IN MEMORIAMASSISTANT STATE PROSECUTOR NESTOR SERRANO LAZARO

“You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

A graduate of the Far Eastern University (Bachelor of Science in Commerce-Banking and Finance, and Bachelor of Laws), Assistant State Prosecutor Nestor “Nes” Lazaro began his career in the government service as a messenger at the Department of Public Information in 1976 and then for the Court of Appeals-Manila the next year.  Three years later, he would serve as clerk/typist for the same appellate court.

In 1984, he was Senior Staff Researcher for Justice Isidro Borromeo and later for Justice Santiago Kapunan.  The year following the first People Power EDSA Revolution would find him in full practice as a private lawyer for the next eight years, with a three-year stint in between as a Legal Aid Lawyer for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

He returned to public service in 1995 as Municipal Attorney for the Municipality of Valenzuela, and then as Acting City Attorney before finding his way to the Department of Justice (DOJ) as state prosecutor in 2000.

As state prosecutor, he was assigned to a number of high-profile cases.  He was part of the successful prosecution and conviction of high-ranking leaders of the Abu Sayaff Group in the People of the Philippines versus Hector Janjalani, et al. (Edward Schilling kidnapping), People of the Philippines versus Khadafy Janjalani, et al. (Dos Palmas kidnapping), and People of the Philippines versus Nadzmi Saabdulla a.k.a. Commander Global, et al. (Pearl Farm attack) cases.

He also served as prosecutor in the People of the Philippines versus Aldrin Galicia, et al. (Judge Voltaire Rosales murder) and People of the Philippines versus Percival Ceriales, et al. (Pentagon Kidnap for Ransom Group) cases.

He left DOJ in 2009 and worked for about one year as a legal officer at the Government Service and Insurance System.  Upon his return to DOJ in 2010, he was immediately made part of the prosecution panel of the People of the Philippines versus Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr., a.k.a. Unsay, et al. (Ampatuan, Maguindanao Massacre or AMM) consolidated cases.

He knew his case law and could recite jurisprudence [without the help of SCRA (Supreme Court Reports Annotated) or the Internet], which helped contribute to preparing arguments as well as to counter the flood of motions filed by various defense counsels in said consolidated cases.

There was no stopping Lazaro in court.  He called a spade a spade, totally unconvinced there is a nicer way of saying the same.  It was not uncommon to have him engage defense counsels in a verbal tussle as he would obstinately present the prosecution point of view and just as tenaciously try to persuade the presiding judge to share the same view, even if it meant moving for reconsideration over and over again.

While most men his age shied away from Information Technology, Lazaro embraced it, declaring its necessity in ensuring a quick response to the demands of being a prosecutor.  He had digital files of the Revised Penal Code, Rules of Court and the latest jurisprudence literally at his fingertips: in his mobile phone.  He would even demonstrate to the younger prosecutors how to save such digital files into the memory of their mobile phone units.

How he so acknowledged technology was the exact opposite of how he dealt with his deteriorating health, often denying especially to fellow prosecutors that he was feeling unwell.

Like the start of his career, the last few months of his life were not easy.  He was in and out of the hospital, and had to observe a strict program of medication.  Having undergone two bypass surgeries much earlier, colleagues often reminded him to take things slow and find time to be gentle with himself.  His passion for his work as prosecutor did not grant him that luxury.

Early this year, he was still trying his hardest to attend  court hearings or case conferences, but while the spirit was willing, the body was weak.  On 22 February 2012, he was rushed comatose to the Intensive Care Unit of the East Avenue Medical Center.  He fought back and was conscious by the evening of the same day.

A week later, sometime after sunrise on 29 February 2012, his heart stopped beating despite doctors’ attempts to revive him for almost an hour.  Prosecutor Lazaro was 56.

With his passing, aside from the AMM consolidated cases, he left behind the following media killing cases: People of the Philippines versus Osmeńa Montańer and Estrella Sabay (Marlene Esperat murder) and People of the Philippines versus PO1 Dennis Jess Esteban Lumikid (Desiderio Camangyan murder).  He also missed by about eight hours the news that his son Ian had passed the 2011 Bar Examinations.

 

The Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists
and the Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility
express deepest condolence at the passing of Prosecutor Lazaro.
Sir Nes shall be sorely missed.