respect the senator, respect the institution

"A king as such a respect is due can never be lambasted inside his own palace" -rlpv

To many, the action of Atty. Aguirre was perhaps a sign of courage, an act of audacity and bravery. To members of the legal profession, his action is a huge disappointment and a big mistake.

As a student of law, many times have we been reminded to ALWAYS respect the court, give the court the due respect it deserves. It has been a long-standing principle which instructs the members of the legal profession to RESPECT the court and the judges.

Respect perhaps is one word quite difficult to fathom as different people perceive the term itself differently. As in the case of the legal realm, we know what the word means. We know it too well.

In this case, perhaps what's missing in translation is the part that each party played, @senmiriam as senator-judge and atty. Aguirre as a lawyer and a part of the prosecution. Unlike how laymen perceive it, a lawyer is bound by a code of conduct. A code to be obeyed. In this picture, Sen. Santiago rightfully earned the respect due her and none of it was imposed. The members of the bar should respect the court and the judges regardless of any utterance made.

Even Atty. Adel Tamano was very much frustrated with the outright attack that he saw. And I quote him, "As a member of the bar...Respect the Senator, Respect the Institution..."

The point here ladies and gentlemen is not Respect per se but respect as it is demanded as required by the circumstances.

And as such, to all the Senator-Judges, it is but rightful that the erring lawyer be cited for contempt.

P.S.
My congrats to my friends who are now ATTY.s
Atty Chris Lao
Atty Jen Robino
Atty RS Bassig
Atty Jenn De Joya
Atty Kat Dominguez
Atty Lori Agas
Atty Castles Navarro
Atty Joan Paguio
And to those who I may have missed...