National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers

The recent Findings and Conclusions of the International Peoples’ Tribunal (IPT) credibly adjudging President BS Aquino and his government guilty of rights violations lay further basis for him to face the music when he steps down. It validates what the people want: justice and accountability, self-evident principles the traditional legal fora have basically failed to deliver.

Thus, the clear and present danger is not a yearly rally by the discontented and disgusted hoi polloi during the alas final State of the Nation Address by the chief lord of a fascist government but the denial of a basic right to peaceably assemble, the exercise of which has been proven over the course of history to make things happen for the good of the oppressed and exploited many.

So when the Ombudsman has after  a long wait finally indicted the epitome of impunity  in the person of Gen. Palparan in another horrible case of rights violations, it is more of an indictment of our justice system even as we grudgingly welcome it anyway. Yet this will never salvage President Aquino for his own crimes against the people.

So he can still run his last year in office on either of these choices: ride it through, remain stubborn and out of touch. Or he can mitigate his accountability by rethinking, nay just thinking, of what good he can really do to the people. Keep it simple, sir.

Reference:
Edre U. Olalia
Secretary General
+639175113373

—

National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
3F Erythrina Bldg., Maaralin corner Matatag Sts. Central District,Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax no.920-6660
Email addresses: nupl2007@gmail.com
and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com

Follow us on twitter @nuplphilippines
and facebook @https://www.facebook.com/nuplphilippines
Visit the NUPL website at http://www.nupl.net/

By VANESSA K. LUCAS
Chairperson, Philippines Subcommittee of the International Committee
National Lawyers Guild

The National Lawyers Guild, as a convenor of the International People’s Tribunal (IPT), wishes to respond to the comments made by Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis on Balitang America following  the verdict of the IPT finding the Aquino and US Governments are:

1. GUILTY of gross human rights violations involving the civil and political rights of the Filipino People, for committing extrajudicial killings, disappearances, massacres, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as other vicious, brutal and systematic abuses and attacks on the basic democratic rights of the people;

2. GUILTY of gross and systematic violations of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights of the Filipino people through the imposition of exploitative, neoliberal, “free market”  globalization; transgression of their economic sovereignty and plunder of their national patrimony and economy; and attacks on the people’s livelihoods  and destruction of the environment; and

3. GUILTY of gross and systematic violations of the rights of the people to national self-determination and liberation through the imposition of the US war of terror and US military intervention; as well as the perpetration of crimes against humanity and war crimes; misrepresentations of the people’s right to national liberation and self-determination as “terrorism” and the baseless “terrorist” listing of individuals, organizations and other entities by the US and other governments.

Ms. Lewis claims that the Defendants were not given their day in court. However, she fails to mention that the Defendants were served the indictment by certified mail, return receipt requested, through the Embassy of the Philippines, the US State Department, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization on July 6, 2015. The Defendants were given an opportunity to submit an answer in writing and/or appear personally to answer the charges. The Defendants were asked to respond as to if and how they would participate. They were informed that a failure to do submit and answer would be deemed as a waiver of the right to present a defense.  The IPT program gave time for the defense to make appearances and present evidence. While due process was followed and the Defendants had the opportunity to be heard, they chose not to exercise that right.

Ms. Lewis further attacks the tribunal by asking where they were during the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This is ill-informed as not only does the IPT touch on the issues of violations by Arroyo that are being carried on through Aquino’s regime, but shows her ignorance to the 2007 Permanent People’s Tribunal in March 2007 in The Hague which deliberated on an indictment against the Arroyo regime and US Government.

Ms. Lewis attacks the credibility of the IPT. The jurors that deliberated on the indictment are well respected lawyers, academics, award winning social activists and church leaders with exemplary backgrounds. They heard witnesses testimony and reviewed and found credible documentary evidence. Ms. Lewis has no counter to the allegations by witnesses and brings up no argument that the witnesses are less than credible, but only makes empty accusations.

Further, Ms. Lewis tries to distract from the purpose of the tribunal by bringing up issues with China’s influence in the Philippines that are outside the scope of the indictment and witness testimony. Ms. Lewis goes on to verbalize her support of the EDCA, which puts her obviously on the side of the Aquino and US government.

Ms. Lewis is incorrect. This IPT will have an impact. She fails to realize that the majority of Filipinos do not live her lavish lifestyle and are being greatly harmed by the current regimes’ policies. Ms. Lewis also fails to realize that the international community cares about the people of the Philippines and will make their voices heard. The NLG invites Ms. Lewis and/or those representing her views to discuss further the findings of the IPT with the NLG and fellow conveners of the IPT in a public forum.

