Marcos urged lawyers to protect human dignity in the face of increasing challenges from the digital age, including cybercrime, data privacy issues, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Marcos tells lawyers: Uphold truth, dignity in digital age
At a glance
President Marcos has urged the country's lawyers to act as "agents of justice" by upholding truth, fairness, and dignity in the face of challenges brought about by technological innovations.

Marcos said this as he graced the 20th National Convention of Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Cebu City on Thursday morning, Jan. 30.
In his speech, the President reminded the lawyers to uphold the highest professional standards and embrace the ideals of integrity and service.
"As members of the legal community, you are in the most fitting position to safeguard that Constitution—that living document that embodies our collective aspirations and that binds us together as a people," he said.
"The law must serve all Filipinos—not just a privileged few. Justice must find its way to the margins, where it is most needed—reaching the underserved, the unseen, [and] the unheard," he added.
Marcos likewise urged lawyers to protect human dignity in the face of increasing challenges from the digital age, including cybercrime, data privacy issues, and artificial intelligence (AI).
"The emergence of issues such as cybercrime, data privacy, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence presents not only technical dilemmas but moral ones as well," he said.
"Therefore they demand our continued commitment to protect human dignity in an increasingly digital world," he added.
The Chief Executive said his administration remains committed to supporting lawyers by ensuring a legal system that is efficient, fair, and rooted in the rule of law.
"This Administration remains your partner in nurturing the environment where our lawyers excel—where justice is swift, where it is fair, where it is impartial, and where the rule of law remains the cornerstone of all progress," he said.
Meanwhile, he said the recent adoption of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability—a declaration that the highest ethical standards must guide every member of the legal community—was a big step forward.
The IBP, the official organization of all lawyers in the Philippines, convenes in Cebu City to reflect on its role in shaping the legal landscape and to welcome 3,962 new lawyers attending the convention.
Marcos lauded IBP's initiatives to improve its services, such as the Unified Legal Aid Service Rules, which require lawyers to render at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid to indigent Filipinos every three years.
He said the launch of additional SecureJustice Hubs in August 2022 and March 2023 has bridged the gap between marginalized communities and the justice they deserve while the digital Pro Bono Portal launched in April last year has redefined the delivery of legal aid and offered free courtroom representation, legal counseling, document preparation, and developmental legal assistance to the disadvantaged.
The President likewise noted that the IBP conducts Bench and Bar Dialogues, a collaboration among judges, justices, prosecutors, and practicing lawyers that enhances the legal processes.
"By embracing technology and championing alternative dispute resolution, the IBP has ensured that fairness and efficiency in legal remedies are accessible to all Filipinos," he said.