The cop out of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez from the multiple murder case against suspected massacre artist Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. mirrors the desperate state of the justice system in which arbiters of law on whom the people rely for justice, are either cowed by criminals or syndicates or are easily bought off. The courts have been embroiled in many other situations that cast a cloud on the reputations of most judges in the country, including the recent tussle about big business bribery where, as opposed to the Ampatuan case, judges are on each other’s neck to have the case assigned to them. The judiciary, nevertheless, is rich with stories of exemplary judges, and there are many who would defy all odds just to uphold the rule of law. A handful has been killed in recent years by those whom the judges had passed their verdict.
PESANTE-USA WARNS AGAINST BUILD-UP OF ARROYO'S BROWN SHIRTS (tags)
The Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante)-USA, a Filipino peasant, human rights and environmental advocacy group based in Los Angeles strongly warned of the US-Arroyo regime scheme of taking advantage of the current troubles in Mindanao to build up its local version of Hitler's Brown Shirts. Pesante is one with the Amnesty International (AI) and many religious groups in the Philippines who are warning the public and the whole world at these vigilante groups which are recycled ILAGAS (known as the Ilonggo landgrabbers Association) who are known anti-Moro vigilante groups before martial law was declared will only aggravate the armed conflict in Mindanao.
Military, police raise coup d’etat alarm anew (tags)
With the prospect of an extension of the term of Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., as the day of his retirement nears and with the Palace already preparing for the negative points as a result of this, both the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) leaders, along with the Defense and Interior chiefs, again raised the alarm on coups and destabilization moves by alleged rebel soldiers, saying moves are afoot to topple President Arroyo and her government, claiming that they obtained the information gathered by the intelligence community.
Philippine Chief Justice Won Praises from KABATAAN (Youth)for Defense of Human Rights (tags)
Philipppine Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno won praises for his fighting words in defense of human rights and the sweetest praise came from the Kabataan party-list group, which gave him a mocha cake. Kabataan vice president Carl Ramota delivered the cake to the court but court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said Puno was at a meeting and received it on behalf of the Chief Justice. Marquez said Puno had been told about the cake and thanked the group for it. More than 835 Filipinos have veen killed since Arroyo assumed power in 2001 and at least 220 people have been missing. There at at least 215 activist have been detained as political prisoners, the most prominent is ANAKPAWIS Pre. Crispin Beltran who has been languishing in jail since last year when Arroyo declared a "state of emergency. Also in military jail are at least 60 officers and men including 2 generals, scores of colonels and majors who are being charged with attempted coup since 2003.
Militant Lawmakers and Opposition Stalwarts Condemns Philippine Arroyo's Puppetry (tags)
President Arroyo’s public admission that her administration buckled before US pressure in the custody dispute over a convicted rapist makes her government an awkward host for an upcoming summit that includes many countries that have defied American might. Militant legislators called President Arroyo’s action as “downright improper, illegal and bordering on treason.” “This is perhaps the most scandalous crime and most unconstitutional act ever committed by Mrs. Arroyo that makes Proclamation 1017, the Calibrated Preemptive Response, Executive Order 464 and the fake people’s initiative pale in comparison,” House Deputy Minority Leader Satur Ocampo said. Ocampo called the President a “serial violator of the Constitution and the rule of law.” “The opportunist that she is, it is farfetched that she will find shame over this scandal and feel the urge to resign,” he said. “Those incensed by her corruption and cheating are now more determined to compel her ouster due to her sellout of Philippine national interests.” Party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis said Smith’s transfer in exchange for resumption of Balikatan exercises makes Nicole a victim all over again. “Is there anything President Arroyo will not do to secure Washington’s approval? Her approval for the transfer of convicted rapist US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith exposes how low she will go to make sure that she has the support of the US government: she is willing to throw aside Philippine law and ignore severe implications on national sovereignty. For the sake of her government’s one-sided relations with the US, she has abetted the eventual release of a convicted rapist.”
Anti-USA demonstration in Manila - January 3, 2007 (tags)
Philippines court, minister back transfer of US marine rapist