Atty. Kenneth Jojohn “Champ” Vercide

Atty. Kenneth Jojohn “Champ” Vercide Lawyer & Public Servant

𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐍𝐎 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒. ⚖️At around 10:00 last night, while attending to a personal matter, I received an urgen...
22/08/2026

𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐍𝐎 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒. ⚖️

At around 10:00 last night, while attending to a personal matter, I received an urgent call from a family asking for legal assistance. Their loved one was facing the possibility of being taken into police custody, and they needed a lawyer to immediately intervene, assess the situation, and ensure that whatever action would be taken was in accordance with law.

There was no scheduled consultation. No prior appointment. No office desk or courtroom waiting for me.

I immediately went home, changed course for the evening, took a habal-habal, and proceeded to where the commotion was unfolding.

Because sometimes, that is simply what lawyering requires.

Upon arriving, I spoke with the parties and the responding police officers and respectfully explained the applicable legal safeguards, particularly the constitutional and procedural requirements governing arrests without a warrant and the right of a person to decline a mere invitation when no lawful basis exists to compel her custody.

After discussions, the matter was peacefully settled for the evening. No arrest was made, no unnecessary confrontation ensued, and everyone eventually went their separate ways.

At the same time, my representation did not require hostility toward the other side. I also spoke with the complainant and her guardians, listened to their concerns, and explained the legitimate legal processes available to them should they wish to pursue their grievance. Protecting one person’s rights should never mean denying another person the opportunity to lawfully assert theirs.

But beyond the legal questions that evening, the experience reminded me of something fundamental about this profession:

A lawyer cannot always choose when someone will need a lawyer.

Legal problems do not conveniently arise between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Arrests do not wait for office hours. Families in distress do not always have the luxury of scheduling an appointment. Sometimes the call comes while you are at work; sometimes during dinner; sometimes while attending to personal matters; and sometimes late at night when you thought the day was already over.

When a person entrusts you with the protection of his or her rights, being counsel means more than preparing pleadings and appearing in court. It means being present when your presence matters.

Day or night. Weekday or weekend. Inside the courtroom or along the roadside. Scheduled or unexpected.

There will always be reasonable limits to what any lawyer can do, but when circumstances demand immediate legal assistance and you are in a position to help, you show up.

That night, lawyering meant leaving what I was doing, taking a motorcycle across the city, standing beneath the streetlights with police officers, families, and concerned parties, and helping ensure that the situation was resolved peacefully and according to law.

Because the privilege of being called a “lawyer” carries with it a responsibility that does not necessarily end when office hours do.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩. 💪🏻

Sometimes, lawyering begins with very little time, but never with less responsibility.I was engaged by my client and hi...
17/08/2026

Sometimes, lawyering begins with very little time, but never with less responsibility.

I was engaged by my client and his family only a few days before the deadline set by the Office of the City Prosecutor for the submission of his Counter-Affidavit. The time was short, but the responsibility entrusted to us was no less significant.

From the moment we accepted the engagement, my team and I immediately went to work — meeting and interviewing the client and witnesses, visiting relevant places, examining the circumstances of the case, gathering and organizing the available evidence, and preparing the necessary legal submissions.

Earlier today, together with the client’s witnesses, we formally filed his Counter-Affidavit and the available supporting evidence before the Office of the City Prosecutor.

Was it tiring? Certainly. But, was it worth it? Substantially, yes. The public may not know this generally, but criminal defense lawyering has so much unseen work: long hours, difficult conversations, careful scrutiny of facts, and decisions made under demanding timelines. Yet these are precisely the moments when diligence matters most. Every person accused of an offense is entitled not merely to a lawyer, but to meaningful and competent representation, and to the full measure of due process guaranteed by law.

A short preparation period should never become an excuse for diminished effort. When a lawyer accepts the responsibility, the work must be done — and done well.

One deadline met. One defense properly placed on record. The work continues. ⚖️

Lawyering does not always happen behind a desk or inside a courtroom.I was recently engaged to handle a criminal case, a...
15/08/2026

Lawyering does not always happen behind a desk or inside a courtroom.

I was recently engaged to handle a criminal case, and I spent part of the day on the ground: visiting the place where the incident allegedly occurred, walking through the community where the accused resides, and thereafter proceeding to the police station to personally confer with him and gather further information necessary for his defense.

Beyond pleadings and legal arguments, effective representation requires diligence — seeing the circumstances firsthand, listening closely to the client, testing the facts, and attending even to the procedural details that protect his rights. Before leaving the station, arrangements were likewise made for his personal appearance before the Prosecutor’s Office on the next working day for the administration of his oath on his Counter-Affidavit.

With this recent undertaking comes one essential learning: 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞.

Because behind every Information, affidavit, and case number is a human being, and 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩, 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤.

