Submitted by: Isaias S. Pastrana Jr.

Schedule/Room: Fri(5:30-8:30PM)/RM335
Submiited to: Atty. Ida Marie V. Escolano

Assignment in Legal Ethics: Miracle in Cell No. 7

1. Give a short summary of the movie and what it is all about.
A handicapped and mentally-challenged man in the name of Lee Yong-go was
accused of sexual molestation and murder of the Police Commissioners daughter. He
was publicly scrutinized for the said crime and judged even before the investigative trial
took place. Moreover, the police and the authority took care of business by
prefabricating needed evidence for the case which is a high profile with high priority, and
hastily provided needed actions to deem the accused. That was when Yong-go was
detained in Cell No.7 of Sungnam Jail.
While in jail, Lee Yong-go befriended his five cellmates. So Yang-Hoo, the gang
boss, was saved from a stab attempt by an enraged prisoner because of his new
cellmate. A man of word he is, Yang-hoo, which also happens to be the leader in this
cell, asked what Yong-go wanted to have inside the cell and will provide it as a reward
for saving his life. There is nothing more he ever wanted at that time but to be with the
one he loved the most, his daughter, Lee Ye-sung. With the aid of his friends and Yesung making a way to be with the choir performing in Sungnam Jail, Operation-sneakin-Ye-sung was a success and so is their reunion.
The jail scenes depicted that since Ye-sung entered the cell, the other cellmates
of Yong-go were enlightened of Yong-gos real attitude especially towards her daughter.
Everything was going well until the Chief Warden Jang Min-ha caught them hiding the
girl. This escalated the Chief Wardens anger towards Yong-go so much so that he
transferred him to solitary confinement. But then one night at the warden, fire was
ignited by one of the prisoners and the chief warden went unconscious amidst the
trouble. When he woke up in a hospital ,he found out that Yong-go saved his life. Then
he noticed the kindness of this guy. Consequently, he was driven to investigate more on
his case to which he believe was a mistake. The chief warden and one of his
subordinates, Yong-gos friends and Ye-sung tried everything they could to deter the
conviction against Yong-go. But the police commissioner and the lawyer took advantage
of his mental situation and even blackmailed him just to convince him to concede.
Afterwards, the death sentence was issued by the court. And the sentence was
scheduled as if the green mile was just a meter away.
Several years later, the case was reopened and Ye-sung acted as the lawyer to
defend for his father. The intention is to clear her fathers name of the crime he did not
commit. The decision was reversed but not the life of his father. At that time, she saw a
balloon stuck on a wiring fence and she was then reminded of her undying love to her
father.
The movie also shows us that a person can be someone who has a high
position as a Police Commissioner, though possessing a disgusting personality. Or
someone as simple-minded as the father in this story but with a good heart. Ranks and
positions really do not determine a person. Sometimes things are more delightful when
theyre not complicated, as long as we know how to appreciate and cherish all that we
have.

2. Why is the movie entitled 'Miracle in Cell No. 7'? Explain.

There is no literal definition of the word Miracle in the title. But in the movie, the
miracle can be seen through the wonder of father-and-daughters, vis--vis, tender love
which eventually changed the perception and life of fellow prisoners inside Cell No.7.
The prison cell can be the most unwanted place for such love to transpire but it can be
the most convincing one to show an impact.
The expected miracle though did not evolve in our Lee Yong-gos persona. He
was not acquitted of the false accusation and incarceration. Thus, he was sentenced to
death. If you are going to ask me then where is the miracle? Then I have to say that it
appeared to me that it was a miracle when adult Ye-sung, a lawyer, defended his
fathers case to prove his innocence even though he has been sentenced to death
several years before. And through her efforts, the accused has been cleared of the
charges.

3. Cite the unethical conduct shown by the following characters: (Give a short
description and cite, if any, the canon violated.)
Police commissioner (the father of the alleged murdered and raped girl)
He abused his power as the commissioner and commander-in-chain;
He blackmailed Lee Yong-go to make him admit of the crime;
He may have bribed Yong-gos lawyer to act in favor of him.
o Police investigators
Forging of Yong-gos statements even if he was denying the
accusations;
Prefabrication of some evidence;
Interrogation with the use of violent force
o Jail warden
Connivance with some prisoners in sneaking-in items into the cells;
Some unnecessary force to give pressure to the prisoners
o Lawyer assigned to represent Lee Yong-go
Lee Yong-gos lawyers action violated some rules on the basis of
the Philippine Canon, to wit:
Canon 17 A lawyer owes fidelity to the cause of his client
and he shall be mindful of the trust and confidence reposed in
him
Rule 18.03 A lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter
entrusted to him, and his negligence in connection there with
shall render him liable
Rule 15.05 A lawyer when advising his client, shall give a
candid and honest opinion on the merits and probable results
of the clients case, neither overstating nor understanding the
prospects of the case
Since he is the only lawyer involved in this case, he is the only
possible person to violate the lawyers canon.
o

