Solon wants new lawyers to give free lectures on human rights, due process

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker wants new and future lawyers to conduct free legal services in terms of trainings to the communities or law enforcers in a bid to educate them on the basics tenets of human rights, due process, and criminal law and procedure.

Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said the Supreme Court should enjoin new members of the court to render community service pro bono, citing “too many incidents of questionable law enforcement spreading like a contagious virus” which could no longer be considered as isolated incidents.

“‘Yung community service na sinasabi natin, they have to conduct free lectures para sa ating mga tanod, pulis, law enforcement authorities regarding Bill of Rights, regarding due process, and of course yung interpretation ng criminal procedures para hindi magkamali sa pag-enforce ng mga batas,” Garbin told INQUIRER.net over the phone.

(The community service we are proposing entails the conduct of free lectures for our barangay tanod, policemen, and other law enforcement authorities regarding Bill of Rights, due process, and of course the interpretation of criminal procedures so that they would not commit mistakes in implementing the law.)

With the coronavirus pandemic and quarantine protocols in place, these lectures can be done online, said Garbin.

The lawmaker added that the lectures could benefit both the public and law enforcement authorities.

Garbin made the call a day after the results of the 2019 bar examinations were released.

About 2,103 bar takers out of 7,685 examinees passed the 2019 Bar examination, yielding a 27.36-percent passing rate this year.

“Itong ating mga bagong abogado, nandyan pa yung fire, yung enthusiasm na makapagbigay ng tulong kasi kapag nasanay na yan na may bayad, talagang mahirap na ‘yan hagilapin,” Garbin said.

(Our new lawyers still has the fire and enthusiasm to help because once they get used to being paid, it might be harder to find them.)

There have been issues in relation to public order and safety as well as human rights since the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in the Luzon region.

Just recently, retired Army Col. Winston Ragos was shot dead at a quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City by Quezon City policeman Police Mst. Sgt. Daniel Florendo.

Ragos allegedly attempted to pull out a handgun from his sling bag after the police asked him to return home and follow quarantine protocols.

But videos of the incident showed residents of the area pleading to police officers to stay calm and said that the former soldier was suffering from a mental disorder. There are also reports that Ragos did not really have a gun in his possession.

This week, a foreign national protesting the Makati policemen’s intrusion into his private property was subdued to the ground and was nearly arrested for alleged violations of quarantine rules.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it will conduct an investigation on the altercation.

EDV