The Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. (Photo from the Facebook account of the House of Representatives)
MANILA, Philippines — Two lawmakers welcome as a victory for due process the acquittal of 10 human rights workers of perjury charges filed by Hermogenes Esperon Jr. when he was still the national security adviser.
The lawmakers — Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France — issued separate statements on Monday welcoming the decision of Judge Aimee Alcera of Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 139 to acquit the accused.
Esperon accused the rights defenders — members of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Karapatan, and Gabriela Women’s Party — of making false statements in their petition for writs of amparo and of habeas corpus seeking protection from red-tagging and harassment.
“One of the pillars of human rights is the right to due process… Today is a victory for due process and the Rule of Law,” Abante, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, said.
“I share the joy of the families of those who have been cleared of the crimes they have been accused of, and I hope and pray that all those in our country accused of wrongdoing are given their day in court — especially activists and members of progressive organizations who are unfairly condemned for their ideologies and beliefs,” he added.
“This decision serves to remind us that in a country with a functioning Judiciary and criminal justice system, there is no place for extrajudicial actions. If authorities believe that laws have been broken, the accused should be caught, tried, and given every opportunity to assert their innocence.”
Castro meanwhile said it was relief that the rights defenders were acquitted of the “malicious” perjury charges.
“It’s a joy to know that our colleagues in Gabriela, Karapatan, and RMP have been acquitted of the malicious charges filed by General Esperon. I hope that the trumped-up cases filed against other human rights defenders are also junked soon,” she said in Filipino.
“This decision serves as a reminder that the fight for human rights and justice must continue, and that those who stand up for these values should not be silenced or punished. We stand with the 10 HRDs [human rights defenders] and all those who work towards a more just and equal society,” she added.
Esperon’s complaint was based on allegations that RMP’s certificate of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission had long been revoked.
He also said that the groups who filed the petitions swore that the information stated were facts even though these were not accurate — like the claim that the killing of activists was state-sponsored.
But in its ruling issued Monday, the court said that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to ensure a conviction of the accused.