Lawyer Carlo Ybanez said that as a member of the Bar, Vice President Sara Duterte has a duty to respect the court and its authority, and she could face disbarment for saying she does not trust it.
Ybanez was referring to Duterte’s statement on Saturday that she does not trust the police or the court, uttering the words as she initially balked at entering the Quezon City Regional Trial Court building to post bail in her grave threats case.
“Wala akong tiwala sa police. Wala nga akong tiwala sa korte. I do not feel safe at all,” she said.
But she eventually entered the building after asking that she be accompanied by the media.
Ybanez said that Duterte, a lawyer, cannot say she does not trust the court.
“Napakabigat na pahayag niyan lalo na dahil abogado siya at mataas na opisyal ng gobyerno,” he said in a Facebook post.
He said it is clear in the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability that lawyers have an obligation to respect the court and the judicial process.
Lawyers are not supposed to do or say anything that undermines the authority of the court, he said.
Duterte cannot use her power and influence to erode the public’s trust in the judiciary, he added.
“Madami nang abugadong na-disbar dahil sinisira nila ang tiwala ng tao sa court. At pwede talagang madisbar si VP Sara dahil sa public statement niyang yan,” he said.
Duterte came to the Quezon City RTC to post bail after she was ordered arrested in her grave threats case. She was charged over her statement that she told somebody to kill the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker if she were killed.