Jose C. Sison, 'Ipaglaban Mo!' host and lawyer, passes away at 88

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran lawyer, STAR legal columnist and iconic host of the long-running television legal anthology show “Ipaglaban Mo!” passed away peacefully at the age of 88 yesterday. His death was confirmed by his son Jopet, fellow lawyer and former TV co-host. “We are comforted that he lived a full life as a lawyer, a husband to Josie, a father to his six children, and a grandfather to his sixteen grandchildren. Please keep him in your prayers and remember him with love and fond memories,” Jopet wrote. The wake will be held at Ascension Chapel, The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City, beginning today in the afternoon. The interment will be at Heaven’s Gate 1 Memorial Park, in Antipolo City on Tuesday, July 28. Sison created and began hosting the landmark public service program Kapag Nasa Katwiran, Ipaglaban Mo! in 1988. By dramatizing actual legal cases decided by the Supreme Court, he educated millions of viewers on their statutory rights. Beyond his television career, he established the Ipaglaban Mo Foundation, a non-profit organization that provided free legal assistance and representation to marginalized, underserved and oppressed communities. He was also a long-time legal writer for The Philippine STAR with his A Law Each Day (Keeps Trouble Away) column providing everyday legal guidelines.