Rights victims’ families seek Duterte disbarment 

UNFIT TO BE A LAWYER Protesters hold up placards declaring former President Rodrigo Duterte’s unfitness to be a lawyer. — RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights groups, advocates, religious leaders, and relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings on Friday filed a disbarment case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In their complaint, they said Duterte’s war against drugs, called “katok-hangyo (tokhang),” violated the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) and for conduct unbecoming a lawyer.

“We support this initiative as part of efforts to hold Duterte accountable for violations of human and people’s rights,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, in a statement.

In December last year, Duterte appeared before the Senate and admitted giving kill orders to the death squad in connection with his anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“With Duterte’s invocation of his role as lawyer and prosecutor as some kind of authority in his recent testimony at the hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate, we believe it is time for victims of human rights violations to speak up,” said lawyer Vicente Jaime “VJ” Topacio, son of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultants Agaton Topacio and Eugenia Magpantay, who were victims of extrajudicial killings in their home in November 2020.

How the law should work

“It is time for us to appeal to the Supreme Court to reinforce how the law should work in the Philippines, how the law should shield victims of human rights violations as they seek justice and should ensure dignified and proper conduct in the practice of law,” Topacio added.

Among the complainants are Llore Pasco, whose sons Crisanto and Juan Carlos were found dead on Oct. 12, 2017, killed in an alleged police drug war operation; and Liezel Asuncion, widow of Bayan-Cavite coordinator Manny Asuncion, who was among the nine activists killed in the so-called Bloody Sunday massacre on March 7, 2021.

There’s also Rosenda Lemita, whose daughter Ana Mariz and son-in-law Ariel Evangelista were killed during the Bloody Sunday police raids, and Lean Porquia, son of slain Bayan Muna–Panay coordinator Jory Porquia.

Defender of accountability?

The other complainants are former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Palabay, Fr. Manuel Gatchalian, SVD, Sr. Eleanor Llanes, ICM, Hustisya secretary general Ofelia Balleta, Norma Dollaga, Orly Marcellana, Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino, Tina-Agel Romero as well as cultural workers Bonifacio Ilagan, JL Burgos and Kiri Dalena.

Burgos is younger brother of activist Jonas Burgos, who has been missing for 18 years since he was reportedly abducted by the military in broad daylight at a mall in Quezon City in 2007.

“This petition for disbarment is especially relevant, since Rodrigo Duterte has presented himself as one of the legal counsels of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is currently facing at least three impeachment complaints,” Palabay said.

“We fervently hope the disbarment petition will be given due course by the Supreme Court,” she added.