18/01/2026
IBP QUIRINO Attends the IBP National Legal Aid Summit 2026
New Year, New Learnings-
Nothing is truer than this mantra for the four (4) lawyers who became the IBP Quirino representatives in the highly anticipated IBP National Legal Aid Summit 2026 which was held in Paradise Garden Hotel, Boracay Island last January 15-17, 2026.
The IBP Quirino President, Atty. Roldan Ubando, headed the group of lawyers as they actively participated in the IBP National Legal Aid Summit. With him, are the following IBP Quirino lawyers, IBP Quirino Vice President Atty. Sherwin Pinalgan, the current P.R.O. of IBP Quirino , Atty. Denver Padrigo and the former IBP Governor of Northern Luzon, Atty. Edwin O. Betguen. Also with them is the hardworking Clerk of the IBP Quirino, Ms. Catherine Cayaban.
With the theme, "Bridging sectors and Advancing Justice: A Holistic Approach to Legal Aid," Atty. Pitero M. Reig, the National Director for Legal Aid, welcomed all the participants by stating that, "Our direction is toward strengthening structures, aligning partners, and ensuring that legal assistance is delivered with consistency, dignity and national reach."
The National President and Chairperson of the 27th Board of Governors, ATTY. ALLAN G. PANOLONG enunciated that, "Legal Aid is not an optional charity; it is a professional duty rooted in our oath and public trust."
During the summit, resource speakers from different sectors come together as they extensively discussed the importance of Legal Aid in the community, in the government and in our society.
Some of the speakers and moderators in the said event are the following: Atty. Karl Castillo, Member of the ULAS Interim Board and Atty. Rommel Abitria, Senior Program Officer, FAIR Justice Program and Atty. Vincent Cruz, Deputy Director for NCLA, Dir. Geraldine C. Mendez, Labor Attache of Department of Migrant Workers, Judge Marivic Trabajo-Daray (Ret.), Atty. Burt Estrada. Atty. Michael Francis Hubahib.
The National Legal Aid Summit was also joined by the following key speakers: Atty. Keisha Alyssa R. Brillo, Chief, PDL Documents and Processing Division, CO1 Tricia Mae M. Gonzales from Bureau of Corrections, JO3. (Atty.) Rona A. Mestiola, Chief of the National Paralegal Section, Directorate for Welfare and Development from Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Hon. Ysnaira Ibrahim, ACP Chris Jark Ace Maño, Ms. Mojaira Dela Cruz and ASP Joan Carla V. Guevarra, DOJAC.
The three-day summit ended through a meaningful and insightful discussion of the plans and possible legal strategies for the Legal aid in their respective IBP chapters.