CinemaBravo

When Atty. Ronald Tolledo passed the bar in 2023, his original plan was to enter the corporate world. But God had other plans. Just months into his legal career, he became part of Lawyers for Christ, a faith-based advocacy group dedicated to bringing Christian principles into lawmaking, policy influence, and public service.

From the start, Tolledo knew his work as a lawyer wouldn’t be limited to defending clients in court. His vision, he says, is much bigger:

“We want to see justice, but aside from justice, we also want to see mercy done.”

Recently, an intimate interview was held with select bloggers —including CinemaBravo to get a closer look at him.

In that discussion, he answered a question from CinemaBravo about what sparked his passion for law, leading to a revealing conversation about corruption, justice, and faith.

The trigger: a confrontation with corruption

Tolledo recounted that during a trip to Korea, he met locals who expressed gratitude to the Philippines for helping their country recover after the Korean War. It reminded him that decades ago, the Philippines was considered one of Asia’s most progressive nations.

The question that haunted him: What happened? He already knew the answer: corruption.

“Yun yung pinaka-issue siguro e, na yung number one issue na alam ko na hindi lang ako yung nag-iisip,” he shared. “Alam ko kahit na ito yung mga nakakapakinig sa atin are also passionate about is number one yung issue ng corruption sa atin sa Pilipinas.”

(That’s probably the biggest issue: the number one issue that I know I’m not the only one thinking about. I know even those listening to us now are also passionate about it: corruption in the Philippines.)

He described corruption as a “cancer” that spreads from the top down, affecting every level of society.

“Everybody talks about corruption, but it’s there everywhere. It’s common knowledge to everyone,” he said.

What frustrates him even more is the sense of hopelessness many Filipinos feel when discussing the problem.

“Kapag corrupt yung bansa natin, corrupt yung mga official natin, nakita ba ninyong effect sa mga tao? Even yung mga tao, parang mga corrupt din sila mag-isip.”

(When our country is corrupt, when our officials are corrupt, have you seen the effect on the people? Even ordinary people begin to think in corrupt ways.)

For Tolledo, this is exactly why Lawyers for Christ exists — to be a persistent voice pushing back against systemic corruption and inspiring change, no matter how entrenched the problem is.

Justice, even when the client is guilty

The conversation also touched on one of the most challenging ethical dilemmas in law: what if a client is clearly in the wrong?

Tolledo explained that every person deserves representation, but the role of a lawyer is not to erase guilt — it’s to ensure fairness in the process.

“The general rule is that every person deserves the best representation that they can have… pero kapag guilty ka sa ginawa mong ano… kailangan mong pagbayaran yun.” (…but if you are guilty of what you did, you need to pay for it.)

He said that while he would still work to protect a client’s rights and might seek to reduce a sentence, he would never compromise his integrity for money, influence, or friendship.

“You will not get a free pass just because I’m your friend or I’m a relative,” he continued.

“Pag gumawa ka ng mali, kailangan mong pagbayaran. Pero gagawin ko yung makaya ko para siguro mapababa yung kaso, mabigay yung best case scenario for you.” (If you do wrong, you must pay for it. But I will do what I can to maybe lessen the case and give you the best possible scenario.)

Tolledo is direct with clients from the start:

“Pag nandiyan yung kliyente, tatanungin ko sa kanya: ginawa mo ba? For example, ‘Did you really do it? … Sasabihin ko na rin sa’yo na dahil ginawa mo yun, kailangan mo yung pagbayaran.’ ”
(When the client is in front of me, I’ll ask: did you really do it? … I’ll also tell you that because you did it, you need to pay for it.)

If the client prefers someone who will promise more than the law allows, he says, they’re free to find another lawyer.

Law as service, not business

Beyond high-profile causes, Tolledo and Lawyers for Christ aim to make legal services accessible to those who can’t afford them. They offer free consultations and promote mediation and reconciliation whenever possible, avoiding costly litigation.

He also advocates for strengthening the judiciary, pointing out that it is the least corrupt branch of government but receives less than 3% of the national budget. Adequate funding, he believes, is key to making justice tangible for every Filipino, regardless of status.

Tolledo leaves aspiring lawyers with a clear challenge:

“Lawyering is hard… but if you really think that the Lord is calling you to be a lawyer, to be a champion of people’s rights, go for it. And in your heart, set apart Jesus Christ as Lord and be willing to follow… If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”

In his work, Atty. Ronald Tolledo shows that the law can be more than a career — it can be a calling. And for him, that calling is rooted in both justice and mercy.

If you’d like to reach out to Atty. Ronald Tolledo and Lawyers for Christ, you can visit their Facebook page or connect with him personally online.