Sorsogon killings: ‘Amparo’ witnesses fail to testify

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals 14th Division on Tuesday did not allow the witnesses of three militant groups to testify in their petition for a writ of amparo, or protection against military harassment, saying their lawyers did not prepare their sworn statements beforehand.

According to National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers secretary general Ephraim Cortez, also counsel for Karapatan, Gabriela and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, the witnesses would have included Ryan Hubilla, one of two Karapatan members gunned down by unknown assailants in Sorsogon over the weekend.

With media barred from the courtroom, Cortez quoted Associate Justice Mario Lopez as saying that court rules require summary hearings for amparo petitions. Lopez, Cortez said, later declared the case ripe for resolution.

The court decision was a deviation from other amparo cases he has handled, Cortez said. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan