MANILA, Philippines -- In time for All Souls' Day, members of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) and Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL) remember their fallen colleagues, noting that justice have yet to be achieved.
To date, 22 lawyers have already been killed since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001, while 15 judges have also been slain since 1999, according to the NUPL in a statement.
"Tomorrow, in our homes, we will light candles for our fallen colleagues. We continue to grope for justice as impunity still reigns," said lawyer Neri Colmenares, NUPL secretary general.
Colmenares said that except for the murder of Judge Henrick Gingoyon, those behind the killing of lawyers and judges have yet to be brought to justice.
Judge Gingoyon of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court's Branch 117 was gunned down on December 31, 2005 while on his way home to Bacoor, Cavite. Fifteen men, all allegedly hired assassins, were arrested.
"Many believe that the killing is linked with his ruling in the practice of his profession as judge, most likely the case involving the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCO)," said Colmenares, referring to the controversial case of the ownership of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
Colmenares also noted that cases of human rights lawyers Juvy Magsino, Fedelito Dacut, and Norman Bocar have never been resolved.
"The international community has repeatedly condemned these killings but the Arroyo government has not punished the criminals in uniform," he added.
Magsino was gunned down on February 13, 2004 in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Bocar was shot September 1, 2005, in Borongan, Eastern Samar, while Dacut was shot dead on March 14, 2005 in Tacloban City, Leyte.
"All of them were listed in the military's order of battle," Colmenares claimed.
"The situation bodes darkness not only for the legal profession. It also indicates that the human rights situation in the country has not improved at all contrary to the claims of the Arroyo government," he added.
