Last September 21, I received a text message from my former boss Atty. Neri Colmenares, the same day Proclamation 1081 was signed 47 years ago. His text message was an invitation to the relaunch of The Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties (CLCL) on September 23, which coincides on the same date of the promulgation of Proclamation 1081. The said launch of the alliance was in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ JBL Reyes Hall, which was named after its first president and former Associate Supreme Court Justice Jose BL Reyes- a well renowned jurist and a staunch advocate for civil liberties. His famous quote, “No Master, but Law; No Guide, but Conscience; No Aim, but Justice” encapsulates the ideals that a lawyer must live by.
Some of the famous names in the legal profession present in the gathering include our own former Sen. Rene Saguisag, Atty. Christian Monsod who is one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former UP Law Dean Atty. Pacifico Agabin, former Representatives Neri Colmenares and Erin Tanada, Adamson University College of Law Dean Atty. Ada Abad, De La Salle University College of Law Dean Atty. Chel Diokno, University of Cebu College of Law Dean Atty. Rose Liza Eisma-Osorio, Ateneo de Davao University College of Law Dean Atty. Manuel Quibod, Ateneo Human Rights Center Director Atty. Arpee Santiago. The event was also graced by the presence of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Chito Gascon and the previous and current IBP Presidents.
The alliance was first convened in 2006 during the Arroyo regime, amid the attacks against human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law. Several landmark cases during this time had the CLCL either as counsels or petitioners, among them were Bayan vs. Ermita1, Lambino vs COMELEC2, David vs Arroyo3, Senate of the Philippines vs. Ermita4, Southern Hemisphere Engagement Network, Inc. vs. Anti-Terrorism Council5.
Thirteen years after, the alliance was reconvened as attacks against the people intensified. Since 2016, a total of 47 judges, prosecutors and lawyers were murdered as per the tally of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL). On the morning of the gathering, a failed ambush attempt against Atty. Cris Heredia in Capiz was reported. Atty. Heredia is a member of NUPL and an environmentalist. These kinds of attacks also affect advocates, journalists, and even civilians who are merely exercising their duties as citizens and are well within the bounds of the law.
On top of actual physical attacks, vilification through baseless harassment suits and red-tagging are also being done to advocates and people’s organizations to invalidate their concerns instead of addressing the issues that they want to be resolved in the first place. This environment of hostility deserves no place in our country that should be a nation of laws and not of men.
More than ever, lawyers and law students should be more proactive and abreast with the issues surrounding them. The law is stable and dynamic at the same time. As future advocates, we should know by heart our basic human rights and it is our duty to uphold it especially to those who are blindsided by this knowledge. With the venue filled to the brim during the said launch, defenders of the rule of law can fight back against the attacks. ■
- 1 G.R. No. 169838
- 2 G.R. No. 174153
- 3 G.R. No. 171396
- 4 G.R. No. 169777
- 5 G.R. No. 178552
Author
PAUL NIKKO DEGOLLADO
Editor-in-Chief
A.Y. 2020 – 2021