This, too, is lawyering. ⚖️

There are days when lawyering takes you far from the usual halls of justice and into places where the work feels a littl...
13/08/2026

There are days when lawyering takes you far from the usual halls of justice and into places where the work feels a little quieter.

Today’s hearing brought me from Cebu City to Moalboal. And somewhere between preparing for the case, reviewing the records, and gathering my thoughts before appearing in court, I found myself working beneath the shade of trees, surrounded by greenery, fresh air, and the stillness of the province.

The practice of law is not always confined to offices, courtrooms, and stacks of pleadings. Sometimes, it means bringing the work wherever duty calls and finding, even in the seriousness of the profession, a moment to appreciate where it takes you.

A different workplace for the day, but the same responsibility.

Certainly not the usual case preparation, but I love that today, it is with a touch of peace and tranquility of nature. ⚖️🌿

𝐀 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫.From the police station, to the prosecutor’s office, to the halls of the court, tod...
03/08/2026

𝐀 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫.

From the police station, to the prosecutor’s office, to the halls of the court, today was less about arguments and more about patience, persistence, and process.

Criminal defense is perhaps one of the least understood areas of legal practice. 𝐓𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦; 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐰, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧.

The Constitution does not reserve due process, the right to counsel, or the presumption of innocence for the popular or the blameless. 𝐈𝐭 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧.

After nearly twelve hours of work (7 AM - 7 PM), four families were reunited following the issuance of an Order of Release. Tomorrow, the real work continues as we prepare for trial.

Some days remind us that criminal defense is not merely about defending individuals — it is about defending the integrity of our justice system itself.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭.After almost a year, I found myself once again inside our barangay ...
29/07/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭.

After almost a year, I found myself once again inside our barangay — not for a ceremony, not for a meeting, but to make legal services more accessible to those who need them.

Today, I rendered 𝐩𝐫𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐨 legal consultations, assisted in the drafting of legal documents, and performed notarial services for members of the community.

Among those I had the privilege to assist were a respondent seeking legal guidance in a case involving alleged violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act, and the bereaved family of a victim in a case for Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide.

Different circumstances. Different legal concerns. Yet every person deserved the same thing: to be heard, to understand the law, and to receive competent legal advice.

Justice should never be a privilege reserved for those who can easily reach a lawyer. Sometimes, the lawyer must be the one who reaches the people.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲.Earlier today, I assisted a client in commencing an action before the Office of the City P...
28/07/2026

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲.

Earlier today, I assisted a client in commencing an action before the Office of the City Prosecutor for alleged violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.

Thereafter, I was urgently engaged to assist individuals placed under custodial investigation in connection with a charge for Robbery with Intimidation against Persons in relation to R.A. No. 7610, where I immediately appeared before Cebu City Police Station 3 to ensure that their constitutional and statutory rights were protected.

To some, these roles may seem contradictory. However, they are not.

A lawyer’s allegiance is never to wrongdoing, nor to the convenience of a particular narrative. It is to the law, to justice, and to the faithful protection of rights.

We stand with those who seek redress when they have been wronged. We likewise stand with those accused, ensuring that the constitutional guarantees of due process, the presumption of innocence, and the right to counsel are never reduced to empty promises.

Justice is not served by silencing one side in favor of another. It is served when every person is heard, every right is respected, and every proceeding is conducted within the bounds of law.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥.

Every chapter serves its purpose.Today, I close one with gratitude and begin another with greater resolve.Public service...
27/07/2026

Every chapter serves its purpose.

Today, I close one with gratitude and begin another with greater resolve.

Public service has been an honor. Now, I return my full attention to the calling that shaped me — to advocate, to counsel, and to serve through the practice of law.

The office may change. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬.

Public service often unfolds quietly through the careful review of documents, the faithful observance of legal formaliti...
22/07/2026

Public service often unfolds quietly through the careful review of documents, the faithful observance of legal formalities, and the responsibility of ensuring that every signature carries legal effect.

Last night, I had the privilege of serving as one of the commissioned Notaries Public who assisted approximately thirty (30) City and Municipal Mayors from across the Province of Cebu in the notarization of their respective Memoranda of Agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd). These agreements pave the way for the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of public school classrooms in their respective local government units.

While notarization may appear to be a routine legal act, it is a solemn public function. Every acknowledgment requires diligence, personal appearance, proper identification, and faithful compliance with the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice. It is a responsibility entrusted to notaries public to help preserve the authenticity, integrity, and enforceability of public documents.

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute, in my own capacity, to an initiative that ultimately advances public education and benefits thousands of Filipino learners throughout Cebu.

It is always an honor to serve — not only as a lawyer, but also as a public servant.

𝘼𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙞 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙚 𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢. ⚖️🇵🇭

Address

Sitio Baca, Apas
Cebu City
6000

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Atty. Kenneth Jojohn “Champ” Vercide posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category