Neri Colmenares, Codal convenor and spokesperson and Tonyo Cruz,media officer of Counsel for the Defense of Liberties bring to the public’s attention another disturbing trend as documented in FROM FACTS TO ACTION,(click here) a report of the International Fact-Finding Mission on Attacks Against Filipino Lawyers which was undertaken by the Dutch Lawyers for Lawyers Foundation and with the participation of Lawyers Without Borders and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers.
FROM FACTS TO ACTION documents the fact-finding mission’s attempt to
gather information on the murders of legal professionals in the
Philippines.
To date, 10 judges and 15 lawyers (including a law student) have been
slain since 2001. Many of them were human rights lawyers and public
interest barristers.
Prior to the release of the report, lawyers groups abroad have
denounced the murders as attacks on the rule of law and the people’s
right to due process and to counsel.
The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL), formerly Committee
in Defense of Lawyers, host of the mission in June this year, endorses
the report and encourages members of the Philippine media to help
continue spread the word about the killings of lawyers and the need to
address the issue.
JUDGES KILLED
Judge Henrick Gingoyon, Killed Dec. 31, 2005
Judge Estrellita Paas, Killed Sept. 23, 2005
Judge Voltaire Rosales, Killed June 10, 2004
Judge Paterno Tiamson, Killed February 21, 2004
Judge Milnar Lammawin, Killed Aug. 10, 2004
Judge Pinera Biden, Killed May 17, 2003
Judge Eugenio Valles, Killed April 25, 2002
Judge Oscar Gaby Uson, Killed Sept. 27, 2002
Judge Ariston Rubio, Killed October 31, 2001
Judge Hassan Ibnohajil, Killed February 5, 2001
14 LAWYERS, ONE LAW STUDENT KILLED
Atty. Evelyn Guballa, Killed June 21, 2006
Atty. Rogelio Montero, Killed May 15, 2006
Atty. Carlo Magno Umingga, Killed April 14, 2006
Atty. Godofredo Pacenio, Killed March 31, 2006
Atty. Victor Padilla, Killed Sept. 6, 2005
Atty. Norman Bocar, Killed Sept. 1, 2005
Atty. Ambrosio Matias, Killed May 8, 2005
Law Student Leonard Matias, Killed May 8, 2005
Atty. Felidito C. Dacut, Killed March 14, 2005
Atty. Teresita Vidamo, Killed February 9, 2005
Atty. Reuel Dalguntas, February 5, 2005
Atty. Edgar Calizo Sr, November 22, 2004
Atty. Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco, Killed October 11, 2004
Atty. Victoria Mangapit-Sturch, Killed April 13, 2004
Atty. Juvy M. Magsino, Killed February 13,2004
FORMS OF ATTACKS VS. LAWYERS AND JUDGES
Tagged as communist
Placed on Order of Battle
Placed under surveillance
Torching of vehicles
Mysterious calls
Grave threats
Threats of physical harm
Ransacking and raiding of offices
Warrantless arrest
Death threats
Attempted homicide
Attempted assassination
Ellen, All:
You may well be informed that Amnestry International (Japan) is taking up this killings of political opponents and critics of the Pandak administration, and will launch a nationwide campaign in Japan on this in August.
20 Filipino organizations in Japan are joining this campaign. We have actually called on other Filipino organizations worldwide to take this up with local NGOs where they are residing so we can have a worldwide demonstration against this atrocities.
Enough of the reign of terror that the Pandak has been trying to cover up with some pa-cute-cute BS. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
In my opinion, this Amnesty International is quite sympathetic to leftist groups and militants. It’s true human rights violations are usually committed by the government and the right wing groups; but even the leftists commit similar abuses. Many lawyers due to their profession are easy target given the abuses committed by the rich and influential on the helpless poor victims. I recall that it was this same Amnesty International that joined the other groups in orchestrating the downfall of Marcos. While the activities and assistance given by the group are laudable, we can’t discount the possibility of some hidden agendas in favor of some unseen forces.
npongco;
you are only partly correct, but not because Amnesty International’s (AI) orientation is basically left per se; rather, the pretender/squatter in the Palace by the murky, and smelly Pasig river favorite line- quite unfounded, and horrible in logic, if you ask me- is this: dissenters and critics alike are members of the Left if not altogether communists – they should be eliminated.
as a consequence, most of the victims, if not all, to this day remained non-recipient of justice (just-tiis) and unfairly continue to bear the tag of being Commie- akin to being murdered twice over.
but granting for the sake of argument, though not admitting,if these people belong to left-affiliated groups; is it a crime to be one?
second, granted it is a crime to be a member of said groups, why dont the State initiate legal charges against suspects?
third, is murdering a suspect an acceptable option and within bounds of ANY democratic (or even pretending to be one) order?
as to AI’s incorrect image as to pro-left, you may want to know that it also condemned documented excessive use of force by the NPA’s during the mid 90’s, to which the latter admitted with remorse and seek forgiveness.
