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7/27/2019 IBP NOTAAFES

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INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES

(From 139-A and IBP By Laws)

HISTORY/ DATES TO REMEMBER

1928 - The integration of the Bar was the culmination ofefforts exerted by far-sighted leaders of the

profession dating back to the year 1928. It

was accomplished not by arbitrary or

unwanted imposition from above but by the

vote of the overwhelming majority of the

legal profession throughout the Philippines

who urged the Supreme Court to ordain it.

Indeed, it had long been felt that without

their official unification the lawyers were

bound to remain disassociated andfragmented, bereft of the force of unity

needed to propel the Bar to loftier heights

than the voluntary Bar associations which had

remained mostly social aggrupations.

October 5, 1970 - The IBP came into being when the

Supreme Court created it. The Commission on

Bar Integration was tasked not only to

ascertain the advisability of integration of the

Bar, but even more, to serve as a common

vehicle of the Court and the Bar in fashioning

a blueprint for integration and putting the

same into actual operation.

The Commission was headed by Supreme

Court Associate Justice (later Chief Justice)

Fred Ruiz Castro. The members were Jose J.

Roy, Conrado V. Sanchez, Salvador V.

Esguerra, Crisolito S. Pascual, Tecla San

Andres Ziga and Feliciano Jover Ledesma.

September 17, 1971 - Republic Act No. 6397 became

effective. It confirmed the power of the

Supreme Court to adopt rules of court to

effect the integration of the Philippine Bar.

Republic Act No. 6397 was approved

providing funds for the integration of the

Philippine bar, which by then was composed

of nearly a hundred voluntary ba

associations and lawyers groups.

January 9, 1973 - the Supreme Court, by a per curiam

resolution, pursuant to its constitutiona

mandate, ordained the integration of the Ba

in accordance with its Rule 139-A.

January 16, 1973 - the integration of the Bar in

accordance with its Rule 139-A became

effective. Within the next succeeding months

the IBP was organized.

February 17, 1973 - local chapters all over the country

were finally formed and elections for chapte

officers were held.

March 17, 1973 - the first batch of representatives to the

IBP House of Delegates composed of 104

delegates representing all the original 78 IBP

Chapters, convened in Manila and elected

nine IBP governors: Melanio T. Singson

(Northern Luzon), Vicente D. Millora (Centra

Luzon), Ponciano M. Mortera (Greate

Manila), Raul I. Goco (Southern Luzon), Tecla

San Andres Ziga (Bicolandia), Pablo P. Garcia

(Eastern Visayas), Amado A. Parreo, Jr

(Western Visayas), Manuel M. Garcia (Eastern

Mindanao) and Liliano B. Neri (Western

Mindanao). In the next few days, the

governors-elect chose retired Supreme Cour

Justice Jose B.L. Reyes as IBP President, and

Governor Liliano B. Neri as IBP Executive Vice

President.

May 4, 1973 - Presidential Decree. No. 181 was

promulgated, constituting the IBP into a body


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corporate and providing government

assistance thereto for the accomplishment of

its purposes. Invoking his rule-making power

under martial law, Marcos himself issued

Presidential Decree No. 181 constituting the

IBP as a corporate body.

November 1, 1974 By Laws of the Integrated Bar of the

Philippines take effect.

June 1, 1988 IBP Rule 139-B, Disbarment and Discipline

of Attorneys takes effect.

IBP AS AN ORGANIZATION

It is an official organization - and by official wemean that it is established by the State. Republic

Act No. 6397 confirmed the power of the Supreme

Court to adopt rules of court to effect the

integration of the Philippine Bar.

IBP is an essentially private (or non-governmental)organization. It is not an agency of the Government.

For one thing, the lawyers, who are its members,

are private individuals. For another, the funding is

derived essentially from their membership dues. It

cannot be denied that IBP exists to perform certain

vital public functions and to assist the Government

particularly in the improvement of the

administration of justice, the upgrading of the

standards of the legal profession, and its proper

regulation. Moreover, financial assistance is

extended to it by the Government itself. Lawyers

are officers of the court, and it is this common

aspect of their varied personalities that provides the

IBP with its bond of unity. IBP is a semi-

governmental entity; a private organization

endowed with certain governmental attributes.

