‘Ipaglaban Mo’ Host and Veteran Legal Icon Atty. Jose Sison Dies at 88

Courtesy: Jopet Sison

Veteran lawyer and legendary television personality Atty. Jose C. Sison, who famously spent decades educating the public on their legal rights as the host of the long-running drama anthology Ipaglaban Mo!, passed away on Thursday morning, July 23, 2026, at the age of 88.

His passing was officially confirmed online by his son, fellow lawyer and co-host Joseph Peter “Jopet” Sison, who shared that his father died peacefully. “This morning, July 23, 2026, our Papa Ping peacefully joined our Creator,” Jopet Sison wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

A Life of Public Service and Legal Advocacy

Atty. Jose Sison, affectionately called "Papa Ping" by his family, built an indelible legacy at the intersection of law and mass media. He became a household staple across the Philippines by pioneering legal education on television, turning dense Supreme Court and Court of Appeals rulings into engaging, relatable stories for everyday citizens.

Through his signature phrase, “Kapag may katwiran, ipaglaban mo!” (If you are in the right, fight for it!), Sison empowered the marginalized and taught generations of Filipinos how to navigate the justice system. Beyond the television screen, his lifelong advocacy extended to providing free legal assistance to disadvantaged communities through the Ipaglaban Mo Foundation. In his later years, he proudly passed the media torch to his son Jopet, who joined him as co-host to keep the family’s public service mission alive.

Tributes and Family Remembrance

Following the announcement, tributes poured in from the legal fraternity, the broadcasting industry, and thousands of fans who regarded him as their online and broadcast mentor. The family expressed deep gratitude for his long and well-spent life, taking solace in his enduring impact.

"We are comforted that he lived a full life as a lawyer, a husband to Josie, a father to his six children, and a grandfather to his sixteen grandchildren." the younger Sison noted.

The family also requested the public to keep the late legal icon in their thoughts:

"Please keep him in your prayers and remember him with love and fond memories."

Wake and Interment Details

The Sison family has released the formal schedule for those wishing to pay their final respects:

• The Wake: Public viewing will begin on Friday afternoon, July 24, 2026, at the Ascension Chapel of The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao, located at 40 Lantana Street, Cubao, Quezon City.
• The Interment: Atty. Sison will be laid to his final rest on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Heavens Gate 1 Memorial Park in Antipolo City, with the exact time of the burial services to be announced later.