Some human right advocates submitted a report to UN Special Rapporteur narrating the recent attacks by the executive branch against members of the judiciary.
MANILA, Philippines — Several law groups including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and some human right advocates want the United Nations Special Rapporteur to take action on the recent tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the entire justice system.
The group submitted on Wednesday a report to UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Diego Garcia Sayán, narrating recent attacks by the executive branch against members of the judiciary which they believe threaten judicial independence in the country.
“Malaki ang impact niyan sa international relations natin sa iba’t ibang mga bansa. Apektado ang magiging economic policies, apektado ang pagpapadala ng migrant workers, ang trade natin,” said Atty. Arpee Santiago of the Ateneo Human Rights Council.
(It has a big impact on our international relations with various countries. It will affect the creation of our economic policies; the deployment of migrant workers and our trade.)
The groups’ primary concern is Duterte’s call to speed up the impeachment process against the chief justice who he recently tagged as his “enemy”. The groups also cited the President’s rant against IBP president Abdiel Fajardo following his remark regarding the Office of the Ombudsman.
The groups said justices and lawyers are being deprived of freedom of expression because those who criticize the Duterte administration are being tagged “criminals.”
“Tatawagin ka niyang gago, gunggong, kriminal, walang-hiya, bobo in public pag ikaw ay may sasabihin sa kanya magagalit ka. Ang problem dito, ang kanyang attacks nagte-threaten sa judicial independence sa independence of lawyers. He is immune from suite but he is not immune from investigation,” Neri Colmenares of the National Union of Lawyers in the Philippines said.
(He will call you stupid, criminal, shameless in public if you say something against him. The problem is, his attacks threaten the judicial independence, the independence of lawyers. He is immune from suit but he is not immune from investigation.)
The groups include the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), National Union of People’s Lawyers, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Alternative Law Groups, Manananggol Laban sa EJKs, International Pro Bono Alliance and the Free Legal Assistance Group.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the call to impeach the Chief Justice did not originate from the executive.
“For the longest time, the President has been silent about the issue, notwithstanding the allegations made by CJ Sereno against the Chief Executive in many public fora saying the latter is behind her impeachment,” said Roque.
He added that the President’s statement on the CJ impeachment is just a reaction to these accusations and not an attack on the judiciary or an affront to judicial independence. — Grace Casin | UNTV News & Rescue
The post Lawyers, rights advocates urge UN Special Rapporteur to probe Duterte’s ‘attacks’ on the judiciary appeared first on UNTV News.