The Integrated Bar is strictly non-political, and everyactivity tending to impair this basic feature is strictly

prohibited and shall be penalized accordingly. No

lawyer holding an elective, judicial, quasi-judicial, o

prosecutory office in the Government or any

political subdivision or instrumentality thereof shal

be eligible for election or appointment to any

position in the Integrated Bar or any Chapte

thereof. A Delegate, Governor, officer or employee

of the Integrated Bar, or an officer or employee oany Chapter thereof shall be considered ipso facto

resigned from his position as of the moment he file

his certificate of candidacy for any elective public

office or accepts appointment to any judicial, quasi

judicial, or prosecutory office in the Government o

any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

(-Sec.4, By Laws of IBP)

MEMBERS

The IBP is composed of all Philippine attorneys nownumbering about 50,000. All persons whose names

appear in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme

Court (having qualified for and passed the Ba

examinations and taken their attorneys oath

unless otherwise disbarred) are members of the

IBP.

If any such person does not agree to join the

organization and regulations (such as payments o

annual membership dues, now fixed at P1,000), he

does not become, or he ceases to be, an IBP

member, and at the same time his name is removed

from the Roll of Attorneys. The effect of the

removal is that he ceases to be an attorney. He

loses the privilege to practice law in the Philippines.

Membership in the IBP is compulsory for all lawyers

in the country. The Philippine Supreme Court has

required all lawyers to indicate their Roll of

Attorneys Number in all papers and pleadings filed

in judicial and quasi-judicial bodies in additional to

the previously required current Professional Tax

Receipt (PTR) and IBP Official Receipt or Life

Member Number.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Supreme_Courthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Supreme_Court


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The following persons are, automatically andwithout exception, members of the Integrated Bar

of the Philippines:

1. All lawyers whose names were in the Roll ofAttorneys of the Supreme Court on January

16, 1973

2. All lawyers whose names were included orare entered therein after the said date.(-Sec.18, By Laws of IBP)

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Membership dues Every member of the Integrated Bar

shall pay such annual dues as the Board of

Governors shall determine with the approval of the

Supreme Court. A fixed sum equivalent to ten

percent (10%) of the collection from each Chapter

shall be set aside as a Welfare Fund for disabled

members of the Chapter and the compulsory heirs

of deceased members thereof.

Effect of non-payment of dues Subject to the

provisions of Section 12 of this Rule, default in the

payment of annual dues for six months shallwarrant suspension of membership in the

Integrated Bar, and default in such payment for one

year shall be a ground for the removal of the name

of the delinquent member from the Roll of

Attorneys.

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF IBP

General Objectives:

1. To elevate the standards of the legal profession.2. To improve the administration of justice.3. To enable the Bar to discharge its public

responsibility more effectively.


Purposes of IBP:

1. Assist in the administration of justice.

2. Foster and maintain on the part of its memberhigh ideals of integrity, learning, professiona

competence, public service and conduct.

3. Safeguard the professional interest of itmembers.

4. Cultivate among its members a spirit of cordialityand brotherhood.

5. Provide a forum for the discussion of lawjurisprudence, law reform, pleading, practice and

procedure, and the relations of the Bar to the

Bench and to the public, and publish information

relating thereto.

6. Encourage and foster legal education.7. Promote a continuing program of legal research

in substantive and adjective law, and make

reports and recommendations thereon.


POWERS, PREROGATIVES, FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND

RESPONSIBILITIES

The powers, prerogatives, functions, duties andresponsibilities of the Integrated Bar, its Chapter

and other agencies, its officers and committees

national and local, its commissions, and its

members, are as provided by law, the Integration

Rule, Presidential Decree No. 181, these By-Laws

and pertinent rules and regulations.

Inter alia, the Integrated Bar shall have perpetuasuccession and shall have all legal powers

appertaining to a juridical person, particularly the

power to sue and be sued; to contract and to be

contracted with; to hold real and personal property

as may be necessary for corporate purposes; to

mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey and

otherwise dispose of the same; to solicit and

receive public and private donations and

contributions; to accept and receive real and

personal property by gift, devise or bequest; to levy

and collect membership dues and specia

assessments from its members; to adopt a seal and

to alter the same at pleasure; to have offices and

conduct its affairs in the Greater Manila Area and

elsewhere; to make and adopt by-laws, rules and


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regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the

Philippines or the Rules of Court, particularly the

Integration Rule; and generally to do all such acts

and things as may be necessary or proper to carry

into effect and promote the objectives and

purposes for which it was organized.


NATIONAL OFFICE

The national office of the Integrated Bar shall bein the Greater Manila Area.


IBP Building, No.15 Julia Vargas Avenue OrtigasCenter, Pasig City, Philippines 1600.

OFFICERS TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office of all elective officers, national and

local, shall be two years. In no case may any member be

elected to the same office for two consecutive terms.

