Ligutan: Cebu lawyers can take on landmark legal battles

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Lawyers from Cebu can take on significant legal battles, but they must work hard, stay focused, and remain disciplined as they build their careers, according to Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan.

Ligutan, who previously practiced law in Cebu and is now part of the prosecution team in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, made the remarks during a lecture organized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter on Saturday, August 15.

He was invited to discuss “The Art of Cross-Examination” with newly admitted lawyers and other members of the IBP-Cebu Chapter, sharing insights on building a case and effectively handling cross-examination in legal proceedings.

Learning from experienced lawyers

Ligutan said activities like the IBP-Cebu session are important, particularly for budding lawyers and those engaged in solo practice.

He noted that lawyers working in large firms may have colleagues who can guide them throughout their careers, while solo practitioners may not have the same access to that kind of guidance.

For this reason, Ligutan said opportunities to listen to and learn from experienced practitioners can help lawyers gain insights that they can apply in their own practice.

“Naa man tay mga abogado nga siguro mga solo practitioner, no? Kay kung naa ka sa dako nga law firm, naay daghang makatabang nimo, that will guide you all the way. Pero naay mga ubang abogado nga siguro solo practice. Ganahan lang sila maminaw ug mga advice sa atong mga lawyers,” he said.

(We do have lawyers who are probably solo practitioners, right? Because if you are in a large law firm, there are many people who will help you and guide you all the way. But there are other lawyers who are probably in solo practice. They just want to listen to advice from our [fellow] lawyers.)

The session brought together both newly admitted lawyers and more experienced practitioners, according to Ligutan.

Ligutan: ‘Your time will come’

Reflecting on his own career, Ligutan said being a lawyer from Cebu should not prevent practitioners from eventually taking part in landmark legal battles.

“Posible jud nga usa ka bisdak nga abogado like me, posible jud nga we can raise og mga landmark nga legal battles, like the impeachment,” Ligutan said. (It’s really possible that a Bisdak lawyer like me, it’s really possible that we can raise landmark legal battles, like the impeachment.)

He then gave a straightforward reminder to the lawyers as they build their careers:

“Work hard, stay focused, be disciplined; your time will come.”///

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