Bayan Muna: Judges who issued warrants for raids must be held liable

Bayan Muna Party list Rep. Isagani Carlos Zarate and Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Leaders of party-list group Bayan Muna on Tuesday said they are deliberating on the possible filing of administrative complaints against the regional trial court judges who issued the search warrants that allowed the raids on various progressive groups’ offices in Metro Manila and Negros Occidental.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and chairperson Neri Colmenares said the judges responsible for the search orders – including Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 89 Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos Villavert and Cebu City RTC Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras – should be made accountable because their actions allegedly led to violations of certain rights.

“We are also mulling filing charges on such judges.  Lawyers will meet next week with Negros victims and this is one of the agenda,” Colmenares said in a statement.

Villavert was identified as the judge who issued the order authorizing elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to raid the offices of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Bacolod, Negros Occidental on October 31.

At least 57 persons including 10 minors were arrested for allegedly taking part in firearms and explosive training.

Bayan Muna then sought an explanation on why National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas – the former Central Visayas police chief – talked with Villavert hours before the raid.

Sinas dismissed the insinuations, saying that it was just a courtesy call to ask Villavert and other judges if they need any additional security.  But Zarate said it should be enough for the Supreme Court to look into the issue.

“The visit of NCRPO Gen. Debold Sinas on Judge Villavert on the very day she issued the warrant for ‘dialogue’ should immediately at least lead the Supreme Court to ask the question why the judge allowed such a meeting and what was the topic in the dialogue,” Zarate said.

READ: Bayan Muna questions NCRPO’s Sinas’ talks with judge who issued search warrant

READ: NCRPO chief denies hand in warrants vs Gabriela, Bayan Muna

Colmenares, meanwhile, stressed judges should be independent of the executive branch especially state forces.

“The rules require judges to have the independence of making searching questions of the police and military asking for search warrants and not just follow the orders of the police to issue the warrants,” he pointed out.

“If a judge issues a search warrant on the mere bare allegations of the PNP there must be accountability here because these searches and arrests violate rights.  Look at the resulting sufferings to the victims. The police and the military reported arresting 14 minors saying they are NPA child warriors. After a week of detaining these minors, the inquest prosecutor dismissed these charges for being destitute of merits and released all the minors,” Colmenares added.

Recently, various progressive organizations opened their offices to barangay officials and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to quell speculations that their offices are hideouts for rebels or storage for arms and explosives.

CHR said it understands the government’s mandate to protect its citizens from lawless violence, but cautioned against conducting operations meant to silence the administration’s vocal critics.

READ: Bayan demands state forces to stay away from QC office

READ: CHR hoping police raids not meant to silence legitimate dissent

/kga