Accents
NUPL-Iloilo: lawyers for the people
August 9, 2008 will go down as a red-letter day in the history of lawyering for the people in Iloilo with the launching of NUPL-Iloilo Chapter. Its organization is a significant offshoot of the founding of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) last September 15, 2007 in Cebu City.
What is NUPL? Hailed as "a nationwide voluntary association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines committed to the defense, protection, and promotion of human rights, especially of the poor and the oppressed," its founding was attended by 38 lawyers from Luzon, 23 lawyers from Visayas, and 20 lawyers from Mindanao—the largest gathering of human rights lawyers since Martial Law.
Noteworthy to reiterate here the message of support from Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno to the Founding Congress: "By calling yourselves the ‘people's lawyers,' you have made a remarkable choice. You decided not to remain in the sidelines. Where human rights are assaulted, you have chosen to sacrifice the comfort of the fence for the dangers of the battlefield. But only those who choose to fight on the battlefield live beyond irrelevance." People here means a clientele of marginalized and oppressed sectors—farmers, workers, fisherfolk, indigenous people, the urban poor, women and children, the youth and students.
The creation of NUPL-Iloilo came at a time when the need for more defenders and advocates of human rights is most imperative. Cases of killings, enforced disappearances, threats and harassments of activists, media persons, lawyers and judges themselves, and other progressive elements have escalated since 2001, the onset of the Arroyo administration. Thus, NUPL–Iloilo invites other lawyers to the organization of "people's lawyers." Membership is also open to non-lawyers (law students and paralegals).
NUPL Secretary General Neri Colmenares, keynote speaker in the launching of the Iloilo Chapter, condemned the arrogance of the perpetrators of crimes—people committing a crime and knowing that they will get away with it. Colmenares stressed the weight and magnitude of the "Battle against Impunity" that defenders and protectors of human rights must beat.
Like the Biblical commandments engraved on the stone tablet from Mount Sinai, the program of action of the NUPL-Iloilo Chapter is as lofty, ethical, bold — carved by the collective mind and heart of the founding members, to wit:
- NUPL-Iloilo shall render concrete, specific, prompt and competent legal services to victims of violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the poor and oppressed and shall facilitate and coordinate the rendition of such services.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall vigorously, systematically and aggressively investigate, file, prosecute and pursue all kinds of cases of human rights violations, as well as address the impunity enjoyed by violators thereof.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall maximize and rationalize the practical use of existing judicial, quasi-judicial and other legal fora and remedies in the national and international levels including the mechanisms arising out of the peace process for the defense, protection and promotion of human rights.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall campaign, advocate and lobby for the liberties, freedoms and rights of the Filipino people as well as those of other peoples of the world.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall share concrete experiences in handling human rights cases and come up with specific recommendations and mechanisms to help ensure the defense, promotion and protection of human rights.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall concretize and institutionalize programs for the protection, security and welfare of lawyers who are under threat and attack by virtue of the exercise of the profession especially those involved in human rights practice; in addition, programs for the protection, security and welfare of families of those who have been killed or attacked.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall promote human rights lawyering as a viable professional alternative, as well as provide venues for the professional and political education, development, cooperation and mutual support for its members.
- NUPL-Iloilo shall establish and maintain professional and solidarity linkages with other individuals, groups or organizations with similar advocacies.
How the scorecard will show in achieving the foregoing depends mainly on the brain power, tenacity, and hard work of the following elected officers: Atty. Joshua Alim, chair; Atty. Joseph Anthony Lutero, secretary general; Atty. Steven Cercado, treasurer; Atty. Sulpicio Gamosa, auditor; Atty. Pet Melliza, press relations officer; and Atty. Rodolfo Lagoc, Atty. Mario Niel San Felix, Atty. Janne Baterna - board of consultants.
(E-mail: lagoc@hargray.com)