News of the brutal killing hit me like a ton of bricks.
A lawyer was murdered in broad daylight. He died of multiple gunshot wounds. He was driving his pick-up truck alone, and while stopping at an intersection, he was gunned down by a stranger who, in all brazenness, did not even cover his face. I fear such ruthless murder reduces to a mere illusion the protective notion that lawyers are mere advocates, that they are only the mouthpieces of clients. I now dread the thought of people instinctively looking at a lawyer as complicit with whatever transgression his client is perceived to have committed. I don’t find any more humor in that Shakespearean line about killing all the lawyers.
The lawyer was Richard William Sison.
I had this image of the man: He’d probably made countless enemies in the course of his illustrious career as a trial lawyer; he is a warrior you wouldn’t want to cross swords with, especially in his preferred arena—the courtroom. Anecdotes of heated, at times humorous, courtroom face-offs often leaving his opponents chagrined and red-faced, would perhaps fill a hundred pages of your legal pad. He is all that and more—yet ironically—this image of him did not prepare me to take on this very sad, horrible event.
I had this other image of the man: He was a good father to his children. His commitment to Cebu’s foremost rescue team, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) speaks volumes about his unquestioned zeal at helping others. Away from the court, he was compassionate as he was passionate. He was misconceived, misread, and misjudged often by those who knew him barely. But measure the man by the loyalty and respect of those who knew him enough, certainly you will arrive at a fair and extraordinary estimation of the man.
He was my friend, godfather and mentor. He was the reason I resigned from a comfortable job in order to set out on an uncertain journey as a trial lawyer. He was unselfish in his tutelage. He was a brilliant lawyer. His work ethic is worth emulating. His contagious passion for the law and lawyering has steered me to a definite direction. Looking back, had there been no Richard W Sison, I most certainly would have been stucked with my calculator and live the life of a CPA and content myself with the title “Atty.” etched on a signage with my name.
Richard W Sison was one who wouldn’t turn his back on a fight. He faces and confronts but is never one who shoots in the back. He was a warrior, and he died in the hands of a coward. He will be remembered. He will be missed.
hi guene, again my deepest sympathies. I didn’t expect you’d chance upon this blog, and i’m glad you did. It seemed like it was only yesterday, though I got out from your dad’s firm seven years ago, but for some reasons i’m still connected with the firm. Not only because we are still collaborating on a case, but he really saw to it that I maintain an open line with him. He constantly asked me how my own law office is doing.
He is a great loss to the Bar. And I realize, now more than ever, how fortunate I was to have been associated with, and to learn the ropes of law practice from, your dad.
Posted by siu at May 26, 2008, 11:53 amWhat a nice blog you have there, Sir. Frankly, I really didn’t know Atty. Richard “Dick” William Sison , but based on what you have written in your blog, I believe that his demise is indeed a big lost in the legal profession.
It would have been better that he lived longer so that he could impart his knowledge and skills of the law to the neophytes of the legal profession, like me.
I’m looking forward towards reading more of your blogs, sir.
Posted by orville at May 27, 2008, 11:05 pmorville, thank you.
by neophyte you mean to have just passed the bar recently, right? in which case —congrats!
by the way, were you, by any chance, my student?
Posted by siu at May 28, 2008, 1:21 pmSir
I am TJ Percy, and I was once a volunteer of ERUF in Lapu-Lapu City. I was so shocked upon hearing the loss of “four-zero”. True enough, we lost a very good lawyer and a comrade in the EMS profession.
I just cannot imagine a good person with a passion for the improvement of the ambulance fire and rescue profession to be slain just like that…
Please extend my condolence to Gwen, Kathleen and Dino. I hope nakaila pa sila nako.
Timothy John Percy
Life Safety Officer
Safety and Events Risk Management
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
Tel: (02) 415-2272 loc 2912
cel: 0905-3425193
TJ Percy, his body was buried at noon today. He was given a military burial. He was a reservist with the rank of major of the Philippine Army.
If Guene would visit this blog, she might read your message. I will also convey your message the next chance i see her.
Posted by siu at May 29, 2008, 2:07 pmBai, I feel the same way as you do about RWS. He was also my mentor, ninong, batallion commander and a great friend. It was just an unfortunate and tragic event, which he didn’t deserve one bit.
