oJ' TH'B!
iepub[ic of toe IT)iTippines' 6upreme (!nourt
March
ATTY.
BRIAN
Chief,
Public
Supreme
KEITH
23, 2021
F. HOSAKA
Information
Office
Court
Re: Instructions to Read the Statement of the Members of the Court En Banc Responding to Calls for Action Regarding the Killing of Lawyers and Threats to Judges
Dear
Atty.
The
Hosaka:
undersigned
and distribute urgent
the attached
concerns
Thank
members
regarding
of the
statement
to the public of lawyers
request
in view and threats
you
of our
to read
serious
and
to judges.
you.
Chief
. PERALTA J
ce
dE!RLA-BERNAB MARVIC Associ
ALFRE
En Banc
the killing
DIOSDADO
ESTELA
Court
J
B)!:N As
Associ
ce
LEONEN
e Justice
G. GESMUNDO
S CAGUIOA eJ
i+F'*
t
sociate
Justice
RAMON
PAUL Associate
L. HERNANDO
ROSMARI
Justice
D. CARANDANG
Associate
Justice
Associate
Justice
/#J"AVIER
A:MY Associate
Justice
Associate
Justice
L. DELOS
EDGA
Associate
RICARDO Associ
iate
SANTOS
Justice
ROSARIO e Justice
SAMUEL
H. GAERLAN
Associate
Justice
JHOSE&PEZ Associate
Justice
9!P THE
iepuli[ic
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6upreme
(Court
fflani[a
A ST ATEMENT
OF
THE
RESPONDING KILLINGS
The letters
and
Among and
Anti-Terrorism the
itself
powers.
ours.
law
Every
This
judges
be
principle
veiy
strongest
in
guaranteed
are all too
duties
exercise
is
ensuring witbin
may
republican
not
that
of
some
of
of the Bar
of the
and the Free
in
alike, of
that
that
systerri,
iristance
cost.
has
Iri this
does and
them
from
ideal
that
the
manner
Court
it from
standing
in no uncertain fixed
on
political
tides.
exercising
their
the
rule
of
to
all
far
must
law
parties.
stands
light,
the Corir: is threatened
fear
bend
aispense
and equitably
by the censtant
-vvhere a lawyer
like
be prcitected.
ca.n fa.irly
ur'ibridled
on
on which society
remained
socia.]
transparent
everything
bedrock
prevents
but
must
an assault
watch.
on the
all its officers
governmental
in a civilized
prevents
in the Constitution
that
the very
shifting
and
among
as it now
debate,
democracy,
is no less than
nothing
repercussions
aware
and
be allowed
a history
tne highest
avery
between
and lawyers
an impartial
the legal
exact
sense
by
Integrated
of our
on the Court's
or a judge
serious
accessible
We
filed
of Law,
is to shake
cannot
is mindfiil
arriid
to a lawyer
its arc toward
killings
constitutionality
of the
and our lawyers
go underiounced
justice'
right
of various
and
College
pillars
the Judiciary
stands.
officers,
has
concern
JUDGES
receipt
judges
the
EANC
THE
OUR
Manifestations
questioning
balance
our judges
Court
functions
their
on a careful
Supreme
threat
the
of
TO
to
EN
ON
acknowledge
threats
is one of the three
The
This
THREATS
of the Philippines
cannot
administering
must
statement
To assault
of
by all court
Every
cases
COURT
ACTION
Court
in the
This
terms.
Supreme
THE
Group.
To threaten
rule
FOR
AND
include
the
hangs
the Judiciary.
CALLS
letters
University
Juaiciary
The
the
parties
Assistance
OF
concerning
these
Act,
Philippines,
which
of the
manifestations
lawyers
Legal
TO
LAWYERS
members
lawyers. the
OF
MEMBERS
that
condemns or killed,
such in the and
vvhere a 3udge is threatened and unfairly labeled. tolerate
s:uch
undermine worth
acts
that
the most
of human
only
basic
general.
the they
Judiciary,
think
our law as mere
of
law, on the
of the public,
and public
elements
would
simply never
brush
who,
the
servants
in their
in
zeal to
aside the limitations
be countenanced,
and indivisible
interest
we are taking
rights
in
for it is only
that
the past 10 years.
informatiori
be done
the remainder
these
the
our freedoms
Based
Second,
while
deliberate,
arid
service
of
search
Court's
deliberations
the conduct
coordinate
we
with
most recent survey
received
among
withiri action
or
or killing.
