Writ of amparo granted family of slain rebel

The Supreme Court has issued a permanent protection order against intimidation and surveillance by police authorities to the family of a slain alleged communist rebel.

In a decision dated Oct. 15 but made available only on Thursday, the high court ordered the Philippine National Police to stop monitoring Vivian Sanchez and her children in connection with her estranged husband’s alleged insurgent activities.

The tribunal overruled the Regional Trial Court of San Jose, Antique, which denied Sanchez’s petition for a writ of amparo on Sept. 13, 2018.

“While pursuing rebels is a legitimate law enforcement objective, the zeal of our police must be bound by the fundamental rights of persons, especially the loved ones of persons (of) interest,” the court said in a decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

Sanchez said the constant police surveillance started on Aug. 16, 2018, when she went to a funeral home upon learning that her estranged husband, Eldie Labinghisa, was among the seven rebels killed by the PNP in Barangay Atabay, San Jose, Antique.