Rappler's latest stories on national union of peoples' lawyers
Anti-terror law's next battleground: Crafting of IRR, Supreme Court
'Labag ito sa karapatang nakasaad sa Saligang Batas, kung kaya't dapat ito ibasura ng Korte Suprema,' says Akbayan
SC urged: Compel Duterte gov’t to conduct ‘mass testing’
Petitioners led by former social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo also ask the High Court to compel the government to ramp up contact tracing efforts and release timely, accurate, and complete information on the pandemic
Critics ready to petition vs anti-terror bill – and Carpio is one of them
'If we do not want to experience a contraction of our civil liberties we must all work to have the objectionable provisions in the anti-terrorism act invalidated by the Supreme Court or repealed by Congress'
Law experts: 12-year prescription period for cyber libel unconstitutional
'The overriding issue in the Rappler case is prescription,' says retired supreme court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, who agrees that cyber libel must prescribe in 1 year, not 12 years
41 activists, lawyer in Iloilo freed after labor day arrest
Each had to post a P12,000 bail
Supreme Court told: Non-release of vulnerable prisoners can cause riots
'Death, violence and riots can also break out if the pandemic is left unchecked in prisons,' petitioners warn, even as the public health system is overwhelmed
Elderly prisoners, detainee with leprosy ask SC to release them amid pandemic
The petitioners use the Enrile doctrine to bail them out as the Philippines deals with the coronavirus crisis
In Duterte’s Philippines, lawyers are pandemic frontliners too
The case of San Roque 21 was a stress test of the electronic judicial system – with notable gaps that had lawyers stepping out of their homes
'24 hour-curfews are unconstitutional and excessive'
24-hour curfews are outright denials of the right to travel and movement, human rights lawyers say
Tension rises in progressives’ forum as Parlade gate-crashes
Major General Antonio Parlade is booed out of the Quezon City Sports Club
Amid crackdown, IBP agrees to 'briefing' by anti-communism body
'In the first place communism isn’t outlawed as a belief and membership in the communist party is no longer a crime. So why even bother to listen to such a briefing?' says Law professor and human rights lawyer Ted Te
Fight impunity, 2019 Bar takers told
In its message to Bar candidates, Malacañang meanwhile says, 'Rise to the challenge'
Calida calls Quezon youth activist 'pa-victim'
The military files charges against youth activist Alexandrea Pacalda 8 days after holding her in custody without a warrant
'Red-tagged' anti-mining lawyer survives ambush in Capiz
In NUPL's latest update, there have been 47 judges, prosecutors and lawyers killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took power in 2016
NUPL blasts 'ineffective' writ of amparo after CA junks protection plea
Is the writ of amparo still an effective remedy in the time of President Rodrigo Duterte?
Duterte admin dismisses red-tagging petition as 'implausible'
Human rights lawyers are on a slight disadvantage because the Court of Appeals has already denied their request for a protection order
Rights groups: Pass U.N. resolution vs PH drug war killings now
'There’s no other time,' say Philippine human rights groups attending the 41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Duterte gov't says human rights lawyers don't need SC protection order
Solicitor General Jose Calida also tells the Supreme Court that President Rodrigo Duterte cannot be impleaded in the writ of amparo
Groups hit 'pattern of attacks' against democratic institutions
'Papatayin nila ang demokrasya kaya anyone who helps in strengthening democracy...sisirain nila kasi media is one of the pillars of democracy,' says Vera Files president Ellen Tordesillas
SC to gov't: Explain red-tagging, West PH Sea neglect
In the case of the writ of amparo for human rights lawyers, it's President Rodrigo Duterte himself who must submit a response to the Supreme Court
Lawyers score SC victories vs army harassment, West PH Sea neglect
Writs of amparo and kalikasan are issued on the same day in favor of human rights groups which sued the Duterte administration in two separate petitions
NUPL asks Supreme Court for protection order after ’Oust Duterte matrix' tag
‘The continuous attacks...show the government’s disregard of the court processes and their resolve to threaten, harass, intimidate and further endanger the life, liberty and security of the petitioners,’ the human rights lawyers tell the SC
Human rights law group calls Oust Duterte plot ‘rubbish'
(UPDATED) In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says the supposed intel info should be trusted because it came from Duterte
Human rights lawyers seek Supreme Court protection from army ‘harassment’
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers says that since the start of Duterte's presidency, a total of 55 lawyers have been attacked or threatened, 36 of whom were killed
NUPL appeals SC ruling on Boracay closure
In its appeal, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers tells the Supreme Court that its grounds for ruling against Leila de Lima’s 2011 travel ban against Gloria Arroyo should also apply to Duterte's Boracay closure order
Child abuse complaint filed vs Sagay police over massacre case
NUPL's Kathy Panguban claims that the police have been using an estranged father to get his son to testify that NPA rebels are behind the Sagay massacre
LIST: Judges, prosecutors, lawyers killed under Duterte gov't
(7th UPDATE) Members of the judiciary are not spared from the culture of impunity
Malacañang condemns killing of human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos
Blaming Ramos' slaying on the government is 'baseless' and 'reckless,' says Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
'Mabinay 6' lawyer shot dead in Negros Occidental
(UPDATED) Human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos was in front of a store near the public plaza in Kabankalan City when he was shot at close range by two unidentified men
Lawyers press military to transfer Palparan to Bilibid
(UPDATED) The military says that pending the appeal of Palparan's conviction, they will keep custody of the former general
After Palparan conviction, lawyers target Gloria Arroyo
‘We are looking at the angle of command responsibility of Palparan’s commander-in-chief Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,’ says private prosecutor Edre Olalia
NUPL: Justice finally catches up with the 'Butcher' Palparan
The conviction of retired army major general Jovito Palparan sends a message that 'rightful retribution will come in time' against human rights violators, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers says
New Chief Justice De Castro must prove 'independence, impartiality'
'The new Chief Justice will have to credibly address uncomplimentary views about her independence and impartiality,' says the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers
What did lawyers, police do wrong in Makati bar raid?
Lawyers present during police searches are guided by the following questions: Does the search team have a search warrant? If so, is it valid? If so, is the proper procedure being observed?
Climate of fear: Justice remains elusive 2 years into Duterte's drug war
The Commission on Human Rights says it has never before encountered the magnitude of killings seen under President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign. It is now struggling to keep up with investigations.
Supreme Court upholds CA ruling to give protection to human rights lawyer
'What the respondent obviously established is that the threats to her right to life, liberty and security were neither imaginary nor contrived, but real and probable,' says the SC in upholding the Court of Appeals' ruling in favor of lawyer Maria Catherine Dannug-Salucon, who accused the military of harassment
Lawyers counting on 'swing votes' to reverse Sereno ouster
Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) says it is up to Justices Andres Reyes Jr and Alexander Gesmundo to ‘change their minds’. There is also the curious case of Justice Francis Jardeleza.
IBP to appeal Sereno ouster; lawyers called to rise up
However, constitutional law experts say it is only Congress which is in a position to challenge the quo warranto
Boracay workers file 1st petition vs closure at Supreme Court
(UPDATED) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque asserts, 'Unless a TRO is issued, the planned closure of Boracay to tourists shall proceed'
Why PNP's new subpoena powers threaten our rights
'It is so unfair and unjust. Marcosian ito, at bumabalik na tayo,' says human rights lawyer Edre Olalia
Women fighting: Widows, mothers of drug war casualties come together
'For every tokhang victim, there is a woman wailing beside,' says human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares. These same women will take the Duterte administration, and perpetrators and enablers, to account
SC orders government to answer petition vs tax reform law
(UPDATED) The House Makabayan bloc says the law is invalid because the ratification that occurred at the Lower House violated rules
Manila court orders arrest of Tiamzons
But the communist leaders' lawyers say the rearrest is a violation since peace talks were 'not terminated properly'
NUPL lawyers file SC petition to stop martial law extension
(UPDATED) Progressive groups say it's unconstitutional to extend martial law when there is no actual rebellion, and that President Rodrigo Duterte is really targeting dissenters and activists
Mary Jane Veloso’s lawyers slam CA decision to block her testimony
'Just let her speak out and let her story stand on its own. Or shall we wait for her to be sent to the gallows with her mouth gagged?' says the National Union of People's Lawyers
Bar examinees urged: Become people's lawyers, human rights defenders
The National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) addresses bar examinees in an open letter just in time for bar examinations
Lawyers do dirty groundwork to fight Duterte’s drug war
'There are only a few of us who do this. We are lawyers, we need to find ways to make the law more meaningful and closer to justice.'
76 Kidapawan farmers released, 2 more to post bail
Police release the farmers over two weeks after their arrest
Olalia: Veloso family had ‘bittersweet’ visit in Indonesia
NUPL lawyer Edre Olalia says the reunion also brings together Indonesian lawyers the DFA the Philippine embassy in Jakarta and Filipino legal counsels
Veloso family on Mary Jane’s birthday: We want her home
A day after her birthday Mary Jane Veloso s family is flying to Indonesia to visit the Filipina on death row