I hope and pray he is at peace with the Lord right now. His memory and legacy will linger for all time.
We all miss him!
Posted by merlo at May 29, 2008, 3:21 pmMerl, i guess i have you to thank for. you encouraged me to join his firm. I was already considering it after i passed the bar–but how, as an associate then, you described this rare breed of a man–finally pushed me to make that crucial decision to get out from where i was and join atty. sison.
Posted by siu at May 29, 2008, 11:09 pmHello Sir. Yes, I was under you in Tax II. Do you remember Fair Lady Osorio? I was the one that she was always with. My Name is Orville dela Cerna. Probably you don’t remember me that much ‘coz I was always absent during my law years… Good thing I passed the bar… hehehe…
I’m still looking for a law firm to join now, Sir. Could you probably recommend me to some of your friends? hehehe…. well, nagbabakasakali lang, hehehe….
Posted by Orville at May 30, 2008, 1:53 amOrville, you can email me your CV or resume, no problem. Its always good to hear former students becoming my pañeros in the legal profession. It kinda makes me old, though.
Thank you sir. May I possibly have your email address, sir coz I could not see it in the main page of your site?
Just my two cents worth: It does not make you old, it just makes you more mature!
my email ad: atty_afsiu@yahoo.com
It is found on the sidebar of this webpage. You just probably missed it.
Posted by siu at May 30, 2008, 2:30 pmYah, I’ve noticed it just now, Sir. Thanks a lot.
I will be emailing to you my CV now.
Is there any updates sir as regards Atty. Sison’s death?
Posted by Orville at May 30, 2008, 5:57 pm“Are there” pala, not “Is there” - sorry for the grammar.
Posted by orville at May 30, 2008, 7:53 pmits been a month since his death, and i still cant get him out of my mind.. i respect and idolize him so much, that i cant even say his first name. 4-0 is wat we call him. and we always make it a point that each time we meet we greet him with our snappy salute even if we are not connected with the army.
he was my hero wen i took the june 2007 nursing board. i will never forget his words: “glenn, bahala nag 99% ang nahagbung sa board, basta sa 1% percent apil ka ana!”
i’ll miss his facial expression everytime his BP is within normal limits. i’ll miss the countless DVD shows we watched in his house; west side story, barry manilow, stylistics, spiral staircase, combat tactics, dean martin,… i’ll miss the sharings about our love lives, haha it was a very funny experience. i’ll miss the fud at night in base 2, i’ll miss his phrase: “guene, get them something to eat!” and he really knows our appetite so well. i’ll miss the singings during christmas… i’ll miss our endless story telling at night…
…(sigh) i cant even fill this blog with enough words of how i miss him….
he made me a better volunteer when i was in eruf, and he made me a better citizen outside.
“i salute you sir, thank you!”
glenniway, i guess many, me included, share your sentiment. thanks for commenting.
Posted by siu at June 22, 2008, 10:04 pmDick to his friends, RWS to his associates, 4-0 to fellow Eruf volunteers, he was an advocate “the shoe” (to borrow the title of your blog) of whom no one else in the legal circle could fill. When I chanced upon him during his legal arguments in court, I was impressed. He presented his legal theory in a systematic and flawless manner. To say that he was brilliant is an understatement. I dare say he was a legal genius. Hasta la vista Dick, RWS, 4-0…
Posted by ruel at July 18, 2008, 12:33 pmAnother common misconception about Viagra is that those with medical problems cannot take the drug. The reality is that most medical problems and medications are not affected in any way by the use of Viagra online . In fact, some health issues are the cause of the sexual function problems and Cialis Online is a safe and effective way to treat this side effect.
Posted by viagra at July 28, 2010, 9:55 am
tito alan???
luckily,i found your blog on the net hehehe….
i was moved and touched by your attestation about dad. in one way or another, i think you,too have touched his life. you may not know it but he was proud of every associate that he had. he was always telling me that his lawfirm was solid because of good associates like you. he would have wanted you to be a good lawyer because i think there isn’t much these days. hehehe, but you can live out his legacy by making the feild of law one of your passions as well. im sure he will always be watching over you when you present yourself in the courtroom.. to give you strength and wisdom.
he would have been there for you tito but despite his demise, im sure, he wont leave you by heart. thank you tito.
thanks.
Posted by guene at May 26, 2008, 8:50 am