us with
We ask that this month
Office
prior
public
of April.
to receive
and
to our deliberations
en
2021.
the Court
will
then
decide
of the relevant
on the
rules,
or if
promulgate arrest
the Court
rules
on the
warrants.
on whether
En Banc
to work
use of body
cameras
for
the
is without
prejudice
to
the
This
we can cover
operations
has resolved
with
our rules
in 'i:he enforcement
of procedure
of t}ie Comprehensive
Act.
have the
incident
organizatioris
of a lawyer provide
and the whole
t}ie amendmem
this is ongoing,
of buy-bust
Third,
on
of new ones.
arid
Drugs
provided,
including
the creation
groups-to
law
to shed light
the public-including
a report
of April
as the various
or killing
Information
us with
for the last week
of aetion,
month
Public
on the informatien
courses
Dangerous
of this
as well
threat
judges'
of action:
information
of such threat
Court's
data and provide
banc scheduled
necessary,
and
on any incident
within
relevant
We aiso urge
lawyers
are designating
collate
us with
courses
courts,
of each and every
organizaiions,
vetted
the following
our lower
to furnish
and context
within
further
enforcers
should
of our inalienable
offices,
the number
on,
rule
and speculate
concerns
are wayward
This
we ha've requested
enforcement
next
the
meaningful
First,
We
principles,
as law
that there
is necessary,
In this regard,
judge
as well
obstacles.
in the enjoyment become
of constitutional
defeat
and share the legitimate
We are aware
do what
justice,
lives.
We acknow!edge profession,
perverse
We do not and will not
ordered raievant of a.judge
cotrsidered triaf
the Office law
enforcement
being
ccort
and Snari'a
by the Court.
the extent
'I'he r'esulting
to
report
to: (1)
investigate
the
her to and rebels; and (2)
of a 'i:arpaulin
as commur.ists
jiidges
Administrator
agencies
the subject
by law enforcers
the last 10 years.
of the Court
linking
of threats would
they
have
be the basis
of
We
have
counseling
coordinated
to
coordinate
the
with
judges
security
all
concerned
concenned.
arr.angements
The
for
to
Court
any judge
provide
is
security
ready
or justice
to
and
provide
that
or
is similarly
threatened.
Fourth, relevant into
we are referring
trial
coprts,
the proper
amparo
which
will
remedies,
or habeas
all ietters then
such
that contain
order
specific
the parties
as but not
limited
incidents
to convert
to petitions
to the
such
letters
for the writs
of
data.
Fifth, in all these processes, we will endeavor to coordinate through existing
mechanisms
society
or law
We clients in
cases,
the
provide
the relevant
what
it
are carried
ensure
that
The
we will
continue
they
show
remairi
Court
undaiinted,
and upholdirig
to
the
We Court
Manila,
calls
recogriize stands
Alarch
with
that
our
on the In
is necessary
operated
within
as clear We
institutional
breaches
remain
and effective
of
conscious in a just,
can and
as well
as the public,
comply
with
restraints, constitutional
fair,
role
to
and timely
can rest assured
our constitutional
duty
that to act
are done.
and unwavering
no more a clear
we
fitting
vision
and all members
time
than
of taking
of
in the duties now
courage,
should
the
enforcing
of the Constitutiori.
all
'oravery in the face
23, 202 ].
we
of our
steadfast,
them.
will
to effectively
strong,
the
may
framed,
so doing,
Judiciary
virtues
courts of policy
the entire
with
motions
issues
invocations
upon
At
or whose
the necessary
system.
change
the svpremacy
just
the
injustices
to fulfiil.
up to adniinister..iustice
Supreme
to civil
rights.
is resilient
that
based
General
spectate
and the Bar,
order
and,
with
its halls.
to remain
an cath
unqualified.
to
beyond
it is clear
in
facts,
has always
to unflinchingly
profession
True
the
our basic
of law
Bench
Suprerrne
Judieiary the law.
out
when
swore
belonging
harassment,
to file
complaints
for each case.
resigned
the rule
manner.
the legal
experienced
have
or institutional
Court
from
rights
The
whether
or harassment,
experience
protect
Supreme
decisively
who
or
reliefs
revision
is far
groups,
determine by
further
The but
evidence,
supported
efficiently
concerned
threats
petitions,
receive be better
lawyers
experienced
pending
all
enforcement.
encourage
have
assess
with
of
must
fight
all
the judges
of fear.
Let
foy,
there
our and
resolve lawyers
be no
is who
doubt, the