of Efficiency, the Supreme Court
launched in 2022 a series of Ethics Caravan to overhaul the 34-year old
Code of Professional Responsibility, which for the longest time has guided
lawyers in the practice of their profession. The highest tribunal’s aim for the
nationwide caravan was to inform the legal community in the Philippines
about the proposed Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability
(CPRA) with the end view of finalizing a modern, relevant and holistic
CPRA. After the five-leg caravan conducted across the country, the
Supreme Court unanimously approved the CPRA and launched the same
on April 13, 2023.
(pa-add and/or revise na lang po.. hihi)
BODY
The CPRA leans towards a values-based framework and contains six
canons specifically Canon on (a) Independence, (b) Propriety, (c) Fidelity,
(d) Competence and Diligence, (e) Equality, and (f) Accountability. The
CPRA Canons has been condensed as compared to the old CPR which
had 22 canons that highlighted the four-fold duties of a lawyer namely the
duty to society, to the legal profession, to the courts, and to the client.
The summary of innovations and changes in the CPRA is discussed
as follows:
Canon 1- Independence
This canon incorporated, with amendments, Canons 2 and 13 and
Rule 13.03 and Rule 19.03 of the old CPR. (add)
(discuss the new provi…)
Canon 2- Propriety
This Canon has absorbed the four-fold duty of a lawyer in the old
CPR with respect to the personal and professional dealings of a lawyer.
(detailed/summarized analysis..)
Also under this Canon is one distinct feature of the CPRA which is
Responsible Use of Social Media. This section acknowledges that
technological advancements have a significant contribution in the legal
profession. (discuss)
Canon 3- Fidelity
This Canon focuses mainly on conflict-of-interest and lawyer-client
relationship. (discuss)
Canon 4- Competence and Diligence
This Canon absorbs and amends Canon 5, Rule 18.01, Rule 18.02,
Rule 18.03, Rule 11.02, Rule 12.04, Rule 12.01, Rule 15.05, Rule 18.04,
Rule 12.03, Rule 15.08 of the old CPR
(discuss the changes and new provisions)
Canon 5- Equality
This Canon assimilates Rules 14.01, 14.03, 14.04
(discuss the changes and new provisions)
Canon 6- Accountability
New provisions but are based mostly in case laws and Rules of Court
(discuss the new provisions)
CONCLUSION
“An ethical lawyer is a lawyer possessed of integrity. Integrity is the
sum total of all the ethical values that every lawyer must embody and
exhibit. A lawyer with integrity, therefore, acts with independence,
propriety, fidelity, competence and diligence, equality and
accountability.” Preamble, Code of Professional Responsibility and
Accountability
Guided by these six core values, a lawyer, upon entering the legal
profession, swears that:
1. Accepts the honor, privilege, duty, and responsibility of practicing law
in the Philippines as an officer of the court, in the interest of our
people.
2. Declares fealty to the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
and shall work towards promoting the rule of law in a regime of truth,
justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.
3. Shall conscientiously and courageously work for justice as well as
safeguard the rights and meaningful freedoms of all persons,
identities, and communities.
4. Shall ensure greater and equitable access to justice.
5. Shall do no falsehood nor shall he or she pervert the law to unjustly
favor or prejudice anyone
6. Shall faithfully discharge these duties and responsibilities to the best
of his or her ability, with integrity and utmost civility
In doing these obligations, a lawyer must act according to the CPRA.
Operating principally with these values, the updating of the Code of
Professional Responsibility is an innovation to direct the legal profession to
remain true to their calling in maintaining the rule of law and administering
justice.
(pa-add and revise po.. ang mema ko here. wala nako maisip HELP T_T…)
