Ilonggo lawyers back 'search for truth'
Lawyers here yesterday went to court hearings with black armbands pinned to their Barong Tagalogs to condemn "attempts to suppress the truth" in the investigation of the ZTE-NBN deal.
The black armbands are also "a display of solidarity against the suppression of truth and brazen lack of respect for the rule of law," according to a resolution issued on Friday by the Iloilo chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
Human rights lawyer Janne Baterna, an official of the Iloilo Chapter of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NULP), said he wore the arm band in attending hearings "to express solidarity with the Filipino people who are shocked and disgusted by the brazen and callous thievery of top officials in government as exemplified by the (ZTE-NBN deal)."
The IBP Iloilo chapter said all sectors of society should support the campaign against graft and corruption and "flagrant violations of the Constitution and laws, particularly involving public officials of high position in the government."
While it did not mention names, the statement alluded to ranking officials of the Arroyo administration which have been implicated in the bribery scandal including Commission on Higher Education chair Romulo Neri and resigned Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr.
Alluding to the alleged abduction of whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., the IBP said they "condemn in the strongest terms any illegal act or attempt to suppress the truth in this investigation, such as threats, harassment, seizure or elimination of witnesses and the use of government personnel and resources to cover up any illegal or immoral act."