Disbarment complaint filed vs Duterte

Families of victims of extrajudicial killings and advocates of human rights have urged the Supreme Court (SC) to revoke former president Rodrigo Duterte's license to practice law, arguing that he has violated the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability and engaged in conduct unbecoming of a lawyer.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

The complainants, led by the rights group Karapatan, filed a disbarment complaint against Duterte before the SC on Jan. 17.

One of the complainants, lawyer Vicente Jaime Topacio, cited the remarks Duterte made throughout his six-year presidency as evidence that he is unfit to practice law.

"Our whole nation witnessed how he uttered profanities and offensive words, insulted our women, made shortcuts and ignored the process and killed people. This does not have a place in our laws," he told reporters in Filipino.

Duterte's remarks before the House quad committee, which is investigating alleged human rights violations during his administration, should also be brought before the SC, Topacio said.