“Panelo is more Saul Goodman — a hustler, kick-ass attorney with a knack for suits, bowties and pocket squares.

“El Camino,” a Breaking Bad movie, dropped on Netflix last weekend. It is the follow up film that bridges the last episode of arguably the best TV series ever. For those who have no idea, Breaking Bad is a series that lasted six seasons and revolved around interesting characters whose expertise were manufacturing, selling and distributing top-quality drugs, and their run-ins with just as interesting villains. Our Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) should take some serious notes while watching Breaking Bad.

This isn’t the first spin-off from the hit series. “Better Call Saul” came first and is about lawyer Saul Goodman, counsel of the lead character in Breaking Bad. There are already four seasons in Saul, and a fifth one is said to be in the works. Here, we see the beginnings of a hustler lawyer who gets breaks in his favor mostly due to luck, creativity and hard work. Very much old school law practice in this series set in 2002.

At present time here in the Philippines, old school lawyering is a dying practice. Millennial lawyers come to court without much files — a smart phone will do. Tech-savvy judges begin court with a laptop in front of them, ready to pull-out notes and type a court resolution on the spot. There are still a number of old dogs in the practice, most of them you see lurking in trial courts, with attache cases and yellow pads in tow.

One of them used to be Atty. Salvador “Sal” Panelo. In my days as a litigation lawyer, I would bump into Panelo in his tailored suit at the Regional Trial Courts of Quezon City and Makati. I would hear stories from fellow litigators and court staff that Panelo is a lone wolf, without a physical office and prints his pleadings at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center. TV interviews are normal for him with his popular celebrity clients. The last time I saw him — pre-Duterte — was at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) elections in Quezon City, where he showed up in tattered jeans, pointy leather shoes and a shirt that screamed, “Duterte, Duterte, Duterte.” Little did I know that he would end up in the center of all attention a few years later.

When Duterte won, I expected him to get a high position in government, and that he did as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel in the Office of the President. However, in the early years of this Administration, we heard nearly nothing from Panelo. Instead, it was Secretary Martin Andanar and Atty. Harry Roque who were first given chances to be spokespersons. His big break came when he assumed the Palace spokesman role and he has been making waves ever since.

If we compare him to his predecessors, Panelo stands out. Andanar is a huge fellow, an established media personality with a booming voice, although quite tangled with the administrative works in his department. Roque does not have the benefit of an imposing personality, but can wriggle his way out of any argument with his background as a law professor, public interest lawyer and a Congressman. Panelo is more Saul Goodman — a hustler, kick-ass attorney with a knack for suits, bowties and pocket squares.

Hence, when he “manned-up” for the commute challenge, I knew this contest was his for the taking. And it was tough for him. Imagine riding the final leg on a jeepney with two activists trash talking right at your ear — I would lose it at that instant. What was most amusing is that after nearly four hours on the road, Panelo did not give up his opinion that there is no traffic crisis in Metro Manila. For the record, I do not agree with this, but I have to admire Panelo for taking the extra mile (literally) just to prove his point. Although the challenge did not happen inside the courtroom, but in the streets of Manila, I have to say that Panelo ‘lawyered’ the entire Philippines and laughed while doing it.

Speaking of lawyers, may I cordially invite Atenean lawyers to attend the Ateneo Law Homecoming, organized by the Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc., this Friday, 18 October 2019, at the Makati Shangri-La. Entitled “Paint the Town Blue,” it is hosted by the Ateneo Law School Class of 1995. Festivities will start at 6 p.m. with tickets priced at P2,000.

E-mail: darren.dejesus@gmail.com or tweet @darrendejesus.