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(Updated 2:46 p.m.) DAVAO CITY - Speaking before lawyers all over the country, Senator Edgardo Angara said it was about time that the Philippines opens its doors to foreign law practitioners.
In his speech delivered before members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) here, Angara said the Supreme Court should revise the Rules of Court to allow foreign lawyers to do limited practice in the country.
"Ang message ko, you've got to change like the rest of the world. The Philippines is the only country in Asia which does not allow foreign lawyers to practice here," he said.
He explained that the current policy of only allowing Filipino lawyers to practice in the country is preventing the Philippines from entering into tie-ups with foreign law schools and getting experts in mergers and acquisition.
"So we are definitely isolated because we are not internationalizing our legal practice. Unless we do that, we'll be missing out on the globalization and internalization of law practice," he said.
"There's so many things happening -- new ways of communicating, new ways of even charging fees on clients, new ways of expediting trial and litigation. Those things we will never be able to catch on unless we open up our doors to foreign lawyers," he added.
He likewise said that Filipino lawyers would not be at a disadvantage with the entry of foreign practitioners.
"Competition, in fact, improves service and makes everybody in the profession look good to the clients and to the public so we should not be afraid of competition. Filpino doctors natin [are] not afraid of [competition] Why should we lawyers be afraid of foreign lawyers?" he said.
"Whether we love it or not we've got to compete with our fellow Asians in two years' time, in 2015. We'll be like the European Union, we'll be an Asean economic community," he added.
Despite his pronouncements, however, Angara stressed that he will not be personally pushing for the proposal.
"I've done my part na, I've been president of the IBP long long time ago so let the new young leadership pick it up," he said. "I think the IBP will do a great service to the profession if they put together a proposal."
Similar requests
Similar requests
In a separate interview, IBP national president Roan Libarios said they have been receiving similar requests from foreign Bar organizations.
"We have some agreements with the international organizations to come up with a mutual stance. They have already done their part so we want also the Philippines to open up," Libarios said.
He stressed, however, that they will only support the participation of foreign lawyers in cases concerning foreign law in the country.
"The IBP is now advocating for a limited opening of practice to foreign lawyers here in the Philippines but at very limited and highly regulated rules," he said.
"They can practice if the case involves foreign law but not when the case involves domestic Philippine law...so practically the lawyers in the Philippines will not be affected because they would only be practicing foreign law in the Philippines," he added.
But he said that this will still be discussed by the IBP members, after which they will give a proposal to the Supreme Court. — RSJ, GMA News
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