Court denies lawyers’ plea for protection

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals has denied the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers’ (NUPL) petition for a court protection order against military harassment of their members.

The three-member Former Special 15th Division said there was “no substantial evidence” on the threats to life, liberty and security of NUPL members that would justify issuing a writ of amparo (protection).

“We hold that individual petitioners (NUPL chair Neri Colmenares and president Edre Olalia) failed to substantially prove that their life, liberty and security are threatened with violation,” the court said in a ruling penned by Associate Justice Pedro Corales issued on July 29.

Associate Justices Stephen Cruz and Germano Legaspi concurred.

Olalia said they were no longer surprised by the denial of their petition.

“This is not really surprising nor unexpected. It only strengthens impressions that amparo as a legal remedy has time and time again failed expectations of victims for immediate and judicial protection,” he said.

“How many more lawyers and human rights defenders need to be killed, vilified, harassed, threatened and labelled before the dots are connected?” he added.

Olalia said they would appeal to the Supreme Court.