Atty. Manases Carpio
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The law firm of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio and son-in-law lawyer Manases Carpio has opened a Cebu office.
Mayor Duterte-Carpio is a partner in the law firm but she is presently on leave from the firm since, as a mayor, she could not practice her profession.
Lawyer Carpio, speaking to CDN Digital on Tuesday, February 12, said the setting up of the Carpio Duterte Lawyers in Cebu had nothing to do with politics.
He clarified that they decided to come to Cebu because their law firm has many clients from Cebu and other areas in the Visayas.
In the past, Carpio said, clients have to go to Davao or their office in Manila, so putting up the Cebu office would be convenient for them.
He revealed that they planned to open a Cebu office last year but the plan was implemented only this year.
Carpio admitted some of their clients appear to have interest in politics. But the firm is not going to handle political cases.
“If feeling ninyo lalapit kayo sa akin just to get close to (Mayor) Sara, pasensiyahan tayo. I’m not a political person,” he stressed.
He said it would be difficult to mix politics and legal cases and having his wife in politics would be enough.
Carpio maintained that he’s more inclined to the legal profession because both his parents are lawyers.
“If they need legal advice or legal consultation, our office in the second floor of City Times Square 2 in Mandaue City,” he urged prospective clients.
Carpio explained that their specialization is family law like annulment, nullity of marriage, adoption and custody cases as well as labor and corporate cases.
Carpio added that they veer away from criminal cases, especially drug-related cases.
“I told my associates we never accept drug cases and rape, unless (the charge is) fabricated or without basis.”
The law firm has two Cebu-based associates, lawyers Goldy Dacal-Mayol and Nikko Jay Gagno./elb