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Int’l rights lawyers discuss ‘Morong 43’ case with DOJ chief


Members of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers met with Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday to discuss the condition of the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal early this year on suspicion that they are communist rebels. IADL president Jeanne Mirer expressed concern at the continued detention of the workers — dubbed as "Morong 43"— since their arrest by joint police and military operatives last February 6. De Lima supervises the Justice prosecutors who are prosecuting the accused. Before her appointment Justice secretary, she headed the Commission on Human Rights and played an active role in assuring that the workers are not abused. "Our hope is that she (De Lima) will complete the review in a timely manner. We are concerned about the conditions of their (workers) detention. With the new president and with the new Justice secretary, we are hopeful there will be some review of the situation so this nightmare can end," Mirer told reporters. De Lima said she would start a thorough review of the case once the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), which she chairs, submits its report on the August 23 Manila hostage tragedy to President Benigno Aquino III. De Lima said that as former CHR chair, she knows the pitfalls in the case. "I know the defects in that case. The [Department of Justice], through its prosecutors, is the one prosecuting the Morong 43 before the RTC (regional trial court) and MTC (municipal trial court) in Morong, Rizal," she said. Some eight IADL members met with De Lima on Wednesday. The group is in the Philippines to attend the fifth Conference of Lawyers in Asia Pacific on September 18 and 19. Mirer said about 200 international lawyers and law students will attend the conference. The 43 health workers were arrested by government security forces in a farm house in Morong town in Rizal province last February 6 on allegations that they are communist rebels conducting an explosives training. Thirty-seven of the health workers are currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. A female worker, Judilyn Oliveros, is on hospital arrest after giving birth last July. The other five have reportedly admitted being communist insurgents and have chosen to avail of the government's rebel returnee program while remaining at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. - KBK, GMANews.TV

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