By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen challenged a new generation of Filipino lawyers to become defenders of justice rather than mere practitioners of the law, warning against complacency, blind reliance on technology, and the acceptance of an unjust status quo.
Speaking during the 71st Commencement Exercises of Saint Louis University (SLU) on June 30 in Baguio City, where he was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, Leonen urged graduates to cultivate what educator Paulo Freire described as “critical consciousness”—the courage to question existing systems and stand with those who are marginalized.
“Choose to do justice, not only to do law,” Leonen told the graduates.
Leonen emphasized that the law is a powerful instrument that can either protect freedoms or reinforce injustice.
He distinguished the rule of law, which is anchored on justice, from the rule by law, where legal mechanisms merely serve those already in power.
“The most efficient injustices in history were perfectly legal,” he reminded graduates, citing historical examples of oppression and discrimination carried out under the guise of legality.
The senior magistrate identified four modern forces that weaken society’s ability to make just decisions:
Social media and digital algorithms, which reward quick reactions instead of thoughtful understanding.
Artificial Intelligence, which should be mastered responsibly but never allowed to replace human judgment.
Convenience, which can desensitize society to injustice and discourage difficult but necessary action.
Greed and the pursuit of endless wealth, which he described as one of the roots of corruption.
Leonen cautioned that while AI can assist in legal work, “it cannot do justice because justice is not a computation.”
He stressed that human accountability must remain at the center of every decision affecting another person’s life.
Highlighting the Judiciary’s digital transformation, Leonen cited the use of remote technology in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, where online court proceedings now allow residents to seek justice without costly travel.
He described this as a concrete example of making justice accessible to ordinary Filipinos.
The magistrate also urged graduates to resist the culture of superficial reading fostered by social media.
Instead, he encouraged them to read deeply, write by hand on important matters, and remember that literacy carries a responsibility to help those who have been deprived of educational opportunities.
He noted that millions of Filipinos still struggle with functional literacy, making access to education and justice inseparable national concerns.
Closing his address, Leonen encouraged graduates to protect the “pause before judgment”—the moment of careful reflection that separates justice from mere legal procedure.
He called on future lawyers to defend the poor, challenge injustice, and reject indifference.
“Choose, every single day, to liberate. Choose to do justice, not only to do law. Protect those who have less. Be brave enough to see,” Leonen said.
He ended with a message in Filipino that drew applause from the audience:
The speech underscored Leonen’s long-standing advocacy for human rights, judicial innovation, and equal access to justice, as he urged the country’s future lawyers to become agents of reform rather than guardians of the status quo.
ia/xf
