ATTY. FORTUN THE SPOKESMAN GIVES UP ON CEDRIC LEE

Attorney Raymond Fortun, the embattled spokesman of Cedric Lee, has resigned after almost two weeks of defending his client in trimedia. He cited two reasons why he gave up on Cedric Lee: 1) Filipinos are not yet ready to accept some legal concepts as shown by their inability to "temper their emotions". He blamed this on the "inaccurate reportage and the unprofessional actions of certain law enforcement agencies" and 2) Cedric's breach of their agreement that only Atty. Fortun will speak to the media. 

Below is the transcript of his resignation letter.  

Dear Cedric,

I had been engaged as your spokesman with the objective of being the media’s contact person in all legal as well as factual issues as may be consistent with the thrust of your legal counsels. In this regard, I had faithfully complied with this mandate for the past 12 days, even at peril to my own reputation as a lawyer.

Together with this mandate was an agreement that no statements shall by (sic) anybody from your group without the consent/approval of your counsels and/or spokesman. This has been breached last night.

My personal desire to help you notwithstanding the adverse publicity that you have been receiving is precisely to educate the public on the need to temper their emotions in light of your Constitutional rights to due process, to counsel of your choice, to present a valid and lawful defense, and to confront your accusers in the proper legal setting.

The past several days had made me realize that this country is NOT YET READY to accept these legal concepts, to which I squarely lay the blame on inaccurate reportage and the unprofessional actions of certain law enforcement agencies. That being the case and for the earlier reason mentioned, and in light of my inability to perform the functions for which I was hired, I regret that I must resign as your spokesman effective immediately.

Nonetheless, and in light of the lessons I have learned during my short stint as your spokesman, I will henceforth be devoting some of my time to: (i) ask congressmen to enact legislation so that ALL PERSONS who MAY be facing criminal prosecution be duly informed of their rights (e.g. to remain silent, to the presence of a lawyer etc.) before they are interviewed by TV networks. People accused of crimes also have rights which need to be protected against media frenzy and unfair pre-judgments; and (ii) ask the Supreme Court to resolve the issues in respect of the Constitutionality of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, in order to address the matter of cyber-libels against Filipino citizens. People do have the right to express their opinions about issues, but such freedom does not grant a license to bully, hurl invectives or otherwise destroy one’s reputation without factual basis.

I wish you all the best in your case, and may justice prevail.

Very truly yours,

Raymond Fortun

First point, on the reasons that led to his resignation. If Cedric Lee did not breach their agreement as spokesman-client last night, I don't think Atty. Fortun will resign despite his observation that the public is adverse towards Cedric. In my humble opinion, Cedric, who lacks self-restraint, broke their agreement and Atty. Fortun was displeased so he resigned. To blame the public is too much.

In the first place, he decided to accept Cedric as a client when a psychologist was interviewed on tv and interpreted the body language of Cedric. It was not the public's attitude that made him take on the job of a spokesperson. It was, according to him, that "Buzz ng Bayan" segment that made him side with Cedric.

Second point, on this part of his resignation letter: "My personal desire to help you ... is precisely to educate the public on the need to temper their emotions in light of your Constitutional rights to due process, to counsel of your choice, to present a valid and lawful defense, and to confront your accusers in the proper legal setting."  

In my humble opinion, Atty. Fortun has been educating the public on matters of the law, even without serving as the spokesman of some accused persons. Remember his lengthy explanation of Manny Pacquiao's tax problem? We were educated on taxation and on the liabilities of Manny Pacquiao. Many of us understood the case because Attorney Fortun, the lawyer-teacher, not Manny's spokesperson, enlightened us. So I think the good attorney need no further rationalization- that he wanted to help Cedric "to educate the public on the need to temper their emotions". It is simple. Cedric needed his services and he willingly obliged. 

Incidentally, who remembers Atty. Fortun's statement on the kissing scene at the elevator? He said that Cedric and Deniece are not an item. They were not mag-syota. Unfortunately, the public and the attorney have differing opinion. Isn't it that some Filipinos can tell who are mag-syota and who are not sans law degree? His defense of Cedric's kiss was even construed as an attempt to mislead the public. If his explanation was an attempt to educate the public, then he failed as a teacher.

Third and last point, on this part of his statement: "The past several days had made me realize that this country is NOT YET READY to accept these legal concepts, to which I squarely lay the blame on inaccurate reportage and the unprofessional actions of certain law enforcement agencies."

Too late a realization. Didn't he realize this when he defended Erap during the impeachment trial many years ago which led to EDSA Revolution v.2? 

I hope Atty. Fortun will push through with his post-Cedric plans. I agree with Atty. Fortun that "People do have the right to express their opinions about issues, but such freedom does not grant a license to bully, hurl invectives or otherwise destroy one’s reputation without factual basis." I know that even Atty. Fortun was not spared from cyberbullying since he took on the role of Cedric's spokesman. There are many more victims of cyberbullying out there so this is important for everyone. 

So how will Atty. Fortun's resignation affect Cedric? This case has become even more interesting. Or less interesting? What do you think?