4. Did their unethical conduct bring injustice? Why or why not?

Indeed, their unethical conducts led to the speedy justice which favored their
desire. As pointed out by the adult Ye-sung as the defendants lawyer, the basic

principle of presumption of innocence was clearly neglected in this case. Also, if in case,
Lee Yong-go really was the perpetrator, it must have been stated in fact that he is
mentally-challenged. Thus, he would have been cross-examined appropriately. Not
more of a consideration but a more humane way to treat such. Nevertheless, the
conducts of those mentioned based on my answer to the former question, are those
that led to the injustice of this case, beginning from the abuse of power by the police
commissioner down to the lawyers negligence of his client.
5. For every character mentioned above, if you were the said character, how will
you approach this case, based on the laws of ethics?

If I was the police commissioner . . .

o I would have not used my status to add pressure to Yong-go that
significantly affected the outcome of the case.
o I would have let Lee Yong-go defend himself through his own
statements;
o Or blackmailed the accused.
If I was the police investigator
o I would have presented all facts with truth and honesty
If I was the jail warden
o I would have observed warden rules and policies for prisoners to
be obedient too
If I was the lawyer
o I would have done my service with dignity, honor and pride as a
lawyer

6. Who is your favorite character? Why?

Who else should it be? It would be no other than one of the main protagonist
himself, Lee Yong-go. Although he was mentally-handicapped, it was not a hindrance
for him to show his devotion and passion to take care of his beloved daughter. Indeed
he is simple minded but his heart is as good as a saint. He sacrificed his life by
indicating that he was the one who committed the crime although in reality he was
innocent, just to secure the safety of his daughter His benign role ignited some of the
most heartwarming and convincing acts that undeniably jerked the tear out of me.
Nevertheless he is by far my favorite character in the story before the cute and pretty
version of Ye-sung because the former is the loving father who nurtured the latter, the
lovely daughter.

7. Other reflections and reactions re: the movie.

This daddy-daughter-love film was a heart-wrenching picture that sent me to
tear-land. With its simple and yet meaningful theme of a fathers love to her daughter
and a daughters appreciation to his loving father, I really thanked the stars for giving me
such a captivating movie brimming with resonating filial love.
Wrongfully accused of kidnapping and murdering the daughter of the police
bureau chief, a mentally-challenged father was imprisoned and was separated to his 6year old daughter. When he saved the leader of the cell room he was assigned to from
a fatal attack, he was granted a wish and he can only think of seeing his daughter
again. The inmates who can sneak in almost anything was able to smuggle the
daughter inside and they embarked in a quest to uncover the truth before the final trial
of the fathers case that could make or break him to execution. Despite drawing the
separated father and daughter conflict from the onset of the movie, the unhappy

situation was remedied by stacking what prisoners make use of the skills they were
jailed for to help their mentally-challenged cell brother see his daughter. Hinting the
idea of goodness in an unlikely place and bravely depicting evil doings in a place where
justice was supposed to be upheld was one of the many eye openers presented
courageously in this movie. The impeccable comic timing cushioned the sensitive and
sad realities of how people with authorities abuse the power given to them.
It was an emotional scene when the half-witted father who can barely grasp
situations managed to understand the abusive fright warning he got from the villain will
put his daughter in danger, and as a loving father who wanted to protect his child, he
forcibly took his death sentence for his daughter to live. I was sobbing at the last scene
when the people around the father and daughter were aware of the eventual execution
but the father cant fully realized it happening because of his intellect as the daughter
was not aware that she will never see him again for good.
This prison bound film will touch any daughter and any fathers heart who sees it.
It was a great on-screen performance by the father and daughter duo and the prison
friends cast helping them. Buoyant and sad, this is an encouraging and gladdening
movie must watch.

Sources:
For the cast and their characters name: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2659414/