Sincerely,

Vanessa K. Lucas
Chair Philippines Subcommittee of the International Committee
National Lawyers Guild
vanessa@edelsteinpayne.com

IPT Opening Day, Report on Service of Indictment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnCeuC3gXNI

A few weeks before BS Aquino’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA), the International Peoples’ Tribunal held in Washington, DC, found the Aquino regime guilty of violations of the Filipino people’s Civil and Political Rights, Economic and Socio-Cultural Rights; and Right to Self-Determination. The same guilty verdict was handed down to the US government, which is “equally liable with Defendant Aquino for these gross human rights violations.”

“We welcome the guilty verdict by the IPT especially in the light of BS Aquino’s scheduled SONA, which we expect as his last ditch effort to cover-up his crimes against the Filipino people with his usual lies,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.

Karapatan was among the complainants, which filed cases of violations of civil and political rights. Other complainants were the Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, Hustisya, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Selda, Desaparecidos, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Migrante, Kadamay, Gabriela, Kalikasan, Bayan Muna. Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez testified at the IPT as the expert witness on the overall human rights situation in Philippines.

The prosecution presented 34 cases of rights violations through 32 witnesses, 17 of whom went to Washington, DC; while 10 who remained in Manila were presented through live internet stream.

The tribunal’s jurors, headed by prominent US human rights attorney Azadeh Shahshahani, concluded that the “evidence complied with the evidentiary requirements, and that these evidences clearly established the factual basis of the Indictment, and the culpability of respondents Defendant Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Defendant Government of the United States of America.”

“The Defendants, in concert with each other, willfully and feloniously committed gross and systematic violations of Filipino people’s basic human rights,” said the Tribunal.

Other jurors in the tribunal were Rev. Dr. Molefe Tsele, a former South African ambassador, Mary Boyd, Atty. Camilo Perez-Bustillo, Pao-Yu Ching, Rev. Malcolm Damon, and Rev. Michael Yoshii.

The tribunal said the cases of rights violations “are not random violations” but constitute a clear pattern, especially in the context of the government’s implementation of Oplan Bayanihan, which is “implemented with the assistance of the Defendant Government of the U.S.”

Copies of the Verdict is set to be delivered at the White House and the US State Department by rights and peace groups in the US; and in Malacañang through a rally led by Bayan and Karapatan.

Political prisoners’ pre-SONA activity

To culminate today’s rally at Mendiola, relatives and friends of political prisoners led the demonstrators in singing “Bayan Ko”, in solidarity with the political prisoners who will do the same inside jails at 12:00 noon.  The singing of “Bayan Ko” by political prisoners in various jails nationwide kicks-off their week long activity leading to BS Aquino’s SONA. On July 27, political prisoners will lead discussions in detention centers as alternative to Aquino’s SONA.

Reference:
Cristina “Tinay” Palabay
Secretary General
+63917-3162831

Angge Santos
Media Liaison
+63918-9790580
———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Diliman,
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

ILPS Philippine Chapter

The Philippines Chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS-Phils) hails the conclusion of the International Peoples’ Tribunal (IPT 2015) in Washington, D.C. as it finds the US and Aquino governments guilty beyond doubt of rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The 32 witnesses and several experts braved all odds amid the intensifying crisis and political repression in the Philippines to testify on record before the tribunal.

The wealth of data, information, facts, analyses and other evidence clearly established the factual basis of the indictment, and the culpability of respondents Defendant Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Defendant Government of the United States of America.

We laud the panel of international jurors, prosecutors and staff of the tribunal as well as the militant and progressive peoples of the world who showed solidarity with the Filipino people in the fight for righteousness, justice and freedom.

The blood of our martyrs and victims of rights violations in the Philippines are not lost with the resounding success of the tribunal.

The guilty verdict on Pres. Aquino and the US government goes into the annals of the historic fight of the Filipino people against US imperialism and local reaction.

We are one with the IPT 2015 in calling “to seek redress, to pursue justice, and to transform this oppressive, exploitative and repressive global state of affairs exemplified by the experience and plight of the Filipino people, to challenge the international “rule of law”, and to construct a global order founded on full respect for the rights of all peoples, everywhere.”

We intend to pursue cases of rights abuses and violations as copies of the verdict reach the Prosecutor´s Office of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Inter-American, European, African, and Asian regional courts or systems, as well as lawyers associations, human rights defenders, law schools, and human rights programs of study throughout the world.

A significant stride has been made with IPT 2015 as we march forward ever more resolutely to punish the perpetrators, render justice for the victims and end impunity in the country.

ILPS Philippine Chapter
Office Address:
2/F IBON Center, 114 Timog Avenue
Quezon City 1103,  PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2  9277062
E-mail: ilps.phils@gmail.com
Website: www.ilps-phils.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ILPSPhils
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ILPS_Phils