The lawyer of 2 petitioners who asked a local court to stop a Metro Manila public smoking ban confirmed Thursday that Philip Morris is a former client of his law firm.
Philip Morris logo at the plain pack
Lawyer Luis Gregorio Jesus de la Paz said his law firm, Gonzales Batiller David Leabres Reyes & Associates, worked for Philip Morris Inc. as a consultant before the tobacco giant formed a joint venture with Fortune Tobacco Corp in 2010.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer report earlier said Philip Morris was one of the clients listed in the law firm’s website. As of Thursday morning, the name of Philip Morris was dropped from the list.
“Hindi na kasi updated ang website na yan. Yung panahon na yan I think nung time pa na 2001 to 2004. Mapapansin niyo ang pangalan na nakalagay dun Philip Morris pero ang bagong pangalan ay Philip Morrois Fortune Tobacco. Iba yung entity na yon and it was only for a short consultancy agreement nung 2001 hanggang 2004 lang,” de la Paz told ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
During the interview, de la Paz denied he had anything to do with alleged ties between his clients, Anthony Clemente and Vrianne Lamson, and Philip Morris.
He also denied reports that Philip Morris had put up the P100,000 bond for the case filed before a local court.
“Walang katotohanan yan. Sa kasalukuyan nga wala pang bond na nababayaran sa korte dahil ang P100,000 mahirap hanapin. Hindi naman mapupulot kung saan-saan yan. So sa ngayon naghahanap pa kami kung ano ang options namin,” he said.
The Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court earlier issued a 20-day temporary restraining order on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) public smoking ban. It also ordered the petitioners to put up a P100,000 bond in case the judge decides in favor of MMDA.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, said the public smoking ban remains in effect until the petitioners put up the P100,000 bond. He said MMDA enforcers have reported 6,200 apprehensions since the ban started.
He also questioned the alleged abuse of the judicial process, citing news reports that the 2 petitioners had gone missing after the petition was filed.
“Nakakalungkot na bigla kami nagkaroon ng TRO. Payag naman kaming pag-usapan ang merito ng aming ginagawa. Ang nakakalungkot lang yung napabalitaang pamamaraan kung paano finile yung kaso. Balita kahapon nawala yung petitioners,” he said.
