Lawyers trying to push back

after an initial denial of the instruction that he said was caused by Duterte’s lapse of memory.

“‘A memo[ randum] was issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on the matter,’ Panelo said in an interview on ABS-CBN news.

“Duterte initially denied that he issued the memorandum, but Panelo said he asked the President again and recalled ordering Medialdea on his behalf.

“‘It was not I who was denying. When I asked him, he said, `No, I did not.’ Apparently, as I said, he might have forgotten momentarily. So, when I asked him again, he said, `Yes, I remember calling the Secretary about it,’’ Panelo said.

“When asked if the mix-up was also caused by ignorance of protocol, he replied, `No. I don’t think so. That’s more [of] the lapse in memory.’”

Huh?

is a better characterization. The claimed clarification sounded as more dissembling confusion by “Let’s Do The Twist” Sal.

I would have wanted last Monday’s IBP assembly to have concluded with “It didn’t happen but I was just relieved that no one suggested that we

- ward, and insult Jewry, the most

in history, per Jewish Justice Felix Frankfurter — an insult adopted by the Prez and his fraternity.

For my parting shot last Monday, I just implored the starry-eyed law studes and young lawyers in attendance — “Stay as sweet as you are.” Learn to live dangerously, as On this we stand, we can do no other. Let me conclude with certain paraprosdokians I read in my computer; here, may I paraphrase — the all-out messy and bloody war against druggies will not determine who is right but who is/are left. On a red lion like Digong will not cheat on his wife/ wives but a brown Tiger Wood.

Seriously, what is happening to our values, standards, institutions and processes? What is right? And what is left?