Cristina Palabay —AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan on Saturday lauded the dismissal of a petition of certiorari directed to ten of its members, which included seven of its national officers.
The petition of certiorari was filed by former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and incumbent Adviser Eduardo Año, which questioned the acquittal of the ten members for perjury in January.
READ: QC court acquits rights group members in Esperon’s perjury case
According to Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez, the “prosecution’s pieces of evidence fall short in presenting its case for conviction beyond reasonable doubt.”
The decision was made on November 17.
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said that this dismissal was a “vindication” for human rights defenders.
“We hope that this decision puts an end to the use of this case to further harass us. The dismissal of Esperon and Año’s petition for certiorari is a vindication for human rights defenders in our struggle for justice and accountability,” Palabay, who was among the respondents, said.
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