THE DE LA Salle University renamed its College of Law after nationalists and lawyers Lorenzo ‘Ka Tanny’ Tañada, Sr. and Jose ‘Ka Pepe’ Diokno.

The renaming was the highlight of the celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of Diokno and book Jose W. Diokno / Pamana, written by Prof. Maria Socorro Diokno.

Through its Tañada-Diokno College of Law, DLSU seeks to mold future lawyers.

The school noted that the patriotism of the two Lasallians was “its pinnacle in the struggle against the dictatorship and repression from the 1970s to the 1980s.”

“Ka Pepe was one of the many individuals thrown in jail by President Marcos in 1972. Ka Tanny was his lawyer. They were both active in the parliament of the streets, asserted national sovereignty, and defended the most vulnerable,” it explained.

“They were founding members of the Free Legal Assistance Group, a nationwide organization of human rights lawyers in the Philippines, where Ka Pepe was elected as chair. Ka Tanny and Ka Pepe, two friends who collaborated on many endeavors, causes, cases, advocacies, were joined by their love for the Filipino people,” it added.

Tañada, Sr. graduated at the top of his high school class in De La Salle College in 1918.

He obtained his law degree from the University of the Philippines and later earned advanced degrees in law from Harvard Law School and the University of Santo Tomas.

Meanwhile, Diokno graduated from the high school of De La Salle College and later earned his degree in commerce, summa cum laude, also at DLSU in 1940. He topped the CPA licensure exams immediately after graduation.

After being granted a special dispensation by the Supreme Court to sit for the Bar exams without finishing a law degree, Diokno topped the Bar exams administered in 1944.

He distinguished himself as a lawyer, Justice secretary and senator.