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Int’l lawyer group to probe attacks on RP lawyers, judges

BAGUIO CITY (June 12) — An international lawyers, judges and law students’ group that met in France on Friday is pressing for a serious probe on continuing attacks against personalities in the legal profession in the Philippines.

Some 337 lawyers, jurists, judges, justices, law professors and law students from 50 countries around the world pressed for a stop to the senseless killings in the country. They adopted a resolution condemning the attacks as a threat to the practice of law, of their duty and the administration of justice.

During the General Assembly of the 16th Congress of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) in Bourse Du Travail, rue du Chateau, Paris, France on June 10, lawyers, judges and law and human rights practitioners proposed for a fact-finding inquiry. This may be undertaken independently or in cooperation with Philippine and other international legal groups soonest.

They also urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to condemn these attacks and call for the speedy investigation of these crimes and the prosecution of those accused of committing the same.

Alarming trend

There is an escalation in violence committed against members of the legal profession in the Philippines, targeting especially those servicing the poor and the oppressed, the IADL said, sounding again the alarm on the recent wave of attacks akin to that in the 1980s when more than 12 human rights lawyers fighting the Marcos dictatorship were reportedly killed.

Since January this year, four lawyers have been killed including a lawyer handling cases involving human rights and labor disputes, a public defender handling controversial land and labor disputes, a lawyer counseling for peasant organizations and his son who was a law student, said IADL Philippine representative Atty. Edre Olalia of the Philippine-based Public Interest Law Center (PILC).

Eleven other cases of violent attacks, harassment and assassination attempts against other lawyers have also been reported in the first quarter of this year.

The IADL also chided the Philippine Armed Forces (AFP) for labeling human rights lawyers’ groups as influenced by “enemies of the state”.

“Lawyers from other public interest lawyers’ groups have also been the subject of surveillance, threats and harassment while attending to their clients involved in either land or labor disputes. Their offices and homes are visited by unidentified armed men suspected to be from the military,” it added.

Olalia claimed that even the foremost human rights lawyer in the Philippines, United Nations Judge ad litem Romeo Capulong had been the subject of no less than two serious assassination attempts a few months ago. He reportedly receives other threats and harassment for his legal assistance to farmers and workers.

The IADL also condemned the alarming situation. A few days ago, another lawyer actively involved in human rights issues had reportedly been harassed. Unidentified men ransacked his law office.

Bloody situation?

The IADL lamented that at least seven members of the legal profession in the Philippines were killed in 2004 including three judges and three woman-lawyers.

Since 1999, nine judges died violently. Since 1986, after the overthrow of the dictator Marcos, more than 18 members of the legal profession were killed.

The attacks against lawyers and judges are attacks against the legal profession as they affect the independence and integrity of the practice of law, the IADL said. These attacks, it continued, “violate these national and international principles and threaten the practice of law and the administration of justice.”

The IADL further claimed that these attacks, which they believe “are committed with impunity”, indicate that the Philippine government seems unable to protect lawyers, judges and other members of the legal profession.

Standing their ground

Nonetheless, IADL members are offering to lend assistance, according to its capability and resources, in the investigation of attacks against their fellow lawyers and judges in the eventual prosecution of the perpetrators of these crimes.

Olalia said the members of the IADL are also pledging support to the campaign on the attacks against lawyers and judges in the Philippines while committing to draw international opinion on these attacks and bring it to the notice of the legal fraternity throughout the world.

IADL has a consultative status with UN ECOSOC, UNESCO and UNICEF, and have member-associations in 96 countries. It seeks to ensure common action by lawyers to defend and promote human and people’s rights. Its members are pressing for strict adherence to the rule of law and independence of the judiciary and the legal profession. # Artemio A. Dumlao for NORDIS

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