The prohibition against re-election shall not apply to the

position of Treasurer of the Chapter. (As amended

pursuant to Bar Matter No. 668)


CHAPTERS

The fundamental objective of the Chapter shall be to

administer the affairs of the Integrated Bar within its

territorial jurisdiction, under the general direction and

supervision of the Board of Governors, with the end in

view of elevating the standards of the legal profession,

improving the administration of justice, enabling the Bar

to discharge its public responsibility more effectively,

and carrying out the purposes specified in the per curiam

Resolution of the Supreme Court dated January 9, 1973

ordaining the integration in Section 2 (objectives and

purposes) of the By-Laws of the Integrated Bar.

Chapters. A Chapter of the Integrated Bar shall be

organized in every province existing on the

date of the effectivity of the Integration Rule

Except as hereinbelow provided, every city

shall be considered part of the province within

which it was geographically situated prior to its

creation as a city. A separate chapter shall be

organized in each of the following politica

subdivisions or areas:

(a) The sub-province of Aurora;

(b) Each congressional district of the City o

Manila existing on the date of the

effectivity of the Integration Rule;

(c) Quezon City;

(d) Caloocan City, Malabon and Navotas;

(e) Pasay City, Makati, Mandaluyong and

San Juan del Monte;

(f) Cebu City; and

(g) Zamboanga City, Basilan City, andBasilan Province.

The Board of Governors shall reorganize the various

Chapters of cities and provinces, by division or merger

to the end that, as far as practicable, no chapter shal

have more than one thousand nor less than five hundred

members, beginning with the fiscal year 1977-1978

The Board shall study the feasibility of organizing

Chapters in new provinces.


OFFICERS OF IBP AND DUTIES (CHAPTERS)

1. President - shall be the chief executive of theChapter. He shall preside at all Chapter meetings

and at all meetings of the Board of Officers


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2. Executive Vice President shall perform theduties of the President during the absence or

inability of the latter to act, and such other

duties as may be assigned to him by the

President and the Board.

3. Secretary - shall attend all meetings of the Boardof Officers and keep a record of all the

proceedings thereof; prepare and maintain a

membership roll of the Chapter and keep all the

records thereof; prepare official ballots for all

election; and perform such other duties as may

be assigned to him by the President and the

Board.

4. Treasurer - shall receive, collect and safely keep,under the direction of the Board of Governors

and the Board of Officers, all funds of the

Chapter; promptly remit to the national office

the latters share of the dues and assessments

under Section 23 (Membership Dues) of the By-

Laws of the Integrated Bar; keep proper books of

accounts and render reports of receipts and

disbursements as may be required; and perform

such other duties as may be assigned to him by

the President and the Board. He shall furnish a

bond at the expense of the Chapter, in such

amount as may be required by the Board of

Governors.

All disbursements shall be made over the

signature of the Treasurer, countersigned by the

President or, in his absence, by the Vice

President.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Composition - The Integrated Bar shall have a House of

Delegates composed of not more than one

hundred and twenty members apportioned

among all the Chapters. On or before December

31, 1974, and every two years thereafter, the

Board of Governors shall make a reapportionment

of Delegates among all the Chapters as nearly as

may be according to the number of thei

respective members, but each Chapter shall have

at least one Delegate.

Membership - The membership of the House of shal

consist of all the Chapter Presidents of the

Chapters entitled to more than one Delegate

each, the Vice Presidents of the Chapters and

such additional Delegates as the Chapters are

entitled to. Unless the Vice President is already a

Delegate, he shall be an alternate Delegate

Additional Delegates and alternates shall in

proper cases be elected by the Board of Officer

of the Chapter. Members of the Board o

Governors who are not Delegates shall be

members ex officio of the House, without the

right to vote.

Duties of Delegates - the Delegates shall attend every

convention of the House, promote the work of the

convention, and make reports of the proceeding

thereof to their respective Chapters.

The House shall hold an annual convention at the call o

the Board of Governors at any time during the month o

April of each year for the election of Governors, the

reading and discussion of reports including the annuareport of the Board of Governors, the transaction of such

other business as may be referred to it by the Board and

the consideration of such additional matters as may be

requested in writing by at least twenty Delegates. Specia

conventions of the House may be called by the Board o

Governors to consider only such matters as the Board

shall indicate. A majority of the Delegates who have

registered for a convention, whether annual or special

shall constitute a quorum to do business.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Composition - The Integrated Bar of the Philippines shal

be governed by a Board of Governors consisting o

nine (9) Governors from the (9) regions as

delineated in Section 3 of the Integration Rule, on

the representation basis of one (1) Governor fo

each region to be elected by the members of the


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House of Delegates from the region only. The

position of Governor should be rotated among the

different Chapters in the Region. (As amended

pursuant to Bar Matter 491)

Term of office - The Governors shall hold office for a

term oftwo years from July 1 immediately following

their election to June 30 of their second year in

office and until their successors shall have been

duly chosen and qualified.

