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Philippine National Police Accused of Creating Hit List Against Lawyers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent attack on a lawyer in the Philippines has reignited concerns about the safety of legal professionals in the country. A Makabayan lawmaker has denounced the Philippine National Police (PNP) for asking courts to submit the names of lawyers who represent clients linked to communist groups. The move has been condemned as a clear and present danger to the legal profession.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PNP's intelligence chief in Calbayog City, Police Lt. Fernando Calabria Jr., requested a list of lawyers from the local regional trial court (RTC) on March 12, stating it was for "subsequent submission to PNP higher offices."
  • The list was to include the lawyers' names, affiliations, clients, cases filed, and case status, as well as a "mode of neutralization," which in the language used by security forces, often means killed or incapacitated.
  • Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP officer in charge, claimed he had "no idea" about the letter and would inquire about its purpose.
  • The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) president, Edre Olalia, believes the letter is evidence that security forces are linked to violent attacks on lawyers who have been Red-tagged for representing clients accused of involvement in the communist movement.
  • The NUPL secretary general, Angelo Karlo Guillen, was nearly killed in a stabbing incident after representing two members of the Tumandok indigenous communities who opposed a dam project in Panay.
  • Nine other Tumandok leaders and community members were killed during separate raids by the police in December 2022.

Statistics:

  • The letter from Police Lt. Calabria Jr. was dated March 12.
  • The NUPL represents over 2,500 lawyers in the Philippines.
  • There have been at least 410 reported cases of human rights abuses and attacks on legal professionals in the country since 2016.
  • The Philippine government has accused over 300 human rights lawyers of being linked to communist groups.

Sources:

  • "PNP asked courts to submit lawyers' list: Bayan Muna." Inquirer, March 17, 2023.
  • "Lawyer attacked after representing Tumandok vs dam project." Inquirer, March 16, 2023.
  • "PNP: No understanding what list is for." Inquirer, March 17, 2023.

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