MANILA, Philippines — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) appealed to lawyers to uphold respect for women following sexist remarks made by a lawmaker during a congressional hearing. It maintained that “disrespect, bias or discrimination against women contradicts the foundation of legal ethics and weakens public trust in the profession.”“A lawyer who does not respect women undermines the basic principles of equality and fairness that the law promotes,” it added. “As we commemorate International Women’s Month, lawyers are more expected, in this trying time when violence against women has become increasingly prevalent, to take more action to fight all forms of injustice against women and other vulnerable sectors of society,” the IBP said. In a Monday interview with “Storycon” on One News, IBP president Allan Panolong said the organization has the power to initiate motu proprio proceedings against members of the Bar. “The IBP has this motu proprio power to initiate and investigate an erring member of the Bar whose conduct is unbecoming of a member of the Bar,” Panolong said.

Source: Philippine Star March 09, 2026 16:07 UTC