…correction: last line to read as…” as to AI’s incorrect image as being too pro-left, you may want to know…”
I also partly agree with you, zenzennai. I’m sorry if I’ve grown suspicious of international groups and bodies like Amnesty. Even the so called NGOs are doubtful for they may be fronts of something else. I used to hear that the very popular and widely followed CNN was a pro-US media station. CNN manipulated world events by presenting and reporting one sided information often serving the interest of the US. I didn’t believe it until I saw all what and how they’re reporting the Lebanon crisis. To show fairness and balance reporting, they interview both sides but clearly, special treatment is being given to Israel and what the US has to say. In one program where callers could call and express their opinions about this war, one caller from California who was critical of the US was cut off prematurely. Then, they gave more time to those calls that criticize Hezbollah. I may be wrong, but I think Amnesty International is no different. We only have to find out where such groups originated.
Zenzennai:
It does not matter what AI is to other countries. The fact is it is being useful at the moment to stop the killings of professionals critical to the Pandak. Basta sumama kayo if you really want to see change. Hindi maso-solve ang problema ng Pilipinas ng puro dada lang!!!
Sabi nga you have to take an extra mile, which is exactly what we are doing on the 20th. We have no time for defeatists as a matter of fact. Mahirap ang mahilig lang manggatong pero unang-una namang tumatakbong paurong!!!
We will post the final plan on this site when we have finalized our program. Ipinadala ko na kay Benny ang agenda.
This note should be here:
Sa totoo lang, Zenzennai, we are looking for groups in Shizuoka to spearhead this campaign there. Meron na sa Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka at Hokkaido. Kailangan namin diyan sa Shizuoka lalo na’t maraming Nikkeijin diyan na niraraket ng mga recruiter.
Get in touch with me kung kailangan ninyo ng tulong ko dahil iyan ang nilalakad namin ngayon sa pulis na ipahinto ang recruitment ng mga Nikkeijin na pinagsasamantalahan ng mga yakuza.
You may get hold of me through Ellen or if you know Benny, kay Benny.
Reminder again:
Please let’s respect each other here. We don’t have to agree all the time (that would be boring) but let’s respect each other’s opinion.
Nobody has a monopoly of righteousness.
Ellen:
Nikkeijin are those descendants of Japanese nationals who are getting exploited by unscrupulous recruiters who usually have yakuza connection. They are plenty of them in Shizuoka and Ibaragi from the Philippines, mostly from Davao where a number of Japanese settled prior to WWII.
We are encouraging them to get involved in issues pertaining to the Philippines especially if they have plans to go back there someday.
On my part, I am more concerned with the children of Filipino women fathered by Japanese nationals although I have helped one or two runaways of these Nikkeijins who have fallen in to the hands of gangsters milking them.
Thanks Ellen. You came in at the right time. Some need to be reminded what “respect” is. Those who behave as if they “know-it-all” should learn how to be humble. Sometimes, I feel our friends are out of control. They still ridicule others for no reason at all.
Off topic (RP should learn from China):
Banker sentenced to death for fraud in China
Agence France-Presse
BEIJING—An official from the troubled Agricultural Bank of China has been sentenced to death for corruption involving 15 million yuan (1.87 million dollars), state media reported Monday.
Wen Mengjie, former head of technology at the bank’s Beijing branch, was sentenced to death this month, Xinhua news agency reported. It said the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case.
Wen was convicted of taking 10.7 million yuan in kickbacks from equipment and software providers and 4.3 million yuan in public funds, the report said.
Earlier this year, the Agricultural Bank—one of China’s “big four” state lenders—sacked 64 employees and took disciplinary action against some 1,300 others after an audit found irregularities worth 51.6 billion yuan (6.45 billion dollars).
***Compare the above to our officials in the Philippines. How many have been convicted so far?
FYI
Please visit http://www.arkibongbayan.org, or:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2006-08August01-WTO/vswto.htm
for photos and text of a forum and the launching of a book on political killings in the Philippines organized by Migrante-Switzerland and Resist Network in Geneva, Switzerland last August 1, 2006