The news item “3 Davao Rights Lawyers Seek Amparo vs Military” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 June 2009) is disturbing, to say the least. It shows, on one hand, that this part of the world is unsafe to the political opposition and, on the other, that the source of danger is the government itself particularly, its military.

Our esteemed colleagues in the legal profession in Davao – Carlos Zarate, Lilibeth Ledaga and Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad – discovered almost too late (though it may be better than never) that their names appeared in the “order of battle” (OB) of the military.

The three lawyers are human rights advocates, members of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) formed in 2007 by concerned lawyers all over the country alarmed by escalating attacks by the government on the opposition, especially, political activists.

That is a chilling discovery considering the sordid track record of the GMA administration in complying with its obligation to protect its citizens. That is scary if we were to recall the bloody records of this government in assaulting its own people, especially, militant activists who opposed or criticized its policies and programs.

The GMA administration has been chided by international human rights groups, the United Nations, the US Congress and even by the European Union for the spate of attacks against activists, over 900 extra-judicial killings and 200 plus abductions since GMA took over in 2001.

The casualty toll included 19 or so members of the bar and bench killed and injured.

UN rapporteur on human rights, Philip Alstone squarely laid the blame on the GMA administration noting that it continued to abet those crimes by spawning the “culture of impunity”.

Being in the OB in these dangerous times leads only to one conclusion: the government tags you “enemy of the state” that, thus, justifies anything including physical extirpation to get at you. The OB is definitely not a list of party guests.

Zarate, former president of the IBP-Davao is also a colleague in the media. We were together in the press since 1986 when he his wife Czarina (also a lawyer) wrote for the defunct Media Mindanao News Service.

Incidentally, the International Federation of Journalists tags the Philippines the second most dangerous in the world for media people, next only to Iraq. Since GMA took over the reins of government in 2001, some 50 journalists have been murdered, majority of them for their profession.

The chaotic situation in Iraq because of US occupation and the absence of a functioning government, excuses Iraqi leaders for the mess, that thus, makes this blighted land the top of the heap.

Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo broke the news of the three lawyers being in the military hate, if not hit, list. It was leaked to him by a conscience stricken officer.

The military downplayed the revelation saying the OB does not make the three lawyers targets. It was just a “guide,” said Col. Lysander Suerte, 10th ID chief of staff.

In another incident, some 30 armed, masked men last June 11 barged into a resort in Cagayan where members of militant party list groups were discussing campaign strategy (PDI, 18 June 2009) for the 2010 elections.

The participants, from Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan, and Anakpawis party list groups, agreed to coalesce to field national candidates. The raiders, in camouflage uniform, ordered them to lie down at gun point, took video footages of them, then carted off their computers, documents and valuables.

The armed men kicked and hit some participants with rifle butts. Rubylyn Alabo (Bayan Muna) had blistered thighs after they were struck with the butt of an M16 rifle when she tried to escape through the window.

Wyner Tamayo (Citizens Alliance for Reformed Elections) said the raiders seized his ID cards, notebooks and ATM cards. His savings of P29,000 were later lost.

The police, just a kilometer away, responded two hours later, bewailed Ocampo.

We are supposed to be a civilized and democratic country but the opposite is unfolding. The GMA administration, as usual, would deny responsibility for the assault. However, its continuing inaction and refusal to make a thorough investigation only confirms its guilt. It reinforces the culture of impunity that UN human rights rapporteur Philip Alstone writes of.

Which is the principal reason for the GMA administration to carry out similar and more sinister attacks in the future.

One Response to “Attacks on rights shoot up”

• 1
  rey
  June 19th, 2009 21:54

  that is thereason why absolute power corrupts absolutely. The danger that Glorias administration clings to power longer than the constitution allows by changing the constitution is indeed scary.

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