Rights lawyer charged in burning of Globe cell site cries harassment

MANILA, Philippines — A human rights lawyer who was charged with 26 others in the burning of a Globe Telecom cell site in Batangas on Friday said he was confident that the justice system could easily see through the false charges. "The accusation against me is false, malicious and reflective of the stupidity of the military agents who orchestrated the filing of the trumped-up charges," said Remigio Saladero, founding member of National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL). Saladero, along with 26 other leaders and members of militant organizations in Southern Tagalog, are being hunted by the police and military after they were charged before the Batangas Prosecutor's Office with arson, crimes involving destruction and conspiracy to rebellion. Majority of the 27 are respondents to the case involving a burning down of a Globe cell site in Lemery, Batangas on August 2. "Unable to apprehend the real culprits in the Globetel incident, they have decided to use it as a means to harass and persecute those whom they perceive as critical of the existing order. These include legitimate leaders of peoples' organizations in Southern Tagalog (Bani Cambrero, Romeo Aguilar, Nestor San Jose, etc. ) and even lawyers like me who side with these mass leaders on the issues they articulate," Saladero said. "I hope that our judicial system would easily see the falsity of these charges newly concocted charges, as it has previously seen the falsity of the charges against Crispin Betran, Batasan 5, Tagaytay 5, and others," he said. "I will continue what I am doing, and with greater zeal and passion than before," he added. Respondents include Agaton Bautista, organizer of Samahan ng Magbubukid sa Batangas (Sambat - KMP) and Anakpawis-Batangas provincial coordinator, Renato Baybay, chairperson of Kamagsasaka- Ka (KMP Cavite Chapter), Isabelo Alicay, chairperson of Habagat (Pamalakaya Batangas Chapter), Noriel Rocafort, Bayan-Batangas secretary-general, Bayani Cambronero Bayan Muna regional coordinator, and many more from different member-organization s of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan). The 27 expressed fear for their safety following the series of extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances. GMANews.TV