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Justices, activists, prelates map out ways to end killings


Militant leaders, police officials, politicians and prelates attended Monday the Supreme Court's two-day summit at the Manila Hotel in Manila City to map out ways to put an end to the string of extrajudicial killings in the country. Outside the summit venue, umbrella organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) was set to launch their "silent protest" as it expressed support for the high court's initiative. Radio station dzMM reported that Director Geary Barias, chief of the police's anti-killings Task Force Usig; former police chief and Sen. Panfilo Lacson; former National Bureau of Investigation director and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim; Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yñiguez; reelected party-list Representatives Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna) and Crispin Beltran (Anakpawis) graced the affair. The radio report quoted SC Chief Justice Reynato Puno as saying that he was optimistic that the gathering, dubbed as the "National Consultative Summit on Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances: Searching for Solutions," would help stop the murders. Delegates were given 12 to 15 minutes each to share their insights and knowledge about the matter. A red light signal was also set up to notify them that their speaking time was up. As this developed, Yniguez scored the government for allegedly failing to actively pursue investigations on the hundreds of extrajudicial slays. Radio station dzBB quoted Yniguez as saying that the Catholic Church was alarmed that victims have been denied of their "fundamental right" to live. It also quoted Yniguez as saying that based on the church's count, the number of victims of extrajudicial killings reached 778. Survivors of "political assassinations," the report added, was pegged at 370. He also noted 203 "massacre" victims, 186 people who involuntarily disappeared, 502 tortured, and others who were illegally arrested. The bishop similarly criticized the government's alleged insistence to implement its Oplan Bantay Laya I and II, the military's counter-insurgency operation-plans which militants have said consider legal people's organizations as targets. On Thursday, the Supreme Court said it was taking an active stance in combating extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances because these are seen as “an affront to the judicial system." “You will notice that the Chief Justice has been very visible these days because this is something that is very close to his heart and he views that the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances as an affront to the judicial system," Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez, the SC's public information chief, told reporters. That’s why Chief Justice Reynato Puno is really taking an active role, being visible and taking lead in trying to search for solutions to end this problem, he added. “It is the public’s vigilance that will ensure that measures will be undertaken so that all these extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances will come to an end. All those who are guilty will be prosecuted and penalized accordingly," Atty. Marquez said in urging the public to support the Summit. Legal question Meanwhile, Bayan urged the Supreme Court to "check serious threats to civil liberties and basic freedoms" including the anti-terror law or the Human Security Act of 2007, which took effect last Sunday despite protests from leftist groups. "We urge the Supreme Court to examine the legal basis and framework of the government's counter insurgency program which makes legal Left organizations targets of military operations. We urge the court to examine the legal basis of tagging militant groups as 'communist fronts' and 'enemies of the state.' These are no longer mere labels. They carry the possibility of physical attacks," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. Reyes said former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr will join Bayan and other leftist groups in standing as petitioners in their formal pleading before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the law. They will file a petition for certiorari and prohibition with a prayer for a temporary restraining order on Tuesday. Human rights lawyer Atty. Edre Olalia of the International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) will serve as lead counsel. Bayan chair Carol Araullo, in a statement, said the respondents will include members of the Anti-Terrorism Council headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Raul Gonzalez. "Among the provisions we are assailing are the vague definition of terrorism, violations of the right to due process of terror suspects as well as the provision on extraordinary rendition," Araullo said. Earlier, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Angel Lagdameo pointed out at least five provisions of the law that may threaten civil liberties. He said Sec. 19 allows detentions of mere suspects for more than three days in the event of an actual or terrorist attack, while Section 26 allows house arrest despite the posting of bail, and prohibits the right to travel and to communicate with others. Sec. 39 allows seizure of assets while Sec. 7 allows surveillance or wiretapping of suspects. Sec. 26 allows the investigation of bank deposits and other assets. - GMANews.TV
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