Functions of the Board - The Board of Governors shall

have general charge of the affairs and activities of

the Integrated Bar. It shall have authority, inter alia,

to:

(a) Fix the date, time and place of every conventionof the House of Delegates, subject to the

provisions of Section 33 (Annual convention)and 34 (Special conventions);

(b) Make appropriations and authorizedisbursements from the funds of the Integrated

Bar, subject to the provisions of Sections 14 of

the Integration Rule and Section 5 (Positions

honorary) of these By-Laws;

(c) Engage the services of employees, define theirduties and fix their compensation;

(d) Receive, consider and act on reports and

recommendations submitted by the House of

Delegates or its committees;

(e) Provide for the publication of the Journal of the

Integrated bar;

(f) Administer the Welfare Fund in accordance with

such rules and regulations as it may promulgate;

(g) Fill vacancies, however arising, in the positions

of officers of the Integrated Bar, subject to the

provisions of Sec. 8 of the Integration Rule, and

Section 11 (Vacancies), Section 44 (Removal of

members), Section 47 (National officers), Section 48

(Other officers), and Section 49 (Terms of Office) o

these By-Laws;

(h) Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court

promulgate Canons of Professional Responsibility

for all members of the Integrated Bar;

(i) Promulgate rules and regulations for the

establishment and maintenance of lawyer referra

services throughout the Philippines;

(j) Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court

impose special assessments for specific nationa

purposes, and impose, or recommend in prope

cases to the Court the imposition of, sanctions fonon-payment or delinquency in the paymen

thereof;

(k) Prescribe such rules and regulations as may be

necessary and proper to carry out the objectives

and purposes of the Integrated Bar as well as the

provisions of the Integration Rule and Presidentia

Decree No. 181; and

(i) Perform such other functions as may be

necessary or expedient in the interest of the

Integrated Bar.

NATIONAL OFFICERS

National Officers. - The Integrated Bar of the Philippines

shall have a President and Executive Vice Presiden

to be chosen by the Board of Governors from

among nine (9) regional governors, as much as

practicable, on a rotation basis. The governors shal

be ex officio Vice President for their respective

regions. There shall also be a Secretary and

Treasurer of the Board of Governors to be

appointed by the President with the consent of the

Board. (As amended pursuant to Bar Matter 491).


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The Executive Vice President shall automatically

become President for the next succeeding term.

The Presidency shall rotate among the nine Regions.

NATIONAL COMMITTEES

The Board of Governors shall establish and maintainstanding national committees. Until otherwise changed,

modified or redefined by the Board, the respective

names, powers, prerogatives, functions, duties and

responsibilities of the standing committees shall be as

set forth in this Article. The Board shall have authority to

create additional standing committees and special

committees, and to define their respective powers,

prerogatives, functions, duties and responsibilities.

Every committee shall submit an annual report to the

President, but the Board may at any time require anycommittee to submit a special report.

Membership of committees - Each national committee

shall consist of such number of members as may be fixed

by the Board of Governors. They shall be appointed by

the President with the consent of the Board, and shall

serve for a term of two years, and until their respective

successors shall have been duly appointed and qualified.

The chairman of each committee shall be designated by

the President.

Three consecutive absences of any member from

committee meetings without justifiable excuse shall be a

ground for the President to appoint his replacement.

Committees:

1. Committee on Chapter Affairs2. Committee on Legal Aid3. Committee on Administration of Justice4. Committee on Legal Education and Bar

Admissions

5. Committee on Professional Responsibility,Discipline and Disbarment

6. Committee on Research Services7. Committee on Legislation

8. Committee on Public Service9. Committee on Inter-Professional and Busines

Relations

10.Committee on Books and Publications11.Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law12.Committee on Law Reporting

FISCAL CONTROL

Fiscal Year. The Integrated Bar shall operate on fisca

year beginning on January 1 and ending on

December 31 of each year. (As amended pursuan

to Bar Matter No. 668)

JOURNAL

Journal of the Integrated Bar. The Board of Governors

shall cause to be published a quarterly Journal

and to this end shall be assisted by a board o

editorial consultants, and members of which shal

be appointed by the President, with the consen

of the Board. The editorial consultants shall hold

office at the pleasure of the Board

Every member of the Integrated Bar is entitled to

receive a free copy of every issue